Rss
FREE SPEECH
by
March 14 - General Secretariat
The appeal of Beirut : Peace for Lebanon, Now
February 20, 2009, 13h40, By March 14 - General Secretariat
The purpose of this appeal is to engage in a dynamic of dialogue and action which will put a definite end to the Lebanese conflict and establish permanent peace in accordance with all the efforts expanded towards a regional settlement.
The slogan: “Peace for Lebanon now” is not a challenge to be dropped if difficulties should arise or circumstances did not allow it. It is not a suggestion either, aimed at the other party, that advocating “permanent way”-No-It is a choice we will stand by regardless, for it is the only way to ensure the survival of the type of society we have chosen, ”one where we can live together equal yet different”
Why this appeal?
• Because the Gaza tragedy has shown the world how deeply both parties have lost their moral ethics. If Israel disregards the value of Arab life and considers it is entitled to starve them, transfer them or kill them, Iran does not give them much credit either. It too uses the Arab individual as an instrument with which to fight the “Great Satan” in Lebanon and Palestine, all the while sparing it’s own citizens from fighting that same evil on its eastern and western borders, meaning Iraq and Afghanistan- If Israel sheds Arabs blood to spare its own instead of protecting innocent civilians from Israeli barbarism – It also sheds it to achieve “Victory” against it’s own people such as in June 2007 in Gaza or in Beirut, May 2008.
• Because the Gaza tragedy has made it clear that both Iran and Israel have much to gain in keeping Lebanon and Palestine as permanent confrontation grounds, because they both reject the idea of peace, Israel because it still refuses the concept of an independent Palestinian state in its midst and seas war as the only means to ensure inconditional western support- Iran for it wishes to spread it’s influence in the entire Arab world and considers that war, be it indirect, is the key to negotiations with the west, therefore forcing them to acknowledge as a regional power.
It is no coincidence that the only request made by the participants of the Doha meeting during the Gaza war, under Iranian sponsorship, was the withdrawal of the Arab peace plan.
• Because both Israel and Iran seem to consider the Arab world as a vital space to spread their influence rather than as an autonomous regional entity – This endangers the arab world and makes it vulnerable to foreign powers that would use its influence for their own profit, like during colonization.
Can we put an end to this cycle of violence that threatens our future?
Yes, we can!
• If we work together, as Lebanese, united to end this violence that opens a door to foreign interference and build a state that would welcome all the components of our society while being autonomous to each, a state that would be civil, modern, sovereign and independent.
• If we continue to claim, consistantly and forcefully, right to a normal existence after half a century of various conflicts that tore our country apart and put into neutrality of Lebanon versus the armed conflicts shattering the area, and calls for the disarmament of all aimed factions in Lebanon.
• If, as Arabs, we recover our autonomy and stand by the Peace initiative we have adopted at the Arab summit in Beirut 2002 and that constitutes the major concern of international law since the adaptation of UN resolution 1850.
• If we use our strong points to compel the respect of justice and international law and put an end to this “double standard” policy that drives the international community to fight against nuclear power for Iran and tolerate it for Israel; if we work towards forcing UN resolutions in Iraq while ignoring their non-involvement in Palestine, asking the Arabs to acknowledge the state of Israel while understanding Israelis in their refusal to acknowledge the Palestinian State.
• If we manage to help the world turn the page on the “Culture and civilization shock”, the effects of which show in western society and ensure the Arab world’s involvement in finding a solution to the crisis shaking world economies, especially with the obvious winds of change blowing over America with the election of Barak Obama as president.
• If Iranian society, during its coming election can overcome its leaders desire to dominate the Arab world, and coerce them into opting for regional cooperation that would benefit all.
Why Peace in Lebanon now?
*****
How to strengthen the option for peace in Lebanon?
We can adapt several measures, amongst which:
1 –work towards making the next general elections a true referendum for peace in Lebanon. The elections should no longer be considered as a way to determine the weight of political parties or figures. These elections will become a turning point that will decide the outcome of Lebanon’s future for quite some time.
2 –Take the initiative of translating this peace slogan in each and every Lebanese region.
Areas that still bear the sequels of war, family conflicts, religious and sectarian conflicts that continue influencing the choice of citizens and stops them from uniting in battle to save their homeland.
3 – Initiating a dialogue within communities to end this cycle of violence that drives them to seak outside help and ensure the return of all under Lebanese legality.
4 –To urge all parties involved to apply UN resolution 1701 as well as the resolutions they have themselves adopted regarding the subject of Palestinian bases outside the camps.
5 –Establishing permanent contact with Lebanese emigration to promote and sustain peace in Lebanon.
*****
Why link the call to Beirut?
Because the cultural richness and diversity of this town has long been a symbol of “living together” before becoming the stage for all sorts of insanities and rupture, becoming the pioneer of wars to come in the world, after the cold war.
It is in fact in Beirut 1975 with the destruction of its downtown that the true parting occurs between Lebanese. On either side of the “Green line” that separates East from West Beirut, the true Berlin wall
of the Middle East, “community cleansing” begins and leads up to a permanent separation.
It is also in Beirut, in 1982 that Israel will try to settle by force the historic problem caused by its refusal to live together with Palestinians and impose a separate peace amongst the Lebanese before being forced out of a city in rubbles.
It is equally in Beirut 1985 that the two parties who had been fighting for ten years are going to implode one at a time and turn the Lebanese conflict into a multitude of small wars, between Palestinians and chiites, then amongst sunni, chiites and druzes and finally between chiites and chiites before the Christians took over and fought each other violently.
It is finally in Beirut starting 1990 that the Syrians will try to lay down their dream of a “Greater Syria”
That colonialism had cut short in 1916 with the Sykes-Picot agreement that had amputated its Lebanese province.
But it is also in Beirut in 1977 that pope Jean-Paul II calls upon the: Purification of memories” and invites all Lebanese to revive the peace and acceptance message that had always been theirs, thus paving the way for the historic appeal of the Maronite church (Sept.2000) to recover Lebanese independence.
It is in Beirut in 2002 that the Arabs joined by the Arab summit, solemnly decide, for the first time since 1948 to turn the page with Israel and propose an Arab peace initiative.
It is equally in Beirut 2005, that the Lebanese people, outraged by the assassination of their former Prime Minister Rafic Hariri, overcome their past conflicts, suffering and humiliations and unite to impose their right to “live together” in a national setting within which they would be their own master. For the first time in the history of this region, change is not imposed but wanted. The “Cedars Revolution” marks, as had the fall of the Berlin wall for the eastern block the end of an era and opens the way to a peaceful transformation in the Arab world.
It is also in Beirut 2006 that Syria and Iran will try to break the ties the Lebanese has renewed by , resorting to terror and reviving communal antagonism in the hopes of destroying the wind of change initiated in 2005.
It is last but not least in Beirut in 2008 that the shock between both Islam occurred ,the Islam of violence that wants to rule by the power of weapons as it had in Gaza in 2007, that of Beirut.
And the islam of tolerance and moderation whose representatives came from all over the Arab world to inaugurate the mosque Rafic Hariri built downtown as well as the centre the Imam Sadek built on outskirts of Beirut. This Islam strongly reasserts its opposition to all extremism.
Why Beirut today?
Because this is where lies the gate of Lebanon and the future of this entire region.
The Lebanese people and with them the Arabs have their backs to the wall, forced to choose between two cultures: A culture of violence and rupture and culture of peace and unity.
This call will be submitted to discussion during a congress in the near future.
Anyone interested in attending can do so by contacting the following address:
Beirut2009@beirutletter.org
The slogan: “Peace for Lebanon now” is not a challenge to be dropped if difficulties should arise or circumstances did not allow it. It is not a suggestion either, aimed at the other party, that advocating “permanent way”-No-It is a choice we will stand by regardless, for it is the only way to ensure the survival of the type of society we have chosen, ”one where we can live together equal yet different”
Why this appeal?
• Because the Gaza tragedy has shown the world how deeply both parties have lost their moral ethics. If Israel disregards the value of Arab life and considers it is entitled to starve them, transfer them or kill them, Iran does not give them much credit either. It too uses the Arab individual as an instrument with which to fight the “Great Satan” in Lebanon and Palestine, all the while sparing it’s own citizens from fighting that same evil on its eastern and western borders, meaning Iraq and Afghanistan- If Israel sheds Arabs blood to spare its own instead of protecting innocent civilians from Israeli barbarism – It also sheds it to achieve “Victory” against it’s own people such as in June 2007 in Gaza or in Beirut, May 2008.
• Because the Gaza tragedy has made it clear that both Iran and Israel have much to gain in keeping Lebanon and Palestine as permanent confrontation grounds, because they both reject the idea of peace, Israel because it still refuses the concept of an independent Palestinian state in its midst and seas war as the only means to ensure inconditional western support- Iran for it wishes to spread it’s influence in the entire Arab world and considers that war, be it indirect, is the key to negotiations with the west, therefore forcing them to acknowledge as a regional power.
It is no coincidence that the only request made by the participants of the Doha meeting during the Gaza war, under Iranian sponsorship, was the withdrawal of the Arab peace plan.
• Because both Israel and Iran seem to consider the Arab world as a vital space to spread their influence rather than as an autonomous regional entity – This endangers the arab world and makes it vulnerable to foreign powers that would use its influence for their own profit, like during colonization.
Can we put an end to this cycle of violence that threatens our future?
Yes, we can!
• If we work together, as Lebanese, united to end this violence that opens a door to foreign interference and build a state that would welcome all the components of our society while being autonomous to each, a state that would be civil, modern, sovereign and independent.
• If we continue to claim, consistantly and forcefully, right to a normal existence after half a century of various conflicts that tore our country apart and put into neutrality of Lebanon versus the armed conflicts shattering the area, and calls for the disarmament of all aimed factions in Lebanon.
• If, as Arabs, we recover our autonomy and stand by the Peace initiative we have adopted at the Arab summit in Beirut 2002 and that constitutes the major concern of international law since the adaptation of UN resolution 1850.
• If we use our strong points to compel the respect of justice and international law and put an end to this “double standard” policy that drives the international community to fight against nuclear power for Iran and tolerate it for Israel; if we work towards forcing UN resolutions in Iraq while ignoring their non-involvement in Palestine, asking the Arabs to acknowledge the state of Israel while understanding Israelis in their refusal to acknowledge the Palestinian State.
• If we manage to help the world turn the page on the “Culture and civilization shock”, the effects of which show in western society and ensure the Arab world’s involvement in finding a solution to the crisis shaking world economies, especially with the obvious winds of change blowing over America with the election of Barak Obama as president.
• If Iranian society, during its coming election can overcome its leaders desire to dominate the Arab world, and coerce them into opting for regional cooperation that would benefit all.
Why Peace in Lebanon now?
- For only peace can protect Lebanon from the economic recession shaking the world and that is starting to have bad repercussions on our active youth abroad. Peace is a vital condition to ensure the economic and social development of our country and allow it to step into internationalization by developing its’ human capital which is its’ main financial resource and by using the amazing network that is Lebanese immigration worldwide.
- Because peace and stability are necessary to rebuild our state and free it from confessional dissension that blocks its dynamics as well as the communal vote catching that corrupts its actions- Peace and stability are also a national tribunal by rehabilitating the laws that determine life in society. They are equally a condition to building a civil state which will guarantee equal rights to its citizens regardless of their beliefs.
- Because peace is the only way to build in which the individual is no longer reduced to its communal identity and amputated from the various belongings that enrich him. Such a society would not divert religion from its truthful goal which is to live in peace and use it to reach political purposes. A society in which the individual can choose not be governed by its personal religious belief but by a civil belief, one where there are no discriminations against women, where justice treats leaders and followers alike, where respect for human nature is the same for the rich and poor, where the laws governing individual freedoms do not affect personal freedom and finally, a society in which self respect begins by respect of the environment.
- Because peace allows us to look back in time and learn from our mistakes during the war. It will allow us to make peace with ourselves and each other and therefore tackle our common future.
- Because peace is the vital condition to restore the Lebanese model that is rich because different communities”live together” rather than next to each other. This is what makes Lebanese society an exceptional ecological niche at a moment in time when “living together” because of the changes induced by internationalization, has become major challenge humanity.
- Because permanent and global peace is the adequate context to renew Lebanon’s role in its arab environment and in the world. By promoting an arab way to modernity and helping the regional tendencies toward reform and steering away the dangers of the civil wars threatening many arab nations, and by helping the current efforts to turn the Mediterranean sea, that has been the sea of many fractures into a zone of conviviality and reconciliation between the people on its shores and their various cultures.
*****
How to strengthen the option for peace in Lebanon?
We can adapt several measures, amongst which:
1 –work towards making the next general elections a true referendum for peace in Lebanon. The elections should no longer be considered as a way to determine the weight of political parties or figures. These elections will become a turning point that will decide the outcome of Lebanon’s future for quite some time.
2 –Take the initiative of translating this peace slogan in each and every Lebanese region.
Areas that still bear the sequels of war, family conflicts, religious and sectarian conflicts that continue influencing the choice of citizens and stops them from uniting in battle to save their homeland.
3 – Initiating a dialogue within communities to end this cycle of violence that drives them to seak outside help and ensure the return of all under Lebanese legality.
4 –To urge all parties involved to apply UN resolution 1701 as well as the resolutions they have themselves adopted regarding the subject of Palestinian bases outside the camps.
5 –Establishing permanent contact with Lebanese emigration to promote and sustain peace in Lebanon.
*****
Why link the call to Beirut?
Because the cultural richness and diversity of this town has long been a symbol of “living together” before becoming the stage for all sorts of insanities and rupture, becoming the pioneer of wars to come in the world, after the cold war.
It is in fact in Beirut 1975 with the destruction of its downtown that the true parting occurs between Lebanese. On either side of the “Green line” that separates East from West Beirut, the true Berlin wall
of the Middle East, “community cleansing” begins and leads up to a permanent separation.
It is also in Beirut, in 1982 that Israel will try to settle by force the historic problem caused by its refusal to live together with Palestinians and impose a separate peace amongst the Lebanese before being forced out of a city in rubbles.
It is equally in Beirut 1985 that the two parties who had been fighting for ten years are going to implode one at a time and turn the Lebanese conflict into a multitude of small wars, between Palestinians and chiites, then amongst sunni, chiites and druzes and finally between chiites and chiites before the Christians took over and fought each other violently.
It is finally in Beirut starting 1990 that the Syrians will try to lay down their dream of a “Greater Syria”
That colonialism had cut short in 1916 with the Sykes-Picot agreement that had amputated its Lebanese province.
But it is also in Beirut in 1977 that pope Jean-Paul II calls upon the: Purification of memories” and invites all Lebanese to revive the peace and acceptance message that had always been theirs, thus paving the way for the historic appeal of the Maronite church (Sept.2000) to recover Lebanese independence.
It is in Beirut in 2002 that the Arabs joined by the Arab summit, solemnly decide, for the first time since 1948 to turn the page with Israel and propose an Arab peace initiative.
It is equally in Beirut 2005, that the Lebanese people, outraged by the assassination of their former Prime Minister Rafic Hariri, overcome their past conflicts, suffering and humiliations and unite to impose their right to “live together” in a national setting within which they would be their own master. For the first time in the history of this region, change is not imposed but wanted. The “Cedars Revolution” marks, as had the fall of the Berlin wall for the eastern block the end of an era and opens the way to a peaceful transformation in the Arab world.
It is also in Beirut 2006 that Syria and Iran will try to break the ties the Lebanese has renewed by , resorting to terror and reviving communal antagonism in the hopes of destroying the wind of change initiated in 2005.
It is last but not least in Beirut in 2008 that the shock between both Islam occurred ,the Islam of violence that wants to rule by the power of weapons as it had in Gaza in 2007, that of Beirut.
And the islam of tolerance and moderation whose representatives came from all over the Arab world to inaugurate the mosque Rafic Hariri built downtown as well as the centre the Imam Sadek built on outskirts of Beirut. This Islam strongly reasserts its opposition to all extremism.
Why Beirut today?
Because this is where lies the gate of Lebanon and the future of this entire region.
The Lebanese people and with them the Arabs have their backs to the wall, forced to choose between two cultures: A culture of violence and rupture and culture of peace and unity.
This call will be submitted to discussion during a congress in the near future.
Anyone interested in attending can do so by contacting the following address:
Beirut2009@beirutletter.org
( Advertisment )
OTHER SPEECHES
Dalila Mahdawi
Dalila Mahdawi is an Arab-British journalist focusing on human rights issues. She is currently...
Antonin GREGOIRE
After a Master in History at La Sorbonne university where he specialised in intelligences services...
Politics: News | Feature stories | Highlight | Interviews | Free speech | They said | Fundamentals | React | Survey | Your suggestions | Multimedia
Business: News | Feature stories | Interviews | Free speech | Business in numbers | Real estate | Corporate life | Occupation CEO | Business sectors | Multimedia
Social: News | Feature stories | Interviews | Free speech | Discuss | Survey | NGO | Profile | Suivez l'exemple | Follow the lead | Multimedia
Arts & culture: News | Feature stories | Agenda | Cinema | Interviews | Free speech | CD DVD books | Audio & video
Fashion: Fashion show | News | Style of the week | Flop of the week | Must have | Lebanes designer | Collection | Multimedia | Shopping guide
Health: News | Feature stories | Interviews | Think healthy | Your questions | Free speech | Public health | Discuss | Poll | Health files
Environment: News | Feature stories | Think green | Interviews | Free speech | Hate it | Love it | Product of the week | Discuss | Poll | Official documents
Sci-Tech: News | Feature stories | Product of the week | Interviews | Free speech | Love it or hate it... help desk | Sci-tech junior
Sports: News | Feature stories | Interviews | Performance | Profile | Championships | Expert's opinion | Your prediction | Speak out | Multimedia
Tourism: News | Feature stories | Good to know | Traditions | Hometown stories | Your pictures | Multimedia | Visitor's guide | Sevices guide | Lebanon mapped out
Entertainment: Agenda | It' new | Beirut after midnight | News | Feature stories | Warhool moment | Home tonight | Tonight head out | Express yourself