Lebanese Secularism: The Difference is in Moral Values, and the Courage to Live by Them

By Joe M. TEKLI ? a Lebanese-Canadian academic and researcher in computer science engineering, Dr. Tekli is currently a postdoctoral fellow in the Institute of Computer Science and Statistics, University of Sao Paulo (USP), Brazil.Amidst the recent protests to end sectarianism in Lebanon, some might take the opportunity to lump all Lebanese politicians together, arguing: ?They?re all sectarian! They?re all corrupt! They all participated in the Lebanese religious civil war! All of them should walk out!?In light of Lebanon?s turbulent past, and its history of flagrant corruption and sleazy political maneuvering, such statements might seem more than adequate in describing most current political figures.Nonetheless, it would be historically unjust to blame everyone, without revising certain historical facts. While talk of ending sectarianism is relatively easy, nonetheless, concrete action on the ground remains the ultimate test. How should we proceed to end sectarian rule? Is it enough to abolish the current political system? I find it difficult to imagine how a population could become less sectarian overnight, by simply changing some electoral and/or administrative laws. While amending the law is a must, and an absolute crucial step toward social and political equality, nonetheless, secularism is rather a state of mind, a daily behavior, the result of an ongoing social education, and a way of life! The proof resides within the Lebanese population itself. Despite the country?s fierce religious and sectarian tensions, especially throughout the 30 years of civil (and regional) war in Lebanon, however certain political groups and leaders have been able to retain their moral principles and secular ideologies throughout the most difficult times.A prominent example would be the late Raymond Idd�, a nationalist and ideological Lebanese politician who so vigorously opposed the partitioning of Lebanon into separate ethnic and sectarian states, when most Lebanese leaders and political parties were (consciously or indirectly) contributing to what would be later known as the infamous Kissinger ?segregation? Plan (after the United States Secretary of State Henry Kissinger). In fact, when the Lebanese Civil War broke out in 1975, Edd� was one of the few major Christian politicians to be living in a predominantly Muslim quarter of West Beirut. Edd�?s political stance and activism as an outspoken believer in coexistence between Christians and Muslims, was deemed ?idealist? and ?uncompromising?, and thus outraged most Christian and Muslim politicians of his era. Edd� was consequently forced to leave Beirut to Paris (where he would remain until his death in the year 2000), after three consecutive attempts on his life in Lebanon in 1976.Other Lebanese political parties founded on secular grounds, and encompassing members of all Lebanese sects and religions, would be the Lebanese Communist Party and the Syrian Social Nationalist Party. These parties remain secular to date, despite their early involvement in the Lebanese civil war as allies to the PLO (Palestinian Liberation Organization) and Lebanese Muslim front. Another example emphasizing the power of positive action, as a result of a sincere belief in basic moral values and human equality would be Major General Michel Aoun. Many young Lebanese might know Aoun as a prominent Christian politician. Nonetheless, as he so ardently stated throughout the years, he views himself as ?a Lebanese statesman, not a Christian leader?. The CIA (Central Intelligence Agency) World Fact-book reports, published in the United States? Library of Congress (as of December 1987) are a testimony to this person?s long term belief and tangible actions toward an integrated and non-sectarian society: ?[?] The commander of the Lebanese Army in July 1987 was Major General Michel Awn, who was appointed in June 1984 after long negotiations in the national unity government of Prime Minister Rashid Karami [?]. Although the majority of Christian (Lebanese Army) officers supported the Christian (Phalanges & Lebanese forces) militia, Aoun stayed aloof from factional politics during the Civil War and earned a reputation for neutrality and loyalty to the government. During the war, he was appointed to a military committee charged with rebuilding the army. Aoun strongly advocated the need for an integrated, nonsectarian army. In 1977 he assembled a group of army officers and soldiers from different religious groups who had not participated in the sectarian fighting and founded the Eighth Brigade, which, under his command, suffered few defections. In rising to the position of commander in chief, Aoun succeeded his old rival, Major General Tannus [?]. Unlike Aoun, Tannus had favored the creation of four separate sectarian armies: Christian, Sunni, Shia, and Druze [?]?. While it might sound outrageous at the moment, yet talks of separate armies and separate states, based on ethnic and/or sectarian identity, was main stream during those times. Hence, those few voices advocating unity, integration, and secularism such as Idd� and Aoun would have sounded out of the box!While many young Lebanese might not be aware of certain facts (since they were not alive) during the dark times of the Lebanese civil war (and since the current sectarian system has failed to even provide a unified historical record covering the events of the past 30 years), nonetheless, it would seem necessary to set the record straight. For the sake of historical authenticity, it ought to be known that some prominent Lebanese figures and movements were, and some are still actively engaged in fighting religious segregation, and are promoting equality and mutual respect, not only in uttering words, but in direct and concrete daily action.As a firm believer in a secular Lebanese society, I only hope the young Lebanese secular activists, the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM), the Lebanese Communist Party, the Syrian Nationalist-Socialist Party, as well as other secular fractions of the Lebanese society, would combine forces in defining a clear and comprehensive road map toward amending the current Lebanese system of governance. One has to keep in mind that it won?t be achieved overnight, but that it rather requires long term preparation, education, and devotion. Commenting on the on the role of social media in the recent uprisings in the Middle East and North Africa, Canadian writer and social scholar Malcolm Gladwell responded: ?My question is not whether you can reach a person in 5 seconds, but whether you have done the 20 years of preparation work necessary to build a coherent movement? For that is how successful revolutions are done?. The exact same question applies to the Lebanese secular movement today?

Source: http://www.tayyar.org/Tayyar/News/PoliticalNews/en-US/Lebanese-Secularism-ed-6547568.htm

Protest Milan Baros Alastair Cook Spending review 2010 Financial crisis Paul Myners