out of ignorance and arrogance (1)

During a little speach I gave in a workshop at the European Parliament on the aftermath of the war on Lebanon, I admitted that the US and Israel were not the only ones who were guilty of ignorance and arrogance. It is true that Israel’s decision to wage war against Hezbollah (backed by the US) was based on ignorance of facts and a whole lot of arrogance. The israeli government predicted it would wipe out the islamic radical group with a swift but mighty blow from which it would not recover. The decision was also advanced on moral grounds…

But what about the rest of us? How did we react to this decision during the first days of the war?

Thoughts on Lebanese identity (1)

I have an article to write on the debate over the lebanese identity. What more is there to say about it? Should I present the debate between lebanese nationalists and arab nationalists? Should I dwelve on the meaning of ‘being arab’ and the Lebanese constitution’s stand on identity? What about the other identities? the communal ones?

I’ve been going through texts written by Sélim Abou and Ahmad Baydoun over this question.  And I’m thinking of quoting Amin Maalouf and Samir Kassir… Two weeks left to hand in the article.