Tharwalizations

Clergymen Bearing Gifts

Beware the clerics even when they come bearing victory – for the price is always too high for this worldly life.

Hidden Currents

The continued influx of refugees from Lebanon into Syria is adding more pressure on that country's economy already burdened by its having to cope with over 1 million Iraqi refugees. Could situation lead to an unexpected eruption of hostilities? A serious clash between Iraqi refugees and local residents has already taken place a few weeks ago in the poor suburb of Jaramana on the outskirts of Damascus. Authorities seemed to have been caught off-guard and their reaction was not as swift as one would expect from a police state. But then, Syriais becoming an increasingly fragile country, and a number of clashes between its various sectarian and ethnic groups have already taken place over the last few years. A pattern might indeed be emerging and the situation could take a nasty turn in the not so distant future.

Of Cats and Guilt

The cat-and-mouse game between regular armies and “resistance” fighters has always had a heavy toll on the civilian population and the basic infrastructure of the countries involved. It has always served to undermine the potential for democracy as well. Still, a democracy did emerge out of the rubble in Germany and Japan following WWII, and one hopes that this may still be the case for Lebanon as well, albeit all indications point to the possibility that the wrong elements might end up running things in Lebanon, once the dust settles. The elements will lord over a virtual desolation, but they will be the lords.

But then, the souls of most of our people have been talibanized long before the onset of this mayhem. Now, our cherished structures are following the lead. Desolation within translates into desolation without. External dabbling is still to be blamed, and for a lot of things, but especially, for showing us what was lurking within us all the while. Israel is denuding us. And We are all guilty. We are all to blame.