Talal Arslan: I Hope That He Is For Real.

(Note: This post is much more concerned with the message rather than the messenger.)

This space has often discussed the root problems of the Lebanese experiment and lamented the fact that neither the Lebanese citizen nor the traditional political leaders have shown a deep understanding of the crisis and so they have in essence shunned their respective responsibilities in working towards a meaningful and real solution. That deep rooted failure by all parties concerned is the major reason that so many were obligated to call the Lebanese experiment a colossal failure and a hopeless one for that matter.
Fortunately all of that seems to have changed. Finally a Lebanese political leader has it right. Talal Arslan the founder and the head of the Lebanese Democratic Party has issued yesterday a call that deserves to be received by open arms by all responsible freedom loving ,democratic Lebanese . Mr. Arslan declared in unambiguous terms that it is time for the Lebanese people to be liberated from the undue influence of foreign capitals and foreign ambassadors. He urged all parties, labour organizations and civil institutions to hold a Lebanese constitutional convention that could establish the important principles on which a responsible secular republic is to be based. He went even further to stress the need to establish the new vision on the all import concept of “Mowatiniah” that is all but conspicuously absent in the current Lebanon. His call made it explicitly clear that what is needed is to agree on the basic architecture of a Lebanese identity that is free of all the corrosive and destructive influences of confessionalism.
Mr. Arslans call ought to be taken extremely seriously by those who profess allegiance to democracy, liberty, equality, fairness and modernity. This call is so important that it could form the basis for a new Lebanon that many have been dreaming about, a secular Lebanon that is built on respect for law and order and the dignity of the state. This call could snow ball in a short period of time to deliver Lebanon out of its political backwardness and consistent crisis provided the traditional political leadership is prevented from co-opting such a movement in an effort to preserve their power base in the status quo. Lebanon needs a new synthesis, a popular one since it is often the case that revolutions do not succeed if they are top heavy, and they must be from the grass roots.
It is our duty to offer Talal Arslan all the support that he needs if his call is to get a fighting chance at changing Lebanon for the better. This is truly the first time that we have a serious invitation to a meaningful dialogue to fashion a country that we want and not one designed by the religious leaders. This convention must not allow either the religious leaders or any of their representatives to participate in the proceedings because its aim is no less than a revolt against the role of religious institutions in the public square. I imagine that Mr. Arslans biggest foes will be his traditional partners at Hezbollah in addition to Bkirki and the Mufti.
As for those who always react compulsively against all Western related ideas including secularization they need to be reminded that one of the most influential advocates of secular thinking was an Arab and a Moslem for that matter, Ibn Rushd (Averroes).
Mr. Arslan, your latest call has so energized me as a Lebanese citizen that I am ready to become a card carrying member of your party provided you make the idea of a truly diverse and well represented National Constitutional Convention your rallying cry no matter what other traditional political leaders might say. Shout it from the roof tops, shout it loud and clear that Lebanon is about to be reborn as a country for all its people no matter what is their gender, sexual orientation, religious practice or the colour of their eyes. Talal Arslan for President, it has a nice ring to it. He has the vision and the courage that we need if we are to escape provincialism, pettiness, discrimination and self destruction.

A Podcast of the above text may be heard at: ramblings11.mypodcast.com