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The Whip
42 Posts |
 Posted - 05/11/2005 : 4:48:08 PM
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His eminence Cardinal Sfeir the patriarch of Antioch and the Levant met today with his archbishops and issued a firm warning with dire consequences to “an unknown” if the elections are held under the 2000 law. Who must this unknown be?
Well two parties are concerned with this warning: Mr. Mikati (PM) and Mr. Berri (Speaker). At this point Mr. Mikati cannot constitutionally resubmit the law. So it must be Mr. Berri. Mr. Berri is unwilling to revisit the law unless he is given gurantees that he will come back as speaker in the newly elected parliament; the guy is scared to death of losing his post.
If Bkerki can guarantee to Berri that he will come back as speaker, then Berri will revise the law. What a F..ked up Democracy!!!!!!!!!!! |
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Truth Squad
114 Posts |
Posted - 05/11/2005 : 11:48:48 PM
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What has been going on in Lebanon with its elections in the past through the 2000 Law is called "Gerrymandering". Gerrymandering is a term that describes the deliberate rearrangement of the boundaries of electoral districts to influence the outcome of elections. It is a well-known practice in some of the so-called democracies, that is banned by law in many of the real ones.
The purpose of gerrymandering is to either concentrate opposition votes (or in the case of Lebanon votes of a specific sect) into a few districts to gain more seats for the majority in surrounding districts (called packing), or to diffuse minority strength across many districts (called dilution).
The original gerrymander in the USA was created in 1812 by Massachusetts governor Elbridge Gerry, who crafted a district for political purposes that looked like a salamander; hence the name. In 1967, Congress passed a law requiring all U.S. representatives to be elected from single member districts. Congress in 1982 amended the Voting Rights Act to protect the voting rights of protected racial minorities in redistricting.
In lebanon, former president Camille Chamoun was the first president of the 1943 republic to adopt the principle in order to maximize his strength in Parliament, in an attempt to renew his presidential term. This is often believed to be a cause of the 1958 revolution and the electoral law of 1960.
What Lebanon needs most today is a law against Gerrymandering that will protect the rights of every minority regardless of size, geographical location or relligious affiliation. |
Edited by - Truth Squad on 05/11/2005 11:49:47 PM |
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PaxLibano
France
39 Posts |
Posted - 05/12/2005 : 12:38:16 AM
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Thank you Truth for the info; very educational.
I like to ask The Whip, how many soldiers does Mr. Sfeir has in his militia? What will he do now? restart the war? Call the Maronites to arms to what end?
Through his visionary leadership of the Maronite political party, he has left the maronites in Lebanon with 1 of 3 choices:
1- Leave the country; 2- fight a new survival war; or 3- become Ahl Zimma. I have not made my choice yet, but I will soon.
I hope his threats of dire consequences "wa ou3zira man anzar" are not empty and he has something in his bag other than his rosary.
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Edited by - PaxLibano on 05/12/2005 12:39:18 AM |
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Truth Squad
114 Posts |
Posted - 05/12/2005 : 12:56:38 AM
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Truth be said, the Maronites of Lebanon are the "mother of the boy" or "Imm Essabi" and the true mother will protect its child even to her own jeopardy.
I wish Bkerki did not make this declaration. For now the options are 2 only: either go on with the elections as planned and that would mean a far bigger loss to Bkerki's stature than ever or postpone the elections until a new law is drafted and that could mean indefinitely (very similar to 1975) and may lead to partition.
For the sake of unity, for the sake of peace, I call upon Bkerki to reduce the rhetoric lest we lose Lebanon or cause further damage to the Maronite community therein.
The elections must go forward as planned. The Lebanese have the whole future before them to repair what is lacking in their systems. The problem is not just the election law. So let's not drag the country into bloodshed just to gain the right to nominate a deputy in Parliament. The fight ought to be for the right of the people to elect their representatives, not that of the sects to nominate theirs.
These elections are but one step, the task of cleansing our society and our mentality from the residues of occupation and regressive thinking is a daunting one; let's not waste more time.
Go to the elections in masses, vote your conscience and let the chips fall where they may. |
Edited by - Truth Squad on 05/12/2005 12:58:09 AM |
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Gisèle
Lebanon
36 Posts |
Posted - 05/12/2005 : 11:15:12 PM
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Well said Truth, I think the lections should go on as planned.
I personally agree with most of what Walid Jumblat was saying on TV yesterday. Why put so much importance on the election law now when the opposition parties can secure a victory? Perhaps the pro-syrians are playing a dirty game and have managed to influence Bkerki. |
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Sfeir Retaliates
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