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The Whip
42 Posts |
 Posted - 06/22/2005 : 11:55:35 AM
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Why can't we do both? Reach out to the grassroots while attempting to change the masters' message or the masters for that purpose.
Can't we be both a social and a political organization, working on one hand to promote our social and educational programs and on the other hand to promote a new class of leadership with a new message that reflects our values?
I think we can if we want to. |
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Bullocks
66 Posts |
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The Whip
42 Posts |
Posted - 06/23/2005 : 1:19:19 PM
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What is wrong with us? you and me and people like us. Why can't we be the new class of leadership?
Is it money? We can raise money. Is it talent? We have talent. Is it vision? We have a vision.
All we need is organization, a plan and a strategy. We can prepare a team of young enthusiastic advocates and run for elections next time around. We'll do it grassroot style, mobilize students and professors at universities and schools, workers in factories and farms (if there are any left) give them a message to carry and share with others, and involve them in the decision-making process. Let us learn from those who did it before. How did the Amal movement replace the establishment in the south? How did the Aoun movement recently replace the establishment in areas of mount Lebanon? It is a beginning but the key is to maintain the course and not become yourself the establishment. Do not judge the Amal achievements by the standards of Berry today, but comapre them to the dream of Moussa Sadr, the old establishment is gone; unfortunately Amal Nabih Berri turned into the new one; but only because Berry wanted it that way. We'll see whether Aoun's movement will become like Amal. The point here is that change is feasible. It takes time but it is feasible.
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Truth Squad
114 Posts |
Posted - 06/23/2005 : 3:00:03 PM
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Commendable what you say Whip. But I agree with Bullocks, it is not that easy.
The movements you describe went through a blood bath before they acquired political legitimacy in Lebanon. Are you proposing we do the same to take power? I am sure that you are not.
The task of reforming Lebanon and building a new republic is not one that can be achieved overnight. It takes patience and long-term determination in addition to a lasting faith in our goals. It is very important to have the great vision, the big dream of change, but it is also necessary to remain realistic and begin with what you can. Begin small and grow. Begin with local social and educational services, a football team for kids, a book club for youngsters, and a newsletter for the older ones and grow from those into more of the same everywhere. When I say that I mean also begin with the areas with the most needs, take an affirmative action to help the dispossessed in remote border areas in Akkar, the Bekaa and the South, in pockets of dispossession in Beirut and the other cities.
Taking people out of misery and opening their eyes to new horizons will open their minds to the new ways of thinking, and immunize them against the message and the money of their old masters, and deliver from the worship of these false gods of nationalism and patriotism into the freedom of being human, into believing in their inherent human value and that of their human brother. This is where the revolution should begin; this is the path of least resistance. For if you go on a political path first, you will face many obstacles and stumble on several enemies who will you use your political faux-pas to undermine your social and cultural message. You risk losing both: the leadership post and the people. |
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The Whip
42 Posts |
Posted - 06/29/2005 : 9:56:32 PM
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I still believe we must organize politically and gradually infiltrate the current political establishment. You can't just operate socially in a political vacuum. You must have both aspects but you can keep them separate from each other.
With time you will grow a class of politicians, maybe a small one, but nevertheless you are there, along with a new social class that see things the way we do: one nation governed by laws with equality for all.
If you have the social momentum only without the political arm, you may face things similar to what just happened in these elections: laws that prevent you from accessing government and that may go beyond that to ban your social work.
I still insist we need both: educate the leadership (by making them adopt our ideas or changing them) and educate the citizens by long range well-planned programs. |
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democracyinlebanon
16 Posts |
Posted - 06/29/2005 : 9:59:20 PM
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CONGRATULATIONS TO BULLOCKS.
YOUR TOPIC HAS GENERATED MORE THAN 20 REPLIES.
THANK YOU FOR STIRRING A LIVELY DISCUSSION.
DEMOCRACY IN LEBANON |
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Bullocks
66 Posts |
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The Whip
42 Posts |
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Reformist
20 Posts |
Posted - 07/01/2005 : 01:38:07 AM
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I agree with The Whip, there needs to be a political and a social arm at the same time to organise reform.
For example, many have mentioned here that we need to delve into educational programs as a social activity in order to produce a generation that is non-sectarian, non-feudal and loyal to the Lebanese state as a whole.
So, wouldn't a reformed education system encourage such a process?
ReformLebanon realises that promoting ideals of secularism, nationalism and liberalism to the populus is incredibly important, however, being relative and absolute in the policies we seek to push on a political level is just as important. All our policies are targeted at a political level and we wish to see a change via laws and acts that will encourage the appropriate upbringing from the grassroots. We even have an education policy.
You cannot hope to educate an entire generation on the principles of modernism if you have a government and a political system that works against you.
http://www.reformlebanon.com |
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Bullocks
66 Posts |
Posted - 07/01/2005 : 07:34:13 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by The Whip
quote:
Originally posted by Bullocks
How would you plan to educate the so-called leadership -
"كنت أفضل لو كانت المقاومة وطنية شاملة وليست شيعية صرفاً"
السيد محمد حسن الأمين
I do not presume to have all the answers; that's why I am here in this forum, to share my views and listen to others like you and perhaps together we can synthesize a solution.
I proposed 2 alternatives to change the political class:
1) by educating a few select politicians to adopt our views
2) by replacing democratically those who don't.
This is of course a long process.
Let's work on option (1) first:
It would seem to me that the easiest way to change the political framework in Lebanon, would be to keep the leaders that influence the masses but convince them to change their tone and rhetoric. How? I don't know! Honestly, I have never worked with any politician in Lebanon. But we can begin by targeting few impressionable and young ones, volunteer to help them with their programs, in other words gradually infiltrate their policy teams; (I know we are talking Lebanon and politicians do not necessarily have policy teams) but I see there an opportunity to tap into.
We can target some influential moderate ones. Not the extremists and certainly not the religious guys. I do not want to get into names now but eventually we would have to. I can give a good example of a moderate (by Lebanese standarsds) influential politician: Marwan Hamadé. I will be happy to discuss why or listen to why not.
Option (2) is a more difficult one and will take time, money and organization. I will also be happy to talk about it in detail if there is interest.
Thanks for your suggestions
But Option 2 would not be feasible
Option 1 we're already working on
"كنت أفضل لو كانت المقاومة وطنية شاملة وليست شيعية صرفاً"
السيد محمد حسن الأمين |
Edited by - Bullocks on 07/01/2005 07:35:10 AM |
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Short-term politics
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