Space Persians.
February 3, 2009 at 2:49 PM EST
“TEHRAN — Iran has successfully sent its first domestically made satellite into orbit, the country's president announced Tuesday, claiming a significant step in an ambitious space program that has worried many international observers.” – globeandmail.comNow that the Iranians launched their first satellite carrying rocket - omid, hope - into space, do you think wars will follow, and start moving upwards?
Do you think the time for space wars with zoom zoom lasers and all, is nearing?
Or will they all play fair. Where is Bond when you need him?----But you know what? I am happy for them… why not. No really why not! Kudos to you Iran. … You just be nice about it now; because honestly you scare me a little. Don’t prove them right. ----Why did you have to align like that in front of the camera, and repeat allahou akbar all that much, while holding an old ass telephone… that was some funny shit man!
Watch video here. (youtube)
Labels: politics, ramblings
The H. Word [Barack H. Obama].
While at work today, I was intermittently listening to the "legendary" inauguration ceremony of president Barack Obama. I was streaming it live, while the master of ceremony was naming past presidents, and other "venerable" political figures, present at this historical event.Surely enough, the M.C. was very careful, and systematic in naming every political figure by their complete name: James Earl Carter... William Jefferson Clinton... Georges Walker Bush... etc.But when it came to calling for the newly elected president, the dude just went:Barack H. Obama...I guess Hussein is very hard for him to pronounce.Hussein is very heavy for the tongue...The United States, is apparently ready for a black president, but not yet so for a president with the H. word in his name.photo ref:
http://hugemagazine.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/shepard-fairey-barack-obama.jpg
Labels: barack obama, politics
Congratulations.
So it looks like we have a new formed Government... Let's hope this baby survives!
----
I leave to Beirut this Sunday... I know I always say that I am going to blog from there, but I never do because of ridiculously slow Internet connections; and I am very impatient as a dude. I hope this time I will be able to post a few things... maybe even some photos...
Looking at the way I have been blogging for the past two months I am not very optimistic, but I promise I will try... if nothing substantial with text to post on urban-memories, maybe just a few photos on
the flaneur!
check there from time to time!
_z.
Labels: politics
Divine Mutiny. [Lacrimosa]
ref images: http://www.fotosearch.com/clip-art
Labels: 3_squares, politics, sketches
Pièce de résistance.
- Hey!- Heyyyyy Emily! Long time.- Hihihihi Yeah. I have a question.- Shoot.- Who were those people who burnt rubber tires and closed off roads because the electricity was cut off?- Well they are... I would like to say they are Lebanese.- Then how come not all Lebanese reacted the same to the same situation. I mean the power is cut all the same in pretty much all regions of your country right?- Right.
- And economically it affects everyone the same right?
- Right.
- So why?- I don't know. I can't say.- You also told me once that this part of the population does not pay their electrical bills to begin with. Correct?- Yes that's correct. They don't pay bills.- So how can you NOT pay your electrical bill, and then go on a demonstration condemning power surge and power failure. What do you call that?- Hypocrisy.
- What does that mean?- Resistance.- What!!! But you told me that "resistance" was a good thing, and that the opposition is always better than the loyalists.- Not anymore Emily. Not anymore.
- So you're telling me I should like the loyalists better now?- No no wait. Not just yet. I might change my mind, as they all change their minds daily.- I don't get it.- I don't either.
- You know, I don't like your country anymore. It is tiring me.
- It is tiring me too Em. It is tiring me too. But I still like it.- Hihihihihi.
----
For those of you who don't know Emily yet, here are other once posted conversations I have had with her:
Political Chocolate
BABY TALK.
Emily is imperfect, different, always eager to learn. and constantly asking difficult questions. She's extremely innocent, sweet, cute, and most importantly... she dwells in my head most of the time.
Labels: a trip with Emily, patriotism, politics, ramblings
Trainspotting.
"limaza la youmkinouni an a3ref, maza yajri men 7awli?" - Mamnou3, Ghassan Rahbani.
Why can I not know what is going on around me?
El Generalissimo Michel Aoun, calls for all Christian Minds to show up at his house in Rabieh for a "train wagon" of talk, negotiations, and mental masturbation.
Many decided to show up and many didn't. But amongst those who did make an appearance, were Gassan, and his father, Elias el Rahbani.
WTF!
You guys aren't even mentioned on wickipedia!
They are maybe on research duty, writing for another play. They mingle with the big boys, see how they talk it out, and then go take the material onto the stage, and sing it out to us, the poor commoners.
f. morons.
Rejoice people of Lebanon, for we do not write history, we sing it!
Ref: tayyar.org
Labels: patriotism, politics, sarcasm, stupid
Connecting the Dots_ [is war imminent?]
Labels: 3_squares, graphics, music, patriotism, politics, war
Talk to the Frame!
Not to burst any body's bubble or anything, but I was watching the news tonight on LBC, and they were reporting Bernard Kouchner's first visit to Lebanon.
Sure enough, and as diplomacy, and Sarcozy dictate, Kouchner had "formal" visits to pay, amongst which a visit to Saad el Hariri the son of our murdered ex prime minister Rafic el Hariri. They were seated in the reception hall:The entourage, then Kouchner, an empty chair, and then Saad el Hariri. On the empty chair was a frame with a picture of Saad's father, the late prime minister...I understand that it is out of respect and all, but honestly why do we do that? It is freaky! We should stop! Can you imagine what was going on in Kouchner's head staring at the picture of a dead guy, while cameras flashed at him?
Labels: Hariri, Kouchner, musing, politics, sketches
Supporting the Lebanese Army... all the way!!!
source: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/21/world/middleeast/21lebanon.htmlLabels: Lebanese Army, Lebanon, patriotism, politics, war
Letter from Lebanon--#47 A Wedding
I haven't been posting Rosie's "letters from Lebanon" for a while now... But since my words and sketches aren't flowing these days, I thought I would post the last letter I received from her.
The Letter is rather long, so for the convenience of readers here, and those who actually do like those letters, I separated it into 2 clear parts:
1- The Wedding, and 2- In Politics... That way you can read whichever part interests you most if you don't feel like reading the whole piece...
_z.
----
Dear Family and Friends,
This month I am going to try to restart the regular format of my Letter from Lebanon, by presenting both the cultural and political sections. I had dropped the cultural portion because the political upheaval in the country was, and frankly still is, so overwhelming. But this past weekend, we attended a wedding and this joyous occasion shook me up a bit out of the doldrums, making me realize that despite the tragedies that beset Lebanon and the region, life does go on. The living must live.
Letter from Lebanon--#47 A Wedding
THE WEDDING
The wedding took place in Mhaidseh, a small mountain village where my husband’s family originally came from. The village is their hometown, and that means, you go back to your origins to get married. The church where the couple married was built by my husband’s great grandfather. And is the same church where we were to have been married over 21 years ago had not a sniper during Lebanon’s civil war killed his cousin, whom my husband had chosen to be his best man. The small church is clad with the white chipped stone famous for its use on so many of the older homes, churches and monasteries and which make the architecture in the country so beautiful. The tall steeple with its large bell is still rung manually, as young men, and sometimes older ones, too, vie on how high and vigorously they can jump up and then forcefully pull down the long thick hemp rope to ring resoundingly the bell.
Compared to other Greek Orthodox churches, which usually have an overabundance of icons and gold, this church was quite simple having only a minimum of gold. A red carpet stretches from the outside steps of the church up to the altar. Beautiful bouquets of white roses, chrysanthemums and lilies perched on tall cast iron stands line both sides of the red carpet. Soft flowing drapes of sheer golden chiffon, to match the color of the bridesmaids’ dresses, link the flower stands pew to pew. Chandeliers, in forms of lit candles, representing the original method of lighting, add a warm glow for the evening wedding ceremony and present a sharp contrast to the modern high intensity light used by the cameramen.
In typical Lebanese tradition, the groom waits for his bride at the entrance to the church. Some guests were already sitting inside the church, but many followed the couple as they entered the church after the flower girl, ring bearer and the bridesmaids. There usually is only one bridesmaid, the maid of honor, but because the bride had two sisters, they both participated in the wedding. The bride wears a veil but it does not cover her face. After the vows, the groom does not “kiss the bride.” There is no “And you may now kiss the bride.” The couple remains at the altar for photos and more video, which have been taken prolifically before and during the ceremony.
Following the ceremony, the guests drive to the reception which is usually held in a large restaurant or hotel. The guests are seated at assigned tables. Hors d’oeuvres and even the main meal may be served before the arrival of the newlyweds, which is often one or two hours after the guests have been sitting and eating. The newlyweds are often “introduced” by a “zaffeh.” A dance group wearing the costumes, and presenting the dance and songs of the traditional Lebanese folklore. The show lasts about a half hour or so before the couple follows and joins the troupe in the dance. The guests quickly join in and both the bride and groom are soon hoisted on the shoulders of young, strong men, while they continue the dance floating above the crowd. Many dance, while others continue their meal. The couple is given short reprieves where they inhale a couple of bites, before the dancing resumes or before they go from table to table to personally greet their guests. At the cake ceremony, they cut the cake together using a long saber. Some follow the western tradition of tossing the bouquet to the single girls, and the garter to the single men. And then, more dancing. You’ve never seen a happier, more jovial group of people until you’ve seen the Lebanese dance, young and old alike as they do the Lebanese dabkeh or the belly dance, which unlike the perception in the West is really just a traditional folk dance, performed by all ages. IN POLITICS
The situation in Lebanon is status quo; I mean status stop. The only thing moving these days is a lot of hot air as the politicians lob insults and accusations at each other. It is quite a pathetic situation as an already troubled economy sinks further into an abyss. They cannot seem to see beyond the depth of their pockets.
Other than that, people here are constantly talking about a new war. We all know that there will not be another evacuation should there be a war. The major concern is that the United States will hit Iran; many believe it is more a question of when not if. And then when that does happen, against whom will Iran decide to retaliate? Israel? And then Hezbollah gets sucked in again? And another attack by Israel into Lebanon? Or will Iran hit Saudi Arabia, the bastion of American military installations? Will Syria come to “defend” its ally Iran by attacking Israel? If the United States thinks that it can attack Iran without repercussions throughout the Middle East, they will have once again disillusioned themselves and the American people. This is a very serious issue here. We are already talking amongst ourselves how we will plan our summers. Stay here? Travel? If so, when? If Lebanon is hit, the airport will be shut down immediately; the airport would be a first strike like last time. If Syria participates, its airport would close; with no evacuations by boat this time around, those in Lebanon will be stuck. We cannot get to Jordan by land without passing through Syria. While people in the United States are concerned about the price of gasoline, some of us over here, are wondering if we will become trapped, and be faced with gasoline, diesel and food shortages if a war ensues.
Several weeks ago the Israeli press announced that Israeli Prime Minister Olmert had planned many months in advance for the onslaught into Lebanon that had started on July 12, 2006. It also has become clear that the United States purposely did not stop the war when Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice had come out to meet with the Israelis and Lebanese in the first ten days of the war. The United States former ambassador to the United Nations, John Bolton stated in a BBC radio interview in March of this year that he was “damned proud of what we did’ to prevent an early ceasefire”1 during Israel’s assault on Lebanon last summer. None of this is news to the Lebanese or those of us who were here during the war; it is only news that it has become officially public.
I wonder how many of you know what is the “Israeli factor?” I can tell you that every single United States presidential candidate knows what it is.Basically, it is an indicator to see how “friendly” the candidate is to Israel and its interests. ” When asked what makes a candidate "good for Israel," the answers are revealing: "He can deal in a realistic way with the conflicts of Middle East; he will not be overly susceptible to world opinion; he is ready to use force when necessary; he knows Israel and its problems; he will make sure not to pressure Israel into making concessions that will leave it with indefensible borders; he will take into account the interests of Israel as he formulates his Middle East policy; he is emotionally attached to Israel and the things it represents, and is pro-Zionist; he is well connected within the American Jewish community." Nobody thought that a peaceful resolution to the Arab-Israeli conflict might make a candidate "good" for Israel?”2 You can go to Haaretz.com, the online version of the Israeli newspaper and type in “Israeli Factor” to find it. Those candidates with the highest score rate the friendliest to Israel. The score may change overtime depending on what the candidate says or does. Why is there no “Canadian Factor” or “Japan Factor” or “Mexican Factor?’ Does any of this ring right? Why is it that Israel must be at the center and focus of American foreign policy, which if anyone has noticed is not working. A recent survey conducted by Chicago Council on Global Affairs shows that the majority of the countries, except Israel and the Philippines (no surprise, here of course), do not condone the foreign policies of the United States. “There’s clearly a trend in terms of deepening negative attitudes to the US in how it executes foreign policy,” said Christopher Whitney, one of the chief coordinators of the poll. The most stark results were those showing a lack of trust that the US would act responsibly and a sense that it had overreached on the global stage. More than three out of four Americans think that their country tends to take on the role of international enforcer more than it should.3
On a final note, I would like to offer my condolences to the people of the United States and especially the family and friends of those who were brutally murdered at Virginia Tech. It is awful when terrorism hits a campus. Oh, I mean massacre. That is the word they used in all the media wasn’t it? Amazing how one word can change people’s perceptions of an action. But in reality, it was terrorism. It’s just that he was an immigrant from South Korea, which is a country that is an ally to the United States. Not an immigrant from Lebanon or Egypt or Jordan or Syria. He was not an Arab. If he were, I doubt they would have looked beyond his nationality to see his troubled past or analyze the whys and wherefores. We would not have seen psychologist after psychologist give their expert opinion on why this young man did what he did or that studies have shown with other killers that there is something physically amiss in their brain. Nor did we hear about the Egyptian who was killed as he saved lives. (Three Arabs were killed in the rampage.) Yet we heard profusely about the elderly Romanian-born professor who was a holocaust survivor. No one denies his heroism; yet why is an Arab’s heroism conveniently overlooked? This is how American people’s views are made for them as facts are “conveniently” slighted.
News Update:
After I had written the above, around 10:00 p.m. Thursday night news reporters announced that two young Lebanese who had been kidnapped the day before were killed that night. One was a young man of 25 years the other only a boy of 12 years. This is the first time in all of Lebanon’s war history that a child was taken and purposely killed. All sides had condemned the kidnapping and all sides have condemned the killing. All we know so far is that the two were Sunnis by religion but affiliated politically to the Druze camp of Walid Jumblatt. No one has yet claimed responsibility. The government announced that all schools and universities would be closed on Friday. I wanted to pick up my daughter from her dorm Thursday night because I was afraid that army roadblocks would be up in the morning. Well, we did not have to wait until then. Large and well-armed roadblocks were posted at major sections throughout the city. We went through three of them on our way to get her Thursday night at 11:30 p.m. She told us all the dorm residents had been in the lounge and that the girls were all upset. It’s nice to have her home safe with us. The funerals took place on Friday, with no incident. Yet, who knows what is looming for the future?
Back to the doldrums...
Rosie
An American in Lebanon
Notes:
1 and 2: AAI report March 27, 2007
3 Arab News April 19, 2007
Labels: letter from Lebanon, politics, Rosie
We're on the List!
Yes! Ladies and Gentlemen, I am proud to announce that after a long and draining wait, it looks like we finally made it. I read today that we are officially on the Forbes List for the Most Dangerous Destinations 2007.We be representin’ yo!Beirut [sitt al duniah] ranks 12; and I believe you do agree when I say, that it is not too bad for a tiny country, is it?You could argue that who cares about Forbes Magazine anyway, or who reads those wannabes, and how come you read those stupid capitalists. You can say whatever you like, but the bottom line is that we are there. We are on the list. From once the pearl of the orient, to now one of the most dangerous destination in the world. Nice!Give it up for our politicians of all colors. Give it up for our Neighbors of all religions. Without them, and without their support, we couldn’t even dream of being on such list. This was truly a great example of teamwork, and interdisciplinary work. Congratulations to all of us.I owe you an answer for how come I read this crap. The answer is fast and simple: I don’t…
I just came across this site while searching for articles about dangerous cities; as in urbanism. I couldn’t but stop and read, when I pressed the link, and stumbled upon our beautiful cedar. Not too proud anymore are you my cedar?Now the world can see how old you really are. You’ve been reduced to a banal coniferous tree. Your own people humiliated you. Look at us as we chop you down, and use you as charcoal for the arguileh!Look at us...
Labels: Lebanon, patriotism, politics, sarcasm
Counting on Lebanon. [3iddo ma3e]
Bel Awwal...- wa7ad ken 3am bi3edd iyyemo bel 7abess w aymtan byotla3.
- wa7ad ken 3am bi3edd sle7ato w swarikho w kamm 3adou bitayyir.
- wa7ad ken 3am bi3edd iyyemo bel manfa w aymtan byerja3 ta ysir ra2iss.
- wa7ad ken 3am bi3edd mosriyyeto w dolarato w ya rabb ykawtro.
Halla2, t7alafo shwayy w saro...
- wa7ad 3am bi3edd baddo ya3rif el 7a2i2a.
- wa7ad 3am bi3edd kamm yom sarlo bel cheri3.
w ana, men wa2ta la halla2, w men warahoun...
- 3am 3idd iyyem el ghorbeh.
----
this post reads:
At first,
One was counting days in prison, for the day he gets out.
One was counting his weapons and rockets and how many enemies he could kill.
One was counting his days in exile, for the day he returns to become president.
One was counting his moneys, hoping to multiply his dollars.
Now, they struck alliances and became...
One counting down to know the truth.
One counting how many days he's been in the street.
As for me... since, and because of them,
I'm counting my days abroad.
Labels: 3_squares, memories_ nostalgia, patriotism, politics, ramblings, sketches
Dessine moi ton pays!
Draw me a country ... (this is not a country.)
No seriously!
Labels: 3_squares, art, patriotism, politics, sketches
1701 Balloons. [Truth or Paranoia]
A little while ago, we heard about a possible breach of UN resolution 1701 in southern Lebanon. More specifically, in the southern village of Nabatieh.It was reported that "Balloons drifting from Israel into southern Lebanon sparked a panic among villagers over the weekend amid rumors they were filled with poison gas". After finding the balloons in his backyard, a villager and his family manifested symptoms of poisoning and were treated as such at the hospital. The reporter covering the incident, also showed the same symptoms, and in her turn, was treated at the hospital.
Could it be real? Could it be pure paranoia generated by the Hebrew typography found on the colorful balloons?
Hezbollah's Al-Manar TV, claimed the balloons contained toxic gas and had been dropped by Israeli military aircraft, while Dr. Suleiman, an intensive care doctor at the hospital, said that although the patients complained of symptoms that are consistent with exposure to toxic gases, blood and urine tests did not reveal exposure to such gases.
"We have no explanation for it""Reports that balloons with Hebrew letters had popped up around Lebanon continued Monday, with one TV station reporting that balloons had appeared in Beirut. The report could not be immediately confirmed""The Israeli daily Haaretz reported Sunday that helium balloons from a promotional event by Ha'ir, a chain of local newspapers, had floated north over the border into Lebanon.Still, their appearance spread alarm among Lebanese — a sign of the tensions and suspicion that remain in the border region after last summer's war between Israel and Hezbollah that devastated much of the south.
Here's my suggestion:
Erect another giant wall with sensors, lasers and such. Then issue passports for birds of all kinds. A Hassoun [local bird known for its beautiful colors and "voice"] can not eat from a tree in Northern Israel, and then cross the border to South Lebanon without being searched... and I mean cavity search.
What insolence!
Read the full article here.
Labels: 3_squares, politics, sketches
Political Suicide.
Labels: 3_squares, politics, sketches
It's About Time.
please watch!
Joe sent me this chilling, goosebump inflicting, video Here.
[with english subtitles]
Labels: clips, patriotism, politics
A Good Sense of Humor!
Interestingly enough, my blog (among many others) are blocked in Shanghai, China. When my friends over there delivered the news:” Hey! We can’t access your blog anymore!” I was stunned. Why would the Chinese Government block my blog?
I am a new blogger. I seldom talk about politics. I first started urban-memories as a notepad to write my thoughts about "Memory," my favorite topic of research, reading, and discussion. This blog does not contain or allude to pornographic content. Why would they ban me? I was frustrated and convinced again, that in China, freedom of speech does not exist. Thank God I am Lebanese – I thought!
At least I live in a country where we still preserve this freedom. In my country we now say whatever we feel like whenever we feel like it. Even in the darker intelligence services era, we were able to pass our messages. Even subliminally! We are the most liberated, free and modern of the “Arabic” countries. They must envy us.
Oooops! Wrong again!
For a while now, I have been debating whether I should write about the June 1st Riots in Beirut. I don’t feel too comfortable touching on current politics on my blog. I’ve laid it dormant for a few days, hoping that it was going to become obsolete and disappear the next day, as many issues do in Lebanon. If I let it go for a while I might even lose the drive to write about it – I said.
However, the subject is anything but dormant and statements are still hailing daily, from many sides and parties. And if I am writing, I am just stating the obvious from a social point of view; from the point of view of a “concerned” citizen.
Hmmm, I feel apologetic already.
Anyway, here it goes.
"Bass Met Watan," a televised satire show, apparently stepped over the line for the second time. After being banned a couple of years back, it was once again facing serious threats after last week’s episode. I can see them going on a forced vacation for a while. Yet another time!
“Bass Met Watan” is a double-entendre in Arabic; it could mean both “when a country died,” and “the smiles of a country,” and quite frankly they could use them both now. When we can’t smile in a country, the country is as good as dead!
“Police did not interfere, but security officials said soldiers were deployed along some areas of the former demarcation line between Christian and Muslim neighborhoods of south Beirut to prevent the unrest from taking a sectarian tone” – naharnet.com
Is War Imminent in Lebanon? Haven’t we learned anything?
Now I didn't watch that week’s “Bass Met Watan” episode; the one that "insulted the symbol of the resistance and its leader" – naharnet.com, and eventually led to those riots. To put it quite frankly, I don't even like the show! I wouldn’t have watched it anyway. But that's irrelevant. Comedy shows air on television daily, joking and mocking political and religious leaders of different religious affiliations. We laugh and sometimes carry the joke with us to work the next day. Why is it that in a fortnight ONE PART of our society, belonging to a certain group, lost its sense of humor? How could they, without warning, decide that they are going to stop laughing with the rest of us! I thought we were all in this together? They can’t stop laughing at the same jokes now. They can’t be the ones deciding what is funny and what is not!
I thought that Humor and being able to laugh at our own tragedies and miseries, is what got us through and out of the war with half a sane brain. Otherwise we would have all turned into zombies. A good sense of humor has always been a Lebanese “thing”. It would be too bad if we lost it. There will be no telling on what we could lose next.
Laugh my friends. Laugh, because the way things stand, our country is damn funny, and everybody is laughing at us.
I hope that I won’t be asked to apologize after this post.
Photo source: www.naharnet.com
Labels: politics
February 3, 2009 at 2:49 PM EST
