Meet Special Agent Sfeir, Sir Aoun and Traitor Fairuz

Anybody who doesn’t answer to Damascus is apparently an agent of the Great Satan. The Maronite Patriarch has been formally inducted into the league of US agents, along with the entire March 14 group. Perhaps they should start killing Sfeir and his bishops now?

Marada Movement leader Suleiman Franjieh continued his attacks on Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir, urging him this time to resign "because archbishops who reach the age of 74 are asked to quit." Describing Sfeir as the "end of the Christians," Franjieh accused the prelate of working as a "cover for a critical scheme."

"Statements by Bkirki and the archbishops are not less decent than those (made) by some politicians who are known for their street talk," Franjieh said in an interview on NBN television Wednesday night. Franjieh on Tuesday accused Sfeir of acting as an employee for the U.S. and French embassies.

"With due respect to our patriarch he is an employee for the U.S. embassy and for the French embassy," Franjieh said. (Naharnet)

Not long ago, Michel Aoun described the patriarch as an “ordinary citizen”. Agreed, but who died and made Aoun an extraordinary gentleman?

And if you still think the Assad regime is supportive of Michel Suleiman, and heck, even of the Arab League Secretary-general (who was last seen trying to implement Berri's time-buying plan by trying to arrange a meaningless meeting between Aoun and Hariri), check this out, straight from the mouth of Bashar's bosom buddy:

Franjieh attacked Arab League chief Amr Moussa, accusing him of bias. He charged that Moussa travels around in a Hariri-owned airplane and that his hotel fee is paid by al-Moustaqbal movement leader.

Franjieh also slammed army commander Gen. Michel Suleiman, saying that he does not trust him. "I don't have confidence in someone who trusts (cabinet) minister Elias Murr and wants him in the (new government) and at the same time he is regarded a (government) supporter." (Naharnet)

I guess we should all place our trust in Franjieh, under whose watch as interior minister, Rafik Hariri and many others were murdered.  As for Moussa,  well, I don't trust him either, not because he allegedly flies on Hariri jets, but because  he still bothers with trash like Aoun and Berri. And because he is going to celebrate Arab culture with the thugs who killed and jailed Arab intellectuals in Syria and Lebanon.

But then, even our Fairuz thinks singing in the presence of Lebanese killers is consistent with being Lebanese. She makes Franjieh looks honest. (side note: I am not letting this go. Her singing in Damascus at this point in time is the biggest blow to Lebanese and Arab culture since the assassination of Samir Kassir and the jailing of Michel Kilo).

Comments

[Dania]

Yr right! Neither Syria nor M8 want Sleiman for the presidency any longer. In fact, there's talk they want to push ahead with Slimy Franjieh himself now, and my guess they want to keep it void altogether! As for aoun there's no shutting up this guy, one can only hope the almighty would just send him a one way ticket invite to his realm and permanently deliver us of his ranting. Finally, I agree with you about Feiruz,she had better put a sock in it instead of singing for killers and dictators!

[Jeha]

AK

Do not bother with Slimy the Younger, or with Boul'Mich; their only strength is due to this Patriarch's main weakness. I doubt they would have dared raise their voice on a Hoayek or Meouchy. Nevertheless, the attacks are mostly irrelevant, since most Christians do not put much stock in Bkerke anyway. The real tragedy is not the Patriach's lack of leadership, rather, it is the absence of leaders.

Good point about Fayrouz, but I have another perspective. still think her actions are not as relevant as those Arab leaders who still reinforce Damascus. Going after her will do little, and may even be counterproductive, since we now have to look beyond the Assad regime, towards a Syrian populace who's also suffering under his rule.

[Andre]

The sad truth about all of this is the apparent collapse of the christian/maronite position in Lebanon. Once again this type of rhetoric against the patriarch weakens the status of the christians and destroys their credibility overall.

[Blacksmith Jade]

And you shouldn't let it go Abu Kais. This isn't about punishing regular Syrians (as some have tried to spin it) but about Fairouz reinforcing the notion that everything is hunky-dory and that it is not the autocratic Syrian regime that is going against the moral norm, but the Lebanese people's struggle against that regime.

[aboujahl]

AK: Fairuz Lebanese? No; check that out ...Traitror? Yes; because she betrayed the trust of the nation that gave her her identity, unlike many decent naturalized Lebanese who did not, Samir Kassir for example!

[Solomon2]

"Anybody who doesn’t answer to Damascus is apparently an agent of the Great Satan."

Don't you think Lebanese could take a page from the Iraqis' book and start viewing association with Americans (or even Israelis) as something desirable, rather than something abhorrent? If you defend that position publicly, would you not make the Syro/Hezbollah/Iran gang look stupid and cowardly by comparison?

[aboujahl]

right on target Solomon; notwithstanding the great achievements of the american people, at least it is one nation that can potentially change its leaders every four years...as for israel, someone should start by pressuring our dear pm to stop volunteering stale arabist lingo that addresses israel as "barbarian enemy", for a false "cause" that even its own people had long given up ....

[Andre]

To everyone here: branding Fairuz as a traitor is utterly ridiculous. No one has done more to sing Lebanon's praises than she did, no one has represented the country with pride and eloquence than she did, she has given all of herself to portray Lebanon in such a wonderful way in all her songs that none of us could ever do. She has given all of us a voice even during the worst of times in the history of Lebanon. She represents the best of our country and those of you asking her to take sides and drag her good name in the mud for the sake of satisfying a political agenda is reprehensible to say the least. Why should Fairuz have to choose between one side or the other? Should she embrace some lebanese at the expense of others? Should her reputation take a hit because she has decided to do what she's always done: sing about her people and her country? Let us leave her out of the decaying political atmosphere that has compromised our reputation in the world, and instead honor our country by uniting and embracing one of the great icons whose name is so much associated with Lebanon, its culture and its intellectual wealth. Let her sing Lebanon for all of us. It is one of the very few silver linings left for all of us.

[Super Dude]

"It is one of the very few silver linings left for all of us."

Yes, who cares about state and principal, music is so much better. Only the Lebanese (or Arabs for that matter) can justify the higher priority of entertainment above everything else.

I can't wait for her opening comments. I hope she is wise enough to not have any.

[aboujahl]

All. I think that we have given Fairuz more than her fair share of respect by discussing her political misdeed for so long! As for her vocal misdeeds, that's a matter of taste ....

[Bad Vilbel]

Spot-on, Solomon.

Excellent point about how the Iraqis are now making it desirable to be pro-American. Sadly, our little sheeple in Lebanon have been so brainwashed with talk of "the evil Satan" that I can't see this happening anytime soon. Our loss. We're basically a bunch of idiots (That's been my explanation for everything, lately, and you all know it's true!)

About Fairuz.

I said it yesterday, and I'll repeat it today. Fairuz can kiss my ass. I don't buy Andre's politically correct "arts and music" argument. Syria is as much our enemy today as Israel ever was. I don't see Fairuz singing in Tel Aviv, and she certainly shouldn't be singing in Damascus, for those who continue to murder her people. I don't give a rats ass about the poor Syrian people deserving some entertainment (again, let's use the same argument to send Fairuz to Tel Aviv. After all, the poor Israeli people deserve to hear her, even if their government is dropping bombs on our country, right?)

So spare me the sappy PC arguments, guy. Fairuz can rot in hell.

Which brings me to another point: WHY HAVEN'T WE CUT OFF RELATIONS WITH SYRIA YET?

I know there aren't that many relations to cut off...but still. I give you the following quote from Wiam Wahab (I know, laugh away!), dating back to when the Saudi ambassador was being threatened by Damascus, and had to flee back to Arabia for his own safety:

Wi'am Wahhab said that he "read on the internet" that Khoja was involved in a plot to assassinate Nasrallah. If true, he said at the time, then we must cut all ties with KSA and kick Khoja out of the country. (I snipped this off Across The Bay)

In a world where most countries cut off relations, close borders, and even go to war over much less (Anyone follow the ongoing British-Russian rift over the assassination of the Russian spy in London?), Lebanon doesn't have the balls to make at LEAST a symbolic gesture of some sort, while its people continue to be blown up? If it were me, I'd tell Fairuz, and any other Lebanese "If you go to Syria, you can't come back in." (kinda like what we do with people who have an Israeli stamp on their passport). Only fair, no?

[Sam]

Fairuz is not giving a concert in Damascus, but scheduled to play in "Sahh el-Nom" (a play) there in the summer of 2008. It is a remake of an old play, described by Saeed Akl as one of the best by the Rahbany brothers. The same music, the same texts. It has played in Beirut at the beginning of last year, and has played in other cities I think. Fairuz hasn't performed in Syria for a very long time, where she has more hard-core fans than in Lebanon. These people are now victims of a dictatorship. The play in itself is very critical of dictatorship. In fact, the whole subject of the play is rebelling against a dictatorship. Needlesses to say, no songs of praise for murderous dictators will be sung. But the exact opposite.

[danny]

This post regarding Fairuz clearly exposes a fragile psyche is Lebanese people. Of course in a free and democratic society things would have been different. There is no right or wrong! She's free to do whatever she wants. However, when Syria is under international investigation in crimes committed from Hariri to the latest, whereas one investigator, Mehlis, had clearly stated Syrian involvemnet oh high level, whereas every day we hear from Syrian attack dogs constant intimidation and threats; should Lebanese say, please bring the rest of the cow dunk from your backyards and dump it on us?

There has to be one unanimous HELL NO!! Also, stop the defeatist explanations of separating art and music from politics! Hmmm, I guess the Jewish Philharmonic should've done a show in downtown BERLIN WHEN THE Nazi's were literally burning a whole race?

Guys, this is what's wrong with the March 14 side. You are trying to please everyone by kissing every ass. That does not prove that you are civil...Only that your a neutered!!!!!!!!!!!

[AK]

Sam, I thought she was performing that play on Jan 28, as part of the cultural capital festivities, organised by the thugs of Damascus.

[Andre]

Danny and BV,

What if Fairuz decided to perform in Washington or New York? Would you then criticize Hizbullah for labeling her a traitor for performing in the US? Let's face it our internal divisions are so deep that they have affected every aspect of our national life. It has also blurred the lines as to whom is the enemy and who's not! You consider Syria to be the enemy while others consider them to be friends and the US to be the bad guy...so who wins this argument? It all depends on perspectives. When a nation like ours is so divided that we can't agree on anything then perhaps we ought to spare the very few things that leave us with some of our pride intact. As far as performing in Israel well if they are interested in listening to her, then I would love to see them cringe as she performs one lebanese patriotic song after another...that would be ironic and perhaps tame their disdain for our country a bit. I am done with this subject and I thank you all for your opinions to my posts.

[Bad Vilbel]

Andre,

Last I checked the US isn't actively murdering our MPs, invading our lands, fomenting terrorism and so on.

To you, and to Sam, I will say this one more time. If you guys see nothing wrong with Fairuz performing in Syrian, then SURELY you see no issue with her performing in Tel Aviv, or for the Tel Aviv Symphony performing in the Baalbeck Festival. After all, I'm sure the Israelis think the Lebanese people are in need of some culture and arts (just like you think the Syrians are), to distract us from all our woes.

Answer me that question. Pure and simple. Or stop being hypocrites about this.

[Bad Vilbel]

Let me make another little comparison:

Whenever anyone remotely ASSOCIATED with some kind of antisemitic comments talks about visiting Israel, or performing something anywhere NEAR a jewish community, the whole Jewish world complains, protests, boycotts, etc.

Whenever anyone remotely associated with any kind of pro Al-Qaeda mentality is slated to speak, perform or otherwise appear anywhere in the US, a very large majority of the community protests. (I'm reminded of the city of NY turning down a very generous check from Prince Bandar, following 9/11, because of a perceived justification for the attacks that he may have made in one of his comments).

Now I'm not saying these reactions (or sometimes overreactions) are always a good idea. But it goes to show how peoples around the world, with any sense of national pride, stand up for any perceived affront to their nation.

The fact that us Lebanese are entirely incapable of that goes a long way in explaining why we're so fragmented and lacking of a national identity (let alone a functional state).

Just about the ONLY kind of boycott that we're capable of sticking to seems to be ones that aren't even our own making, or about our nation, but rather about our sectarian affliations. If someone in Timbuktu even tangentially insults an Iranian mullah, hordes of unwashed masses will come out of Dahieh, burn tires and trash the Timbuktu embassy in Beirut. Where is that kind of devotion and loyalty to LEBANON. Iranian mullahs are apparently more sacred to some of our people than their own nation...

[Arnie in NYC]

I cannot comment on Fairuz going to Damascus, although I am certain she would receive a warm welcome in Tel Aviv. In regard to the "Jewish Philharmonic should've done a show in downtown BERLIN" and "the Tel Aviv Symphony performing in the Baalbeck Festival", the following is from the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra's website.

"The Israel Philharmonic Orchestra is one of Israel's oldest and most influential cultural institutions. Since its founding by Polish violinist Bronislaw Huberman in 1936, the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra has dedicated itself to presenting the world's greatest music to audiences in Israel and around the world.

The IPO is Israel's premier cultural ambassador and travels extensively throughout the world. In 2005, the Orchestra garnered rave reviews when it traveled to *Berlin*, London, Paris and Geneva, and to South America."

Arnie in NYC

[Bad Vilbel]

I think you're missing the point, Arnie. We're not talking about the orchestra performing in Berlin today. We're talking about it performing in Berlin in 1942, for a festival organized by Hitler and the Nazi Party. Could you picture the Tel Aviv philarmonic performing at the Nuremberg rally say? I can't.

[Jeha]

No need to split hairs here; the difference between "giving a concert" and "scheduled to play" is equivalent to splitting hairs; Fairouz is singing in Damascus, that's a fact. And she is set to sing on January 28, not in the summer, another fact.

Still, if the Syrian regime needs a few songs to draw legitimacy, so be it; what's one more rain dance?

[Bad Vilbel]

Obivously, the IPO didn't exist back in 1942 (before someone decides to correct me on that), but I was simply using that to make a point.

[Jeha]

BV,

Amie has it; the "Palestine Orchestra" was founded in 1936, and later became the IPO... But the analogy does not work quite well, I am afraid; it is a sad fact that Nazi ideology was only the most extreme form of German anti-semitism, and it took Germans an horrible defeat to wake up to the horror. There is no equivalent ideology at work in Syria today, even if you factor in the PSNS.

And unlike the 1940's, we're not at war against a wannabe "master race", but against a family of wannabe masters. For all practical purposes, this regime is out if it does not "bend" a little. And if it is out, we need to prepare for the "after"... Culture, such as it is, is the only means to do so.

[danny]

Sorry Jeha,

I disagree. I made the compararison to The JF. ..and I know it was established in 1936. that's not the issue here. You mean Lebanon has to be terrorized more? More of its intellectuals murdered, more of its politicians slaughtered, more of its citizens threatened and "exploded"?? You are almost getting close to the Jewish rationale that the Holocaust was unique...Armenian, rwandan Genocides were "different"..."There is no equivalent ideology at work in Syria today, even if you factor in the PSNS".

Sorry buddy, half of its up and coming populace have "left"...WHAT IS THERE FOR Syrians to do to have an equivalent idealogy? Hama?? Does it ring a bell??

Good night. I'm too pissed off!!

[Rob]

Jeha wrote...

"since we now have to look beyond the Assad regime, towards a Syrian populace who's also suffering under his rule."

Yeah Jeha and these poor bastards will be somewhat relieved from their suffering to know Fairouz is attending, what a compelling argument if I ever heard one!

[Jeha]

Surely I do not mean that a song and dance number will do anything positive. If anything, it will confirm the Syrian in his stubbornness, and they will accelerate towards the brick wall.

Personally, I do not like it that she is singing there either, but my point is different. I feel we have to look beyond the Assad regime. If we do, we see that the Syrians will still be there. Today, they have so little to look forward to that hearing Fayrouz sing means a lot to them.

So, let the diva enjoy the limelight, let the masses have their opium. They'll be time enough for (hard) business later on.

[Bad Vilbel]

Jeha,

I'm afraid I have to disagree with you.

No one here is saying the plight of Lebanon is equivalent to the holocaust. That is not the issue. The point I was making (and stand by) is that when any country or people in the word feel they are being victimized, they protest, fight back, or at least stand up for their dignity (see my previous examples about boycotts, about the UK-Russian affair, etc.)

Let me repeat my previous scenario: If someone in Timbuktu insulted Sayyed Ali Khamenei in a danish-style cartoon, you can be ASSURED that angry mobs from Dahieh would come out, burn tires, and demand Lebanon boycott Timbuktu. Correct?

[Sam]

AK, I was mistaken about the date of Fairuz's performance.
I don't like it that she's going to Syria, to perform in a propaganda festival organized by a ruthless regime, and if she were to go to Israel I wouldn't like it either for other reasons. I was just commenting on the play's anti-dictatorship message, and the intimate link her songs have with her Damascene public's hearts. I would have defended her all the same if she were playing an anti-occupation play in Jerusalem, and if the Arab and non-Arab people of Jerusalem had been longing to see her sing there for years. The word "traitor" is obviously source for controversy.