Comments on: The foooooooool revolution

By: Global Voices Online » Blog Archive » Lebanon: Demonstrations, Demonstrations

Tue, 12 Dec 2006 10:56:56 +0000

[...] In Lebanon, demonstrations are given nick-names. The opposition’s demonstrations going on these days are dubbed the “Foooooool Revolution” by Anarchorev, in contrast to the “Cedar’s Revolution” that was called the “Hummus Revolution”, both foul (fava beans) and hummus are types of foods from Lebanon: OK, so we went down to the street, and it was packed, and diverse, and yeah I loved the sound effects and music… but seriously, “national unity government”? Come on. Let us get real, what is this “national unity” government supposed to be about? “You’re thieves but we’re OK with joining hands with you to ‘build’ Lebanon if you give us our share [based on what? sects?]”? …. no thanks. But hey, as long as you can topple this government all the more power to you. [...]

By: Tired

Tired — Fri, 08 Dec 2006 01:19:45 +0000

I was just repeating what I read in Y Liban I think it was… It was claimed they were throwing stones from a mosque. (Although now wthat they’ve found water, I could be convinced that Mars has it’s attractions.)

I wondered if it had been reported as such anywhere else.

And yeah, I did read what you wrote differently. So, big stuff planned for the weekend. What’s the endgame here? Certainly this hurts the merchentile class, but no one in the sitting government seems to be overly shaken yet.

Nashrallah et al indicate they have “surprises.” How are the “Harari supporters” holding up? At what point does this thing tip over and what is the outcome when/if real street battles start?

By: Anarchorev

Anarchorev — Thu, 07 Dec 2006 08:00:09 +0000

Syrian stone throwers? Maybe you’re living on Mars, but the stone throwers were not Syrians. They were Lebanese and they were Hariri supporters.

By: Anarchorev

Anarchorev — Thu, 07 Dec 2006 07:59:18 +0000

I meant it differently than what you understood. I meant that the next round in Lebanon will be even uglier. I did not mean that the opposition will turn it ugly, but rather, that whatever the opposition does will be faced with violence, because the other side, namely the loyalists (ironic that now we call them loyalists, talk about a switch in roles and getting a taste of one’s own medicine ) are unwilling to put up with the opposition, and the closer the opposition comes to toppling this corrupt government the more afraid they will become… fear can push people to do the unthinkable.

By: Tired

Tired — Thu, 07 Dec 2006 07:46:13 +0000

You said the next round of opposition will be even uglier. But isn’t Hizbullah the “opposition” or am I reading this wrong?

By: Tired

Tired — Thu, 07 Dec 2006 07:42:00 +0000

What’s the deal with the Syrian stone throwers that were arrested?

By: Anarchorev

Anarchorev — Wed, 06 Dec 2006 19:28:51 +0000

Actually I never said it was HezbAllah that would turn violent. So far we have seen the opposite, and there is every indication – seeing the discipline of HezbAllah (which has its own crowd control people down at the square where the protests/sit-ins are taking place) – that the ugly turn will be initiated and perpetuated by the hooligan followers of those who are holding the reins at the moment (of course, with their encouragement, funding, and collaboration).

They will not just walk away, of course, which is why Lebanon will witness a new phase this Sunday.

By: Tired

Tired — Wed, 06 Dec 2006 18:53:10 +0000

That’s interesting. You 100% support the group that you think will turn violent if they don’t succeed peacefully.

Doesn’t seem like there’s much real hope for the later. Do you think the groups in power will really just walk away, especially if they are as corrupt as it is suggested.

By: Anarchorev

Anarchorev — Tue, 05 Dec 2006 18:59:07 +0000

The rationale of the alliance is that there are huge segments of Leb. society that are sick and tired of the “march 14″ talking and not translating words into actions and in fact doing the EXACT opposite of their words…. these people (the “march 14″) want to extend their rule indefinitely but don’t want to do anything in return. Not even give the people a bunch of services to put them to sleep for some time. Instead all that we hear is “the truth”, “we will not forget”, etc., and every time anyone questions their behaviour they accuse them of being “pro-Syrian”, or seeking to stop the tribunal. Well it’s become a broken record, and people are just SICK of it. Frankly if I had to choose between a proven incompetent and an untried incompetent, I would go for the SECOND. I think the sectarian, partisan elements are being highlighted too much, at the expense of the independents or those who are down there for economic, etc. reasons (even if they might be supportive of one party or another). People seem to forget that being a partisan does NOT mean one ceases to have worries about economic, social, safety issues…

Well it’s not just Aoun who is taking part in this opposition movement, it’s also Frangieh (he is Christian if it matters) and his party Al-Marada, who has a significant following (hailing from the north), and also many Sunnis and Druze, the LCP (Leb. “Communist” Party) (hardly communist IMO), many independents who are against this govn’t for many reasons, etc. So it would not just be H.A/Amal left… Personally, I am supportive of this movement 100%. It’s important to get rid of this government NOW because if it fails, the next round of opposition will be even UGLIER. If people think this is ugly, they better brace themselves for what will come IF the government does not fall.

By: Tired

Tired — Tue, 05 Dec 2006 08:02:19 +0000

Thanks for that, although I can’t say I understand the specific rational of the alliance any better.

How important (if at all) is he to Hizbullah’s “unity” concept? If he left for any reason, is Hizbullah/Amal’s support almost all Shia at the point?