Never Again

The Lebanese should calm down, look at Iraq, and reflect.

I promise It won't happen again

I have my strong opinions and convictions. So do my political opponents.

But unlike many observers believe (or perversely seem to wish for), neither my camp nor the opposite one wants a civil war. In fact, every single person in this country saw enough bloodshed to last a lifetime, and we do not wish to see another war in the near or far future, thank you very much.

My opponents and I also have a common belief: An external force is bent on fighting with our bodies. I believe it's Syria, my opponents believe it’s The US and Israel. We are both convinced that the “foreign villain” is intent on using the tense situation to cause mayhem in this country.

Wisdom demands that we both watch what’s happening in Iraq today and learn our lessons very well.

Let’s for a second imagine an Iraqi horror scenario in Lebanon, and let’s imagine, really imagine, the possible Headlines in the BBC:

* Bomb goes off in busy market in the Lebanese Sunni City of Tripoli, 109 dead. Angry mob vows revenge. Hariri calls for calm.

2 days later:
*Suicide bomber attacks mosque in Shiaa city of Tyr, killing at least 78 Friday worshipers. Nassrallah asks demonstrators not to fall for the Israeli trap.

3 days later:
*30 bodies found in Beirut, 40 in Sidon. All are believed to be Sunnis, the bodies show signs of torture.

Same day:
*Suicide bomber blows himself up in Maronite church in the Northern Christian city of Zghorta killing 38, Sleiman Franjieh, a local Christian leader, says he knows who the “dogs” behind this are

After that, the bad guys can safely remove their hands. We will start killing each other on our very own momentum. You get the picture.

And you know what the worst part is?

People the world over will be watching/reading about our civil war unfolding, in the safety of their countries, and a few months down the line, popcorn in hand, they'll start getting bored of our news. They'll start dissing us as inherently violent and saying that we deserve this because we can't stand each other. The very mention of Lebanon would guarantee their reach for the remote control and switch to Jay Leno.

Whoever the bad guy is (Syria or Israel), the above Scenario is HELL, and we shouldn't let it happen. Honest communication should immediately take the place of tense mobilization.