The funny thing that happened yesterday is that a bunch of friends and I agreed on meeting in the environs of Downtown, some time before 3:00 p.m., to move forward, together, toward Martyr's Square. However, it didn't occur to us that people will be hurling themselves into the protests in such a way, from every single corner: There were people even in small alleys where pictures weren't taken. Of course, one wouldn't have expected mobiles to work in such circumstances (thank you Alpha and Mtc Touch for not being a disappointment). So, what I'm trying to say is that I ended up protesting alone for hours. It wasn't as bad as it seems, since yesterday everyone seemed to know each other, even small kids reiterating slogans they barely understood. Having decided to go with the flow, I only managed to take few steps before getting the feeling that I was actually being crushed: You were lucky if you found a place to put your feet on the ground.
Most of the slogans I was reading and hearing were funny and witty, but I can't deny that some went very low, and were boldly shameful according to me. I liked one that said: "He's swimming, Lebanon is drowning; he's getting a tan, Lebanon is burning" ("He" meaning Lahoud of course, who, supposedly, was practicing his favorite hobby, the day Hariri was burried). On a different level, lucky Haifa Wehbe is at last relieved that people are venting on someone else instead. Your emails are surely flowing with different kinds of jokes and funny slogans concerning the current situation. I think it may be an interesting case to study: "the humorous side of the Lebanese people revolt". As a real-life example, here's what a friend sent me about an incident he encountered yesterday: "It was a joke by "basmat watan" and it happened really today with me and my friend: we bought a Lebanese flag from a Syrian guy by 7000 L.L. w ken ma3o chi3arat el mou3arada w chi3ar Independence 05 w icharat zoro2 hahahhaha".
It was a long day. Each time I returned home, I would watch protestors on TV, and hear all these patriotic songs, then decide to return to the place one more time (luckily, I lived nearby). The last time, while passing near the college, I encountered the president of the university, the dean of Human Science Department, and the director of the translation major (who is also the supervisor of my unfinished thesis). They were probably heading from one campus to the other. "It REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, isn't the time!", I said to myself. Fortunately, and although I passed right through them, they didn't see me. I felt so guilty. I really should go back to working on my thesis! I didn't think we'd get our independence before finishing it. Next thing, you'll tell me pigs will fly too!
Now, care to see some anti-Emile slogans?
"Wish you contented yourself with swimming, and never spoke, Emile!"
Msn-Style..
"Father, don't forgive them because they know what they are doing, but save us from the evil: Emile"
No need to translate this one...
Away from this, there's a picture I really liked, which doesn't need, in my opinion, any comment from my side (P.S. I don't know who took it; got it by email):
 |
سلام
شجرة الارز علي جبين الطفل الصغير
لا اعتقد أن هناك صورة أخرى يمكن ان تصور الامل بكل هذا التفاؤل