Lebanon keeps getting gut-punched from sectarian strife to economic collapse. If it was a human it would be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, but even with this dire diagnosis, it keeps hanging on for dear life. Many Lebanese around the world cite jealousy as a reason for this, after all, for a country that is only in size, it has a cultural richness and natural beauty that many countries ten times larger lack. Look at the nations in the Emirates, they build fake resorts with oil money to attract tourists and yet lack the authenticity of Lebanon. They also lack the democracy of Lebanon, not one religion can dominate. In Lebanon, the President must be Christian, Prime Minister Sunni, and the Parliamentary Speaker Shia. Perfect segway into the recent election...
Note: I've been advised by my 82-year-old aunt (who raised 3 sons during the 1975-1990 civil war and her ceiling caved in during the massive explosion on Aug 4, 2020) in Beirut to ignore any election that takes place. As my Armenian aunt puts it: we can survive anything, it'd those folk who live in western countries that are weak with their so-called wealth. Talking Armenians, they have always been protected in Lebanon. From being assigned representation in Parliament to their Christmas being nationally recognized. If you're not familiar with Antelias and Anjar, look it up. I digress...
Two big takeaways from the vote on May 15, 2022: Hezbollah and its allies lost its parliamentary majority (now down to 62 out of 128 seats) and Lebanese Forces (a Christian bloc led by a feared warlord from the civil war, Samir Geagea) won the largest number of deputies. Only in Lebanon: Christians are now in talks for a power-sharing agreement with Saudi-backed parties. If you thought the economic collapse (deemed to be one of the three worst in the world since the 19th century) was out of control, just wait for Iran to get antsy over this aforementioned deal.
The chances of anything substantial arising from the new parliament are minuscule at best, but at least democracy is alive in a nation that has faced more adversity than all nations put together. Call it the Phoenician heritage, but nothing will deter this nation and its 14 million-strong diaspora. Saudi Arabia and Iran will always use and abuse the land of cedars while the rest of the world yawns.
For those playing country nickname trivia: Lebanon’s is known as the Switzerland of the Middle East, which brings me to another referendum that took place in the wealthiest landlocked nation on earth. Swiss voters voted in favor (58.42%) to tax Netflix and Disney to fund local productions. Furthermore, requiring 30% of content available in Switzerland be produced in Europe. People power is how you put bloated entertainment conglomerates in their place, not with stupid orders by taxpayer-funded American politicians, refer to Florida where the Republican Governor (shall remain nameless due to being a complete and utter bumpkin of the child of immigrants variety who is racist - the worst kind of earthling) went after Disney World. The party of business meddling in the free market, so much for small government!
P.S. Stay tuned for a big announcement next month. Clue: GE's new home will be in a city with an annual average snowfall of 37 inches (94 cm).
