Dare to Question - University of Balamand

Issue 37 - April 2015
In one Cultural Studies (CS) class of mine,
I asked students about their political preferences.
One told me that he supports the Lebanese Forces,
another was a fan of General Aoun, a third one
favored Hezbollah, and so on. While discussing the
different political positions of these parties, students
got emotional and became verbally violent while
dealing with each other. At that moment, I stopped
the discussions and asked them whether they had
lived through the civil war in Lebanon and whether
they were involved in any killing or massacres that
were committed then. The answer was a clear “no.”
At that moment, I could not stop myself from asking
the students a very simple question: why on earth
would they show their allegiances to parties that have
committed all these atrocities while they had nothing
to do with it? A university is a place where students
are supposed to rethink everything. Isn’t it time for
all of us to rethink our political life in Lebanon and
develop a critical approach to the political system and
practices? Aren’t we all in agreement that the country
is terribly managed, regardless of the political parties
within the government? Can we deny that the country
is dominated by corrupt politicians and bureaucrats?
Most importantly, don’t we all need to rethink our
unchosen affiliations that create conflict and frictions
amongst ourselves?
At a time of the upsurge of the Arab Spring, if
we look at the unfolding events that are taking place
in the region as a process of change, of the making of
a new Middle East and Arab World, it is the role of
the University, teachers and students, to be engaged
in real debates to understand and produce new ideas
and paradigms, to participate in making the changes
in the desirable direction. We need to listen to each
other, to work on understanding and accommodating
differences and on developing a new paradigm of
tolerance, freedom, respect, participation, social
equality, and protection. It is our endeavor today to
rethink ourselves as Lebanese and Arabs, to revisit
Kant’s imperative morality and Hegel’s spirit of the
law, to promote the concept of common good on
the expense of selfishness and individualism, to see
the humans in ourselves instead of our particular
alleviations and wills. It is time for us as teachers and
students to rethink ourselves and create a new vision
for Lebanon and the Arab World. Are we up for
the challenge?
Dr. Nawaf Kabbara
Dare to Question
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On the Margin
g
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Questions are the challenges that make us learn.
Knowledge is at the core of innovation. The more
people understand the way the world works, the more
they can develop solutions to problems. Life is based on
questions starting with the simple “Who am I?” to more
complex ones. We ask questions about our existence in
search for meaning. It is crucial that we create a culture
of Why ? but maintaining it is very complex.
As Voltaire presciently noted, “Doubt is not a
pleasant condition, but certainty is absurd.” It is absurd
to take things without doubting or testing them in any
way, and go on preaching that you really do have the
answers*. It is absurd to be able to accomplish such an
enormous feat simply by following orders and without
any substantial struggle, discomfort or risk.
Religion comes as a solution for the discomfort
of not knowing in the sense that it provides answers to
grand issues. This gives spiritual fulfilment. However,
belief does not have to be blind and it does not have to be
characterized by the absence of doubt. On the contrary,
it is the questioning and doubts that ameliorate our
belief. This area has always been a muse for philosophers
who tackled religious belief from different angles.
Not knowing, just like other cases of being
uncomfortable, is a great incentive for personal growth.
Progress always comes at the point of resistance. Getting
uncomfortable and willing to be uncertain, to not know,
to ask questions, to err and to fail, is the best and only
way to learn, grow, progress and move forward.
The idea of asking questions is what inspired
the establishment of universities and educational
institutions. It is the thirst for knowledge that drives
the strife for discovery. Humanity’s endeavors in the
fields of science, medicine, arts, and technology are a
testament of this fact.
So not knowing is always the very first step on the
way to knowledge and discovery.“I know that I don’t
know. But you don’t know that you don’t know, and
that is why you think you know”, is what Socrates used
to say: “Be uncomfortable! Have doubt! Ask questions!
You just might be on the way to discovering something
absolutely incredible!”*
(https://www.singularityweblog.com/the-importance-of-doubtasking-questions-and-not-knowing/)
Asma Kammoun
In This Issue
Rally Paper Pre-Challenges
Let’s Talk
50 Shades of Controversy
RALLY PAPER PRE-CHALLENGES
VIDEO PRE-CHALLENGE:
Lib dub a song of ur choice while dancing in the UOB fountain facing
main gate , shoot a video of at least 90 seconds. If the security guards
follow you, run as fast as you can.
GRADES: 500 POINTS FOR FIRST, 400 FOR SECOND, 300 FOR THIRD.
PIMP YOUR RIDE:
P
7DNHDVHOoHZLWKWKHFDUEHIRUHDQGDIWHU\RXFXVWRPL]HLWLQFOXGHWKH
word "SSS" on the car design. Send the collage as direct message to
sssclub_uob to be posted on instagram where you will have to gather
the highest amount of likes after following the account. Grades will be
divided %50 on likes and %50 on the SSS evaluation.
P
GRADES: 500 POINTS FOR FIRST, 400 FOR SECOND, 300 FOR THIRD.
P
2
Balamandiyyat
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FHS Student Strikes Gold
Lea Sacca
importance of holding on to history and preserving
one’s heritage, by fighting for one’s nation’s rights
and standing up for one’s cause which was the
Armenian Genocide.
The young talented man never gave up on his
ambitions after he lost when he participated for the
first time in the same competition two years before,
in 2013. He says: “Even though I did not win that
year, and it turned out to be more nerve-wracking
than I had expected, I wanted to do it again just
for the thrill of it.” Luckily, the result was truly
rewarding this year. The jury was delighted by his
elegant yet powerful performance on stage and the
crowd cheered him on as he received his golden,
victorious award at the end of the Competition.
Emil asserts and stresses on the tremendous
value of participating in such a rewarding
experience, despite having to go up on stage and
address an audience for five minutes straight.
But the stage fright is completely forgotten once
one starts talking and enjoying the moment,
thinking about the possibility of spending a week
in London to attend the International Public
Speaking Competition!
Good Luck Emil for the following years! We
are proud to have a public speaking student from
our own at FHS, Ashrafieh!
http://haltech.ca/wp-content/uploads/09/2014/Businessman-Trophy.jpg
Failure to accomplish his goal from the first
time never hindered his dreams. With seemingly
endless practice and support from his coach, the
one-of-a-kind English Drama course instructor Mrs.
Nayiri Baboudjian, Emil Whaibe achieved success
in the National Public Speaking Competition held
on March 21 st, 2015, at the Lebanese American
University, Beirut. Emil is currently a senior in
Medical Laboratory Sciences at FHS.
The Competition, held annually, is addressed
to all university students in Lebanon. What made
it more exciting was the eclectic mix of participants
belonging to the student bodies of various
universities across distinct regions in the nation,
including the Lebanese American University, the
Lebanese International University, the University
of Saint Joseph, the University of Balamand, and
Haigazian University. The Competition did not
include any categories; however, participants were
restricted to write about a single, specific topic. This
year’s broad debate subject entitled “To be ignorant
of the past is to remain a child” was unique in its
way and gave students the freedom to interpret its
hidden significance in their own way.
Emil used his speech “How to stitch a hundred
year-old wound” to present his distinct experience
as a Lebanese-Armenian, and to highlight the
Let’s Talk
Charbel Harika
“It is another world, a world that touches the
humane side of every human being.” This is how
Dr. Jocelyne Azar, a medical doctor specialized in
psychiatry, describes her field. Dr. Azar also holds
various degrees in the fields of psychotherapy,
cognitive behavior therapy (CBT), eating disorders
and forensic psychology, in addition to an MBA
in hospital management from ESA. She has
recently joined the University of Balamand as the
psychotherapist at the counselling center.
The terminologies of this particular field tend
to be confused, especially the terms psychiatry and
psychotherapy. Dr. Azar explains that psychiatry
deals with psychiatric and personality disorders
which are often treated by a medical doctor
specialized in psychiatry. Psychotherapy, on
the other hand, deals with problems like stress,
depression and anxiety disorders which are usually
treated by a psychotherapist using a variety of
techniques involving dialogue.
Dr. Azar’s role on campus is to provide therapy,
counseling, evaluation, and assessment of particular
problems. She adds that “problems that tend to
appear when students enter university include
social integration and adaptation issues, learning
difficulties, generalized anxiety, family problems or
others.” She insists that “people must be aware that
seeking help from a specialized therapist is very
normal.” The idea of seeking professional help may
make people feel uneasy. Some may find themselves
living in a state of denial until they can no longer
function properly in society. However, reactions
to psychotherapy have become seemingly positive
in our present society due to the awareness that is
being spread by the media. Dr. Azar explains that
“media has helped people understand that this field
is a credible and scientific one related to biology
and medical disciplines.”
Dr. Jocelyn Azar is a very vibrant person,
and always full of positive energy. She is indeed
a valuable addition to the counseling center at
the university. She is available for meetings every
Wednesday at the university. Dr. Azar assures that
meetings with her at the University of Balamand
are guaranteed to be extremely confidential, and
she encourages everyone to come forward. For
more details, everyone is welcome to check with
the university’s counselling center on the second
floor of Zakhem Building or contact them on their
extension 3939.
Balamandiyyat
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3
Questions You Need to Ask
Marie Christine Melhem
How does that cope with your brand? Yes your
brand? What can you do to sharpen it? A brand is a
promise; it has substance, what is yours?
- What do you want?
- What don’t you want?
- If there were obstacles, what are your strengths
to focus on and develop?
If there were obstacles, what are your weaknesses
to work on, to control, to see when they rise and
how to tame when necessary?
- What’s the perfect day looking for you? Week?
Month? Year?
- Where do you see yourself in 1 year? Where
do you see yourself in 3 years?
- What are you thankful for? It’s very important
to see what you have and take note, appreciate, and
thank the people, situations, and experiences.
Many things might come along your way and
shape your path, along with your choices, research.
Now, I let you fill in the blanks and craft along
Lastly further to writing the above, put the
following all together: I will use my (space) by doing
(space) to create a world in which all people would
experience (space).
Happy thinking, enjoy molding and creating
your life and what you want! And Happy Easter!!
changecoaching.org
What are some important questions that
we must ask ourselves for setting our goals and
achieving them.
In our walks of life, along with our internal
thoughts we have what is happening around us as
well that can affect our plans, alter them but also
can help us shape our life. It has 2 sides and up to
you to make the best of it!
I have drafted for you below a few questions
to give you a little friendly push towards crafting
yourselves, your brand, your visions, your companies
(maybe) and assist in your agenda.
- What’s my vision?
- What’s my mission? What do I bring forth in
this world?
- What are my values? What do you stand for
(state 3 non negotiable values).
- What’s my passion? What makes me get up in
the morning and excited to do?
- What can I offer to the world?
What can the world offer me?
What are my talents and do I like to nurture
and do them?
State 5 talents that you have and want to do?
What is one talent that you can really focus on
that you do better than many?
‫ ﻛﺎﺗﺐ ﺑﻠﻤﻨﺪي واﻋﺪ‬:‫روﺑري اﺷﻘﺮ‬
‫ﻟﻴﺎ ﺳﻘﺎ‬
“.‫ وأﻧﺎ ﻣﻄﻤﱧ وﻣﺘﺄﻛﺪ ﻣﻦ ﻧﺠﺎﺣﻚ ﰲ اﳌﺴﺘﻘﺒﻞ‬.‫”أﻧﺖ ﻣﻤ ّﻴﺰ‬
‫ ﻧﺤﻦ ﻧﺆﻛّﺪ ﻟﻚ أ ّن ﺟ ّﺪك مل ﻳﻌﺪ اﻟﻮﺣﻴﺪ اﳌﺘﻤﺘّﻊ‬.‫ﺗﺠﺪر اﻹﺷﺎرة إﱃ أ ّن روﺑﺮت اﻷﺷﻘﺮ ﻛﺎن ﰲ اﻟﺜّﺎﻟﺜﺔ ﻋﴩة ﺑﺠﺴﻢ اﻻﻧﺴﺎن‬
‫ ﺑﺎﺳﻢ ﻃﻼب ﺟﺎﻣﻌﺔ اﻟﺒﻠﻤﻨﺪ وﺑﺎﺳﻢ زﻣﻼﺋﻚ‬،‫ وﻧﺤﻦ‬.‫اﻟﻼﻓﺖ أ ّن روﺑﺮت ﺑﺪأ مبﻮﻫﺒﺘﻚ‬
ّ ‫ وﻣﻦ‬.‫ﻛﻠامت ﻛﺎﻧﺖ ﺗﺼﺪر ﻣﻦ ﻳﻨﺒﻮ ٍع ﻳﺘﺪﻓّﻒ ﻣﻨﻪ اﻟﺤﻨﺎن اﻟﺸﺎﻣﻞ ﻣﻦ ﻋﻤﺮه ﻋﻨﺪ ﺗﺄﻟﻴﻔﻪ اﻟﻜﺘﺎب‬
ّ ‫واﻟﺤﺐ‬
!‫ اﻟﺤﻔﻴﺪ ﻫﻮ اﻵن ﰲ ﺗﺄﻟﻴﻒ ﻛﺘﺎﺑﻪ اﻟﺜﺎين اﳌﺒﻨﻲ ﻋﲆ أﺳﺌﻠﺔ وأﺟﻮﺑﺔ ﺗﺘﻌﻠﻖ ﻧﺘﻤﻨﻰ ﻟﻚ اﳌﺜﺎﺑﺮة واﻟﺘﻮﻓﻴﻖ ﻳﺎ روﺑﺮت‬.‫ ﻣﻦ ﺟ ﱟﺪ إﱃ ﺣﻔﻴﺪه اﻟﻌﺰﻳﺰ‬.‫اﻟﻼﻣﺘﻨﺎﻫﻲ‬
ّ
‫ ﻃﺎﻟﺐ ﻃﻤﻮح ﰲ ﺟﺎﻣﻌﺔ اﻟﺒﻠﻤﻨﺪ ﰲ ﻗﺴﻢ‬,‫روﺑﺮت ﺟﻮزﻳﻒ أﺷﻘﺮ‬
.‫ ﺟ ّﺪه‬:‫ ﺗﺄ ﻟّﻖ ﰲ اﺑﺘﻜﺎر ﻛﺘﺎب ﻋﻠﻤﻲ ﺗﻜﺮ ًميﺎ ﻟﻘﺪوﺗﻪ‬،‫اﻟﻌﻠﻮم‬
‫ ﻟﻜ ّﻨﻪ اﺧﺘﺎر أن ﻳﺘﺎﺑﻊ ﺗﺤﺼﻴﻠﻪ اﻟﻌﻠﻤﻲ ﰲ ﺑﻠﺪه‬،‫وﻟﺪ ﰲ د ّيب‬
‫ وأن ﻳﻜﻮن ﻣﻦ ﻃﻼب ﺟﺎﻣﻌﺔ اﻟﺒﻠﻤﻨﺪ ﻟرياﻓﻖ أﺧﺎه‬،‫ ﻟﺒﻨﺎن‬، ‫اﻷ ّم‬
.‫ﻳﺘﺨﺼﺺ ﰲ ﻗﺴﻢ ﺗﻘﻨﻴّﺎت اﻻﺗّﺼﺎل‬
‫اﻟّﺬي‬
ّ
‫ ﻳﺮى ﻧﻔﺴﻪ‬.‫ﺣﻠﻢ روﺑﺮت ﻏري ﻣﺤﺪود وﺗﺼﻤﻴﻤﻪ واﺿﺢ‬
ً‫ﰲ اﳌﺴﺘﻘﺒﻞ ﻃﺒﻴﺒﺎ‬
‫ ﻳﺪرك‬.‫ﻣﺘﺨﺼﺼﺎً ﰲ ﺟﺮاﺣﺔ اﻟﺠﻬﺎز اﻟﻬﻀﻤﻲ‬
ّ
‫ ّإﻻ أﻧّﻪ‬،‫ﺗﺨﺼﺺ ﻣﺎ‬
ّ ‫اﻟﺸﺎب أ ّن اﻟﻮﻗﺖ ﻣﺎ زال ﻣﺒﻜﺮا ً ﻟﻠﺘّﻔﻜري ﰲ‬
.‫ﻳﻨﻈﺮ إﱃ ﻣﺴﺘﻘﺒﻠﻪ ﺑﻌﺰميﺔ‬
‫روى ﻟﻨﺎ روﺑﺮت ﻋﻦ اﻟﺤﺪث اﳌﺮ ّوع اﻟﺬي ﻫ ّﺰ ﻛﻴﺎﻧﻪ وأﺛ ّﺮ‬
‫ ﻫﺬا اﻟﺤﺪث ﻛﺎن وﻓﺎة‬.‫ﰲ ﺗﻮﺟﻬﺎﺗﻪ واﻟﺬي دﻓﻌﻪ ﳌﻼﺣﻘﺔ أﺣﻼﻣﻪ‬
.‫اﻟﺬي ُﻣﻨﻊ ﻣﻦ زﻳﺎرﺗﻪ ﰲ آﺧﺮ أﻳّﺎﻣﻪ‬،‫ﺟ ّﺪه‬
‫ ﻳﺴﻌﻰ ﻣﻦ ﺧﻼﻟﻪ‬.‫ﻛﺘﺎﺑﻪ ﻫﻮ ﻋﺒﺎرة ﻋﻦ رﺳﺎﻟﺔ إﱃ ﺟ ّﺪه‬
‫ اﺳﺘﻨﺪ روﺑﺮت ﻋﲆ‬.‫اﻟﻼﻣﻊ‬
ّ ‫إﱃ أن ﻳﻜﻮن اﻟﺠﺪ ﻓﺨﻮرا ً ﺑﺤﻔﻴﺪه‬
‫ ﻳﺘﻮ ّﺟﺔ‬.‫ﻣﻌﻠﻮﻣﺎﺗﻪ اﻟﺸّ ﺨﺼﻴّﺔ وﺗﺒ ّﻨﻰ ﻣﺴﺎﻋﺪة ﻣﻌﻠّﻤﺘﻪ ﰲ اﳌﺪرﺳﺔ‬
‫ وﻗﺪ‬.‫ ﺳﻨﺔ‬١٣‫ و‬٩ ‫اﻟﻜﺎﺗﺐ إﱃ اﳌﻨﺘﻤني إﱃ اﻟﻔﺌﺔ اﻟﻌﻤﺮﻳّﺔ ﺑني‬
‫ﺳ ّﻬﻞ اﳌﺆﻟّﻒ ﻋﻤﻠ ّﻴﺔ اﻛﺘﺴﺎب اﳌﻌﻠﻮﻣﺎت وﻓﻬﻤﻬﺎ ﺑﺎﻋﺘامده‬
.‫ﻋﺒﺎرات ﺑﺴﻴﻄﺔ وواﺿﺤﺔ‬
‫أ ّﻣﺎ ﻫﺪف اﻟﻜﺘﺎب ﻓﻴﺘﻤﺜّﻞ ﺑﺎﻛﺘﺸﺎف ﺣﻘﺎﺋﻖ ﻋﻠﻤﻴّﺔ‬
‫ﺑﻴﻮﻟﻮﺟﻴّﺔ ﻟﻜﺴﺐ ﻣﻌﺮﻓﺔ ﺷﺎﻣﻠﺔ ﻋﻦ ﺟﺴﻢ اﻹﻧﺴﺎن واﻟﻌﻤﻠﻴّﺎت‬
.‫مبﻬامت ﺷﺘّﻰ‬
ّ ‫اﳌﺘﺘﺎﻟﻴﺔ اﻟّﺘﻲ ﺗﺨ ّﻮﻟﻪ اﻟﻘﻴﺎم‬
4
Highlights Asks
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Dr. Oussama Jadayel
Interviewed by Mohammad Fakhereddine
If you were to have a superpower of your choosing,
what would it be? Why? And what would you do
with it?
A Superpower? Yeah…I know, the ability to reduce
“entropy” in this Universe...Reduce and not eliminate
because that’s impossible and not fun…What’s
entropy? That’s the scientific name for disorder….A
generic name for anything that is bad in this life; be
it pollution, waste, or even greed, treachery, crime and
lack of discipline.
If you knew the exact time, place, and way of
your death, how would this change your life?
Who said I wanted to know?! Who said I wanted
to change my life? There are things better left unknown,
otherwise life won’t be as charming…
For you, what is the purpose of life?
To be lived and enjoyed…To be cherished and
respected…And to thank the Lord for the fascinating
Universe that He blessed us with…
If you were not in your current profession,
what would you be doing?
Perhaps a long distance lorry driver, or a bartender
on a holiday cruiseship…Both these guys see this
beautiful world for what it is and interact with others
in a very simple and easy way…
How do you think today’s generation of
students compares to yours?
We were better, surely! No…No...Just joking!
Nowadays you have Google! We didn’t…But deep
at heart, we’re the same; full of energy and want to
change the world, but don’t have the resources!
What are your favorite book, song and movie?
Why?
Book: The Koran; and I am not talking religiously
at all... It’s a book for Arabic, it’s a book for the soul,
for the body. It’s a book for our relationship with the
family, friends and even enemies…It’s a book of the
past, the present and the future...It’s a book for the
young and the old. It’s a book for life. Above all, for
a believer, I appreciate that not everyone is; it’s not
written by any of us.
Song: Ruba3iyyat Al Khayyam as sung by Um
Kulthoum with the words of Omar Al-Khayyam as
translated by poetically Ahmad Rami and put in music
by Riyad As-Sunbati. This is a spiritual story life...of
discovering God in one’s soul and more importantly,
discovering the imperfections within one’s soul.
The logical and fascinating transitions that one is
subjected, to subject to those discoveries are a source
of fascination and modesty.
Movie: A lovely film my youngest daughter Cyma
introduced me to. It’s called “The Parent Trap”…
Why? Because it’s funny, charming and shows the
equal importance of a father and a mother in raising
children.
If you were to be given the choice to live at
any decade of your choosing what would you pick
and why?
Probably the seventies…We had space and time
and understandable technology…Lebanon was at it’s
best…the mountain was greener, the sea was cleaner,
neighbourhoods were quieter and the buildings were
shorter. Music was much more genuine and simpler.
Describe yourself in one word.
Normal…I hope!!!
What is your greatest achievement?
Here allow me to use Sir Winston Churchill’s
words when asked the same question: “My greatest
achievement is probably convincing my wife to marry
me”. Having said that, I believe that her achievement
of convincing me to marry her is one that by far is
greater than mine!!! Don’t you agree?!
If you could go back in time and change one
thing in your personal life, what would it be?
Nothing…Just nothing…Anywhere we are, any
time we live in, we’ll have the same magnitude of
problems, it’s the nature of these problems that differ…
So why bother hypothesize on this? It’s called the
second law of Thermodynamics…You can’t change it,
then live it and make the best of it...
Dr. Mohammad Rihan
Interviewed by Mike Salem
If you were to have a superpower of your choosing,
what would it be? Why? And what would you do
with it?
I’m not really sure about a superpower. However, I
know I’ve always loved Superman. I mean he is Superman!
What’s not to love?
If you knew the exact time, place, and way of your
death, how would this change your life?
I think it will make me more anxious and nervous in
my outlook to the future. We live in hope because we don’t
know what the future holds. If I know the specifics of my
future I will probably lose hope.
If you were not in your current profession, what
would you be doing?
I would be doing nothing else. I started my professional
career in the field of advertising. However, I have made a
choice to move to higher education. This is the choice that
I made. I am very happy with it. I would not have it any
other way.
How do you think today’s generation of students
compares to yours?
Perhaps you would call my generation the the generation
of war. Today, you have facilities that were not available to us.
In my day, we would be happy to have the chance to watch
TV for an hour. Our phone lines were cut for days. I believe
this contrast affects the perception of the value of things. My
generation valued the simpler things more.
Academically speaking, we had far less resources to
work with but we were prepared to do the extra effort. Today
your generation has much more resources but put much less
effort. I don’t think that this is because we were better but
because of the difference in the perception of the value of
things.
What are your favorite book, song and movie?
Why?
My favorite book is “The Poetry of Al Mutanabi” . Al
Mutanabi was the best poet. His work was pure genius and
his language was superb.
With Regards to music in arabic I prefer Um
Kulthoom’s songs. Although I don’t belong to the generation
of Um Kulthoom’s fans I am an avid fan. Her music is the
best is because she dealt with the best composers, poets, and
musicians. In English, I am fan of the Jazz genre especially
John Coltrane and others who belong to the Bebop Jazz
generation.
My favorite movie is the italian movie “ Mediterraneo”
directed by Gabriele Salvatores. It is one of the few movies
that touched my heart. I felt it speaks to me.
If you were to be given the choice to live at any
decade of your choosing what would you pick and why?
I would go back to 50s or 60s. These decades were the
age of hope for arabs. Things were simple yet modern. They
were greener yet traditional.
What is your greatest achievement?
My family and having my children.
If you could go back in time and change one thing
in your personal life, what would it be?
I would go 40 years back to Ain El Remmaneh and stop
that damn bus. I know the war would have started anyway
but for me that trigger symbolizes the civil war and I want to
be able to go back and stop it. All the destruction and loss of
life that happened was not worth it.
Describe yourself in one word.
It is really hard for me to describe myself let alone do it
in one word. But, if it is any help my wife says I’m stubborn .
For you, what is the purpose of life?
For me, happiness should be the purpose of life. Right
now, my goal is just to survive it.
Spotlight
+LJKOLJKWV,VVXH$SULO
5
Dr. Esperance Debs
Interviewed by Myriam Mansour
If you were to have a superpower of your
choosing, what would it be? Why? And what would
you do with it?
I would want a superpower that allows me to
neutralize any superpower I may have I do not believe that
any form of superpower would be effective; we should act
by the powers and skills we already possess.
If you knew the exact time, place, and way of
your death, how would this change your life?
Well, apart from being sad for this bad news, it would
sincerely change nothing.
I cannot pretend that death is always on my mind, but
I try to live with a constant self-questioning. I make sure
that the people I love know how much they mean to me,
and that I apologize for any mistake I might make. It is
much like continuously cleaning up my house!
If you were not in your current profession, what
would you be doing?
I cannot see myself in any other profession.
How do you think today’s generation of students
compares to yours?
I do not like to make this comparison. They are
neither worse nor better; they have their own weaknesses of
course and their own strengths and so did my generation.
However, I can say that they are more fortunate than we
were, because much more resources are available for them
than it was the case for us.
What are your favorite book, song and movie?
Why?
My favorite book is “La part de l’autre” by EricEmmanuel Schmitt. This book has really touched
me; it shows how people’s lives are influenced by their
environment, and it portrays how a certain event may
change the course of history. I advise everyone to read it.
My favorite song is Fairuz’s “ ‫ﻲ‬
” and my
ّ‫ﺄ‬
favorite movie is “The English Patient” which is based on a
novel by Michael Ondaatje.
If you were to be given the choice to live at
any decade of your choosing what would you pick
and why?
I would pick the year 3000 in the future. I expect that
humanity is running the risk of reaching the point of selfdestruction in a few centuries which is why I believe that
if humanity ever reached the year 3000 then it would’ve
made a giant leap towards a better world and I would love
to see that.
What is your greatest achievement?
Nothing yet!
If you could go back in time and change one
thing in your personal life, what would it be?
As a scientist, I believe that changing one single aspect
of the past can completely alter the future; and since I have
a certain balance in my life today, I would not do anything
to alter that balance.
Describe yourself in one word.
Dynamic and “quest”; even though the word “quest”
cannot be used as an adjective, I just feel like I’m always on
a quest ….
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For you, what is the purpose of life?
For me, it is to make a change,to leave a positive trail
behind. However, I would need to always be in harmony
with myself. Being genuine and true to one’s self is very
important to fulfill a genuine and a true purpose.
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6
Rally Paper 2015
+LJKOLJKWV,VVXH$SULO
RALLY PAPER PRE-CHALLENGES
VIDEO PRE-CHALLENGE:
Lib dub a song of ur choice while dancing in the UOB fountain facing
main gate , shoot a video of at least 90 seconds. If the security guards
follow you, run as fast as you can.
GRADES: 500 POINTS FOR FIRST, 400 FOR SECOND, 300 FOR THIRD.
PIMP YOUR RIDE:
7DNHDVHOoHZLWKWKHFDUEHIRUHDQGDIWHU\RXFXVWRPL]HLWLQFOXGHWKH
word "SSS" on the car design. Send the collage as direct message to
sssclub_uob to be posted on instagram where you will have to gather
the highest amount of likes after following the account. Grades will be
divided %50 on likes and %50 on the SSS evaluation.
GRADES: 500 POINTS FOR FIRST, 400 FOR SECOND, 300 FOR THIRD.
LIVELOVEBALAMAND
Each team should take one group photo containing at least: 5 team
members and 2 UOB professors, all wearing LiveLoveBalamand
bracelets and having a traditional Lebanee breakfast together. The
photo should be posted on OSA facebook page . Include in the caption
the name of your team with “SSS Rally Paper 2015”. Raise the highest
number of likes before the deadline to win.
GRADES: 300 POINTS FOR FIRST PRIZE, 200 POINTS FOR SECOND
AND 100 FOR THIRD.
DEADLINE FOR ALL THE PRE-CHALLENGES IS ON
MONDAY, MAY 4 AT 2:00 PM
+LJKOLJKWV,VVXH$SULO
Current Affairs
7
Islamophobia
Rawan Ayoubi
around the world believe whatever they view
on TV. They are bombarded with images of the
horrendous actions of the terrorist groups labeled
as extremists. Hatred increased to the extent that
there is a universal attack on Islam itself and not
the extremists. People do not want to differentiate
between these two groups, although they can; it
seems the reason behind this is almost obscure.
The people who are attacking Islam and
Muslims should know who Muslims are before
judging them at a distance. We all know the saying,
“Do not Judge a Book with its Cover.” There you
have it. Muslims are being judged by non-realistic
people who do not represent any sector of our
society. Everyone should know that the fundamental
aspects of Islam are peace, kindness, tenderness and
well-being of humanity. The people of Al-Qaeda,
ISIS, and so forth are not Muslims and they are not
even remotely related to it. They do whatever they
want and cover it up in the name of God. Islam is
being indecently judged.
http://i.imgur.com/GxyiC.jpg
Islamophobia is formally defined as the fear
towards Islam and Muslims. This word and the
acts associated with it are oscillating globally.
Unfortunately, nowadays Islamophobia is as
inadequate as cancer which is characterized by its
out-of-control growth and spread.
Terrorist attacks are taking place globally, and
are being adopted by a so-called Islamic image.
From the rise of Al-Qaeda till the rise of ISIS,
Islamophobia migrated from one place to another
like a parasite through groups like these. Here it
must be noted that the actions of these groups are
claimed to be in accordance with Islamic Sharia
while they are not. Today when a man with a long
beard is seen, he is directly labeled as a Muslim
terrorist or extremist but that is unconditionally
untrue. If you regard reality around you, growing a
beard is actually the global trend these days.
Moving on to the Media, it is one of the major
causes of the emergence of Islamophobia. Terrorism
is regarded as the most sensitive core topic. People
Why Don’t We Have a President ?
Claudine Ramadi
it is impossible to move forward and create a new
system of governance when figures of authority
remain hung up on events that cannot be changed.
Younger generations are typically ones who
can take a stand against seemingly immovable,
dated ideals and help make a change. No one is
better at understanding contemporary events
than those who have experienced them first-hand.
Numerous laws combined with an abundance of
corruption have prevented these generations from
attaining statuses that render them influential.
Most university students wait for the moment they
can emigrate to be able to make a living elsewhere.
They have nothing to hold them down.They are
left as vulnerable as the leaves of a tree in the snow.
When the leaves are blown away and the
unconnected roots linger in the distance, the
tree will wither and die. As civilians, we need to
revive our country by being persistent. Eventually,
older generations will no longer be dominant.
We need to be here to take control and to help
recover Lebanon.
http://i.ytimg.com/vi/3X2luqzbyiI/maxresdefault.jpg
A country deprived of its ruler is as feeble as an
unrooted tree. A tree cannot stand long with its roots
travelling in all directions without interconnecting
at the trunk. If Lebanon was a tree, the members of
parliament would be the roots and we would be the
crown. The president then, would ideally be the
point of connectivity, the trunk that binds us all
together. However, the trunk is ineffective if denied
the sustenance of its roots and the nourishment
of its leaves.
For decades, Lebanon has been manipulated
by unchanged political parties that have inhibited
improvement and innovation for no more than
personal, selfish reasons. These parties are governed
by men who are growing old in the rule and who
have closed the doors to power before younger
generations. This prevents the introduction of
new ideas and positive change into parliament.
Politicians have created barriers for community
growth instead of agreeing to meet at a point that
can strengthen Lebanon. Each one pulls in his
own direction, constantly in search of a way to be
distinctive and to achieve individual actualization
while ignoring the needs of the nation. Beneath
these issues lies the most glaring one: the absence
of a president who can act as a uniting factor in a
divided country. The essence of the problem is that
we, the people, are denied the ability to vote for the
man who will influence and regulate our daily lives.
This vital decision is confined within the hollow,
antiquated hole of the Lebanese parliament and
controlled by the blindness of its dwellers. These
dwellers have proven their inability to see beyond
that dark hole and to enter the light. Lebanon has
had a long history of wars that members of the
parliament are clearly incapable of looking past.
They dwell on the war as if it had never ended, but
8 Politics & Philosophy
+LJKOLJKWV,VVXH$SULO
Should We Negotiate With Terrorists?
Mike Salem
“The United States does not negotiate with
terrorists.” This grandiose cornerstone of American
policy for dealing with terrorists has been deeply
established in our minds by Hollywood. However,
in a world in which terrorism is proliferating, one
stops to question the feasibility of this policy. Today,
vast lands and countries are engulfed by terrorists.
Governments are being subdued and people taken
hostage by the hundreds, even in their own homes
and villages. Communities of cultural and historical
significance are falling victims of ethnic cleansing.
Today, several governments around the world are faced
with the nerve-wracking question: “Should we negotiate
with terrorists?”
The question of whether or not to negotiate with
terrorists is actually quite problematic. On the one hand,
a government is technically responsible for the welfare
and wellbeing of its citizens; therefore, it is accountable
for bringing its citizens who are at risk back home safely.
Evidently, once a citizen is taken hostage overseas, it is
the government’s responsibility to act swiftly to assure
that they are taken out of harm’s way. On the other
hand, negotiating with a terrorist organization would
set an unsavory precedent, especially in terms of any
www.politicalears.com
concessions a government may have to offer. This
will incentivize international terrorism to target this
government and its citizens more often which will,
in turn, enter the government and its people into a
vicious cycle.
The Kingdom of Jordan was more or less into
negotiating with ISIS on the release of martyr pilot
Moaz Al Kasasbeh in return for the release of terrorists
from Jordanian prisons. When negotiations went south,
ISIS executed the pilot in the most horrendous of ways.
Jordan retaliated decisively, targeting ISIS strongholds
with air raids. This was a painful blow to ISIS, and it
was intended as a deterrent to further messing with
Jordan. In this respect, I believe Jordan set an example
for governments around the world. When Jordan was
involved in negotiations, news of these talks was met
with shrugs around the world. Before the story came
to its tragic end several analysts were claiming that
there actually might be a benefit of negotiating with
terrorists. Afterwards, however, the severity of Jordan’s
retaliation was also frowned upon by members of the
international community.
A number of Lebanese soldiers remain captives
of ISIS. Lebanon has been involved, officially and
unofficially, in negotiations with ISIS. Where has that
led us so far? Many of them have been executed. They
are brave martyrs who have fallen victim to the brutality
of ISIS. Others remain in captivity, leaving their families
going through nightmares. At this point, the government
remains indecisive in its approach towards the matter.
When having a discussion with someone, what
makes this discussion fruitful is having a basic grasp of
common sense upon which the two parties can build
to reach a meaningful conclusion. This luxury is not
available when negotiating with terrorists. How can you
negotiate with someone who has no regard for humanity
or for human values? I do understand the position of
families who only want to see their loved ones return
safely. However, our brave soldiers have chosen to put
their lives at risk for the welfare and greatness of our
nation. I believe that someone who has no regard for
human dignity should not be dignified with sitting
across a table from a government. They should be
brought to justice swiftly and decisively. But this does
not mean that the final answer will always mean that we
will lose anyone who falls captive. If we strike decisively
against terrorism, that alone will act as a deterrent for
future attacks.
Psycho & Spirituality
+LJKOLJKWV,VVXH$SULO
9
Two Types of Fantasies
Adib Ibrahim
Who does not fantasize? It is normal for every person
to do so, and while many different types of fantasies exist,
I will focus on two main types. The first type is what I like
to call the “Lala world”, i.e. a place of comfort that may
not be real. The second type is sexual fantasies. The “Lala
world” comes from the imagination, and it starts from the
early stages of childhood, but even an adult may fantasize
about this world.
To be more specific, the comfort zone that a child
wants is a place full of chocolate, Disneyland, peace and
love; or a place where they can live forever like Peter Pan’s
Neverland. These imaginary scenarios may lead to serious
complexes in the adulthood phase if the person does not
realize that they are merely fantasies. Many men, for
example, are diagnosed with the Peter Pan syndrome,
thinking that they will live forever and that they are
still children. Many women are still single because they
fantasize about prince charming in shining armor riding in
on a white horse.
On the other hand, some children fantasize because
of their tough environment. A lot of children go through
a rough phase with their parents, suffering from difficult
living conditions and financial issues. This makes them
want to be in a better place, and their chances of surviving
in reality are improved because all that they imagine in
fantasy makes them feel safe and happy.
The second type, sexual fantasy, is a delicate matter that
I may have to sugarcoat. Sexual fantasy grows with a person
from childhood to adulthood. As a child, you start to study
the behavior of your parents: how your father treats your
mother and vice versa. You study the environment you live
in. For example, if one of your parents has a dominating
personality, studies have shown that you may begin to
fantasize about being dominated. Basically, sexual fantasies
begin with your observations of your parents’ interactions.
As you mature, you start to discover new things: things
you want to try and things that arouse your curiosity. If you
experience and enjoy these things, you may want more. The
society we live in today also bombards us with messages
that widen our sexual fantasies through the media. This is
done by exposing the viewer to graphic sexual imagery that
becomes implanted in his/her fantasy world.
Fantasy gives satisfaction to the individual, so why
not fantasize? Some people fulfill their fantasies and end
up wanting more, so they take it to an unhealthy extreme.
While comfort fantasies and sexual fantasies come from
different places, they both have similar positive and
negative aspects. We all enjoy some fantasy in our lives,
but an individual must be very careful about when to stop
fantasizing. They must be able to realize that reality still
exists around them so they can face it, even when it hurts.
https://62e528761d0685343e1c-f3d1b99a743ffa4142d9d7f1978d9686.
ssl.cf2.rackcdn.com/files/25446/article/width668/zgfmyybg1371082658-.
jpg
‫ﻫﻞ ﻧﺤﻦ ﺑﺤﺎﺟﺔ ﻟﻸﺳﻄﻮرة؟‬
‫ﻣريﻳﻢ ﻣﻨﺼﻮر‬
http://i.imgur.com/Ai75Vfz.jpg
‫ ﻛام‬،‫ ذﻟﻚ أن ﻣﻔﻬﻮم اﻟﻌﻘﺎب‬.‫اﻟﻼﻣﺤﺴﻮﺳﺔ‬
ّ ‫وﻏريﻫﺎ ﻣﻦ اﻟﻈﻮاﻫﺮ‬
‫ ﺳﺎﻋﺪ‬،‫ اﳌﺤﺎﴐ ﰲ ﻋﻠﻢ اﻟﻨﻔﺲ ﰲ ﺟﺎﻣﻌﺔ أوﻛﻼﻧﺪ‬،‫ﻳﻘﻮل أﺗﻜﻨﺴﻦ‬
‫ ﰲ ﺧﺘﺎم‬.‫اﳌﺠﺘﻤﻌﺎت اﻟﻘﺪميﺔ ﻋﲆ اﻟﺘّﻤﺘّﻊ ﺑﻨﻮع ﻣﻦ اﻟ ّﻨﻈﺎم اﻟﻌﺎم‬
‫ ﺣﺘّﻰ‬,‫ ﺗﺴﺘﻨﺘﺞ اﻟﻜﺎﺗﺒﺔ أ ّن ﻣﻔﻬﻮم اﻟ ّﺪﻳﻦ ﻻ ميﻜﻦ أن ﻳﺨﺘﻔﻲ‬،‫اﳌﻘﺎل‬
‫ ﻓﺈ ّن ﺣﺎﺟﺔ‬،‫ﻟﻮ ﺗﺤ ّﻮﻟﺖ اﻷدﻳﺎن اﳌﻨﺘﴩة ﰲ ﻋﺎﳌﻨﺎ اﻟﻴﻮم إﱃ أﺳﺎﻃري‬
‫اﻹﻧﺴﺎن إﱃ »اﻵﻟﻬﺔ« ﺳﺘﺒﻘﻰ ﻃﺎﻏﻴﺔ ﻋﲆ اﳌﺠﺘﻤﻊ ﻣام ﻳﺤﺘّﻢ ﻧﺸﻮء‬
.‫ﻣﻌﺘﻘﺪات ﺟﺪﻳﺪة أو ﺗﺒ ّﺪﻻ وﺗﻄ ّﻮرا ﰲ اﳌﻌﺘﻘﺪات اﻟﺤﺎﻟﻴّﺔ‬
‫ﺗﺒ ّﺪﻟﺖ ﻣﻌﺘﻘﺪات اﻟﺒﴩ وﺗﻨﻮﻋﺖ ﻣﻊ ﺗﻄ ّﻮر اﻟﺤﻀﺎرة‬
‫ ﺣﻴﺚ ﺗﺤ ّﻮل ﺑﻌﻀﻬﺎ إﱃ أﺳﺎﻃري ﺗﻄﺒﻊ ﻣﺮاﺣﻞ ﻣ ّﺮت ﻣﻦ‬،‫اﻟﺒﴩﻳّﺔ‬
‫ ﻓﻴام ﺑﻘﻲ اﻟﺒﻌﺾ ﺣﺎﴐا ﰲ ﺣﻴﺎﺗﻨﺎ‬،‫ﺗﺎرﻳﺦ اﻹﻧﺴﺎن ﰲ ﻋﺼﻮر ﻏﺎﺑﺮة‬
‫ ﻓﻬﻞ ﻳﺄيت اﻟﻴﻮم اﻟّﺬي ﻧﺴﻠّﻢ‬.‫اﻟﻴﻮﻣ ّﻴﺔ ﻋﲆ ﺷﻜﻞ أدﻳﺎن ﻣﺴﻠّﻢ ﺑﻬﺎ‬
‫ ﺑﺤﺎﺟﺔ إﱃ إﺑﻘﺎء اﻷﺳﻄﻮرة‬،‫ ﻛﺒﴩ‬،‫ أم أﻧّﻨﺎ‬،‫اﳌﺎدي ﻟﻌﺎﳌﻨﺎ‬
‫ﺑﻪ ﻟﻠﻮاﻗﻊ‬
ّ
‫ﺣﻴّﺔ ﰲ ﻧﻔﻮﺳﻨﺎ؟‬
‫اﻟﺴﺆال ﻳﻄﺮح إﺷﻜﺎﻟﻴﺎت ﻛﺜرية‬
ّ ‫ ﻫﺬا‬.‫إذا ﻛﺎن اﻟﺪﻳﻦ ﺳﻴﺨﺘﻔﻲ ﻳﻮﻣﺎ‬
‫ ﻓﻘﻀﻴّﺔ‬.‫رمبﺎ ﺗﻜﻮن مبﻌﻈﻤﻬﺎ ﻏري ﻣﺘﻌﻠﻘﺔ ﺑﺼ ّﺤﺔ اﳌﻌﺘﻘﺪات اﻟﺪﻳﻨﻴﺔ‬
‫ وإمنّ ﺎ ﻣﺴﺄﻟﺔ‬،‫وﺟﻮد اﻵﻟﻬﺔ ﻟﻴﺴﺖ ﺑﺤ ّﺪ ذاﺗﻬﺎ ﻣﺤ ّﻂ اﻟﺠﺪل ﻫﻨﺎ‬
‫ ﺗﺴﺘﺸﻬﺪ‬.‫ﺣﺎﺟﺔ اﻹﻧﺴﺎن ﻟﻔﻌﻞ اﻹميﺎن ﻣﻦ ﻣﻨﻄﻠﻖ اﺟﺘامﻋﻲ وﻧﻔﴘ‬
‫ ﺣﻴﺚ‬،«‫ ﻛﺎﺗﺒﺔ »اﻵﻟﻬﺔ اﻟﻜﺒﺎر‬،‫ﻛﺎﺗﺒﺔ اﳌﻘﺎل ﺑﺘﻔﺴري ﻵرا ﻧﻮراﻧﺰﻳﺎن‬
‫ﺗﻘﻮل اﻷﺧرية إ ّن اﻟﺒﴩ ﻳﺒﺤﺜﻮن ﻋﻦ ﻣﻌﻨﻰ ﻟﻌﺬاﺑﻬﻢ ﻣام ﻳﺪﻓﻌﻬﻢ‬
‫ ﻟﻜﻦ ﻟﻨﻮﻳﺮ وﺟﻬﺔ‬.‫إﱃ اﻟﻠّﺠﻮء ﻟﻠﺪﻳﻦ اﻟّﺬي ﻳﺆ ّﻣﻦ ﻟﻬﻢ اﻟﻬﺪف اﳌﺮﺟ ّﻮ‬
،‫اﻟﻌﺼﺒﻲ‬
‫ ﺑﻄﺒﻴﻌﺔ ﺟﻬﺎزه‬،‫ ﻓﻬﻲ ﺗﺴﺘﻨﺘﺞ أ ّن اﻹﻧﺴﺎن‬،‫ﻧﻈﺮ ﻣﻐﺎﻳﺮة‬
ّ
‫ ﻣام‬.‫ﻳﺘﻤﺘّﻊ ﺑﻨﻮع ﻣﻦ اﻟﺤﺎﺟﺔ اﻟﻄّﺒﻴﻌ ّﻴﺔ ﻟﻺميﺎن ﺑﺎﻟﻘﻮى اﳌﺎوراﺋ ّﻴﺔ‬
‫ﻳﻌﻨﻲ أ ّن اﻟ ّﺮﺧﺎء واﻻﺳﺘﻘﺮار اﻟﺘّﺎﻣني ﻻ ﻳﻠﻐﻴﺎ ﺣﺎﺟﺔ اﻟﺒﴩ إﱃ‬
‫ ﺗﺘﺤﺪث ﻧﻮﻳﺮ ﻋﻦ‬،‫ أ ّﻣﺎ ﺑﻌﻴﺪا ﻋﻦ ﺣﺎﺟﺔ اﻹﻧﺴﺎن اﻟﻔﺮدﻳّﺔ‬.‫اﻷﺳﻄﻮرة‬
،‫ﺣﺎﺟﺔ اﳌﺠﺘﻤﻌﺎت اﻹﻧﺴﺎﻧﻴﺔ ﻣﻨﺬ اﻟﻘﺪم إﱃ اﻹميﺎن ﺑﺎﳌﺎوراﺋﻴﺎت‬
‫واﻷﻣﺮﻫﻨﺎ ﻻ ﻳﻘﺘﴫ ﻓﻘﻂ ﻋﲆ اﻹميﺎن ﺑﺎﻟﻠﻪ ﺑﻞ ﺑﺎﻟﻜﺎرﻣﺎ واﻟﺘّﻘ ّﻤﺺ‬
ّ ‫ﻻ‬
‫ﴫ ﻣﻦ اﻟﻌﺼﻮر‬
ٍ ‫ﺷﻚ ﰲ أن ﻣﺎ ﻧﻌﺘﱪه اﻟﻴﻮم أﺳﻄﻮرة ﻛﺎن ﰲ ﻋ‬
‫ ﻣام ﻳﻌﻨﻲ أ ّن اﺣﺘامل ﺗﺤﻮل ﻣﻌﺘﻘﺪات اﻟﻴﻮم إﱃ‬.‫ﻣﻌﺘﻘﺪا ﺳﺎﺋﺪا‬
‫ ﻓﺎﳌﺠﺘﻤﻊ ﻣﺤﻜﻮم ﺑﺪﻳﻨﺎﻣﻴﻜﻴﺔ دامئﺔ ﺗﺤﺘّﻢ‬.‫أﺳﺎﻃري ﻟﻴﺲ ﺑﻀﺌﻴﻞ‬
.‫ﻋﲆ اﻟﻌﻘﻞ اﻟﺒﴩي اﻟﺘّﺄﻗﻠﻢ ﻣﻊ ﻣﺨﺘﻠﻒ اﻷزﻣﻨﺔ واﻟﻈﺮوف اﳌﻌﺎﺷﺔ‬
،‫وإذا ﻛﺎﻧﺖ اﳌﻴﺜﻮﻟﻮﺟﻴﺎ ﻣﺮآة ﳌﺎ ﻧﺘﻮق إﻟﻴﻪ ﰲ ﺣﻴﺎﺗﻨﺎ اﻟﺮوﺣﻴﺔ ﻛﺒﴩ‬
.‫ﻓﻬﻲ إذا ﺗﺨﻀﻊ ﻟﻬﺬا اﻟﺘﺤﻮل ﻣﻊ ﺗﺒﺪل ﺻﻮرة اﻹﻧﺴﺎن وﻫﻮاﺟﺴﻪ‬
‫ﻫﻨﺎك ﺗﺮاﺑﻂ ﻣﻠﺤﻮظ ﺑني اﻷﺳﺎﻃري اﻟﻘﺪميﺔ واﳌﻌﺘﻘﺪات‬
،‫اﻟ ّﺪﻳﻨﻴﺔ اﳌﻨﺘﴩة اﻟﻴﻮم؛ ﻓﻘﺼﺺ اﻟﻄّﻮﻓﺎن واﻟﺤﺒﻞ ﺑﻼ دﻧﺲ‬
‫ ﺑﻞ ﺗﱪز‬،‫اﻟﺴاموﻳّﺔ‬
ّ ‫واﻟﻘﻴﺎﻣﺔ وﻏريﻫﺎ ﻟﻴﺴﺖ ﺣﻜﺮا ً ﻋﲆ اﻟﻜﺘﺐ‬
،‫ﻣﻦ ﺧﻼل أﺳﺎﻃري ﻛﺜرية ﻛﺄﺳﻄﻮرة ﻏﻴﻠﻐﺎﻣﻴﺶ ﻋﲆ ﺳﺒﻴﻞ اﳌﺜﺎل‬
‫ ﻟﻴﺲ ﻫﻨﺎك ﺗﻔﺴريا ﻧﻬﺎﺋ ّﻴﺎ ﻟﻬﺬه‬.‫ﺣﻴﺚ ﻳﺮد ذﻛﺮ اﻟﻄّﻮﻓﺎن اﻟﻜﺒري‬
‫ ﻛﺎﻟﻜﺎﺗﺐ واﻷﺳﺘﺎذ ﰲ اﻟﻌﻠﻮم‬،‫ ﻓﻔﻲ ﺣني ﻳﻌﺘﻘﺪ اﻟﺒﻌﺾ‬.‫اﻟﻈّﺎﻫﺮة‬
‫ أ ّن اﻟ ّﺪﻳﻦ ﺟﺰ ٌء ﻣﻦ اﻷﺳﻄﻮرة اﻟّﺘﻲ ﺗﻬﺪف‬،‫اﻟ ّﺪﻳﻨﻴﺔ ﻧﻮرﻣﺎن ﺟرياردو‬
‫ ﻳﺮى اﻟﺒﻌﺾ اﻵﺧﺮ‬.‫إﱃ إﻋﻄﺎء ﺗﻔﺴريات ﻟﻔﻮﴇ اﻟﻌﺎمل اﳌﺤﺴﻮس‬
‫أ ّن ﺳﺒﺐ اﻧﺘﺸﺎر ﻫﺬه اﻟﻘﺼﺺ ﻳﻌﻮد إﱃ أ ّن أﺣﺪاﺛﻬﺎ ﻗﺪ ﺣﺼﻠﺖ‬
‫ ﻓﺘﺪاوﻟﻮﻫﺎ وأﻋﻄﻮﻫﺎ‬،‫ﺑﺎﻟﻔﻌﻞ وﻋﻠﻘﺖ ﰲ ذاﻛﺮة اﻟﺸّ ﻌﻮب اﻟﻘﺪميﺔ‬
‫ﺗﻔﺴريات ﻣﺨﺘﻠﻔﺔ ﺣﺘّﻰ أﺗﺖ اﻷدﻳﺎن اﻟﺘّﻮﺣﻴﺪﻳّﺔ ﻟﺘﻀﻌﻬﺎ ﰱ إﻃﺎرﻫﺎ‬
.‫اﻟ ّﺪﻳﻨﻲ واﻟﺘّﺎرﻳﺨﻲ‬
‫ﻣﻊ ﺑﺮوز اﻟﺘﻨﻈﻴامت اﻹرﻫﺎﺑﻴﺔ ذات اﻟﺸﻌﺎرات اﻹﺳﻼﻣﻴﺔ‬
‫ اﻧﺘﴩت ﻣﻘﻮﻟﺔ أ ّن‬،‫وﻣﻌﻬﺎ رﻫﺎب اﻹﺳﻼم ﰲ اﳌﺠﺘﻤﻌﺎت اﻟﻐﺮﺑﻴﺔ‬
‫ ﻳﻘﺼﺪ ﻫﻨﺎ ﻃﺒﻌﺎ اﻷدﻳﺎن اﻹﺑﺮاﻫﻴﻤﻴﺔ ﺣﻴﺚ‬.«‫»ﺟﻮﻫﺮ اﻷدﻳﺎن واﺣﺪ‬
‫ وﻟﻜﻦ ﺑﻌﻴﺪا ﻋﻦ اﻟ ّﺪﻋﺎﻳﺔ‬.‫إﻧﻬﺎ ﻣﱰاﺑﻄﺔ ﺗﺎرﻳﺨﻴّﺎ وﺟﻐﺮاﻓﻴّﺎ وﻋﻘﺎﺋﺪﻳّﺎ‬
،‫ وﺑﻐﺾ اﻟ ّﻨﻈﺮ ﻋﻦ ﻓﻌﻞ اﻹميﺎن ﺑﺎﻟﻠﻪ ﻣﻦ ﻋﺪﻣﻪ‬،‫اﻟﺴﻴﺎﺳﻴﺔ اﻟ ّﺮاﺋﺠﺔ‬
‫أﻟﻴﺲ ﺟﻮﻫﺮ اﳌﻌﺘﻘﺪات اﻟ ّﺪﻳﻨﻴﺔ واﻷﺳﺎﻃري اﳌﺘﻨﺎﻗﻠﺔ ﻣﻨﺬ ﻓﺠﺮ‬
‫ وﻫﻮ ﺣﺎﺟﺔ اﻹﻧﺴﺎن إﱃ ﻣﺎ ﻫﻮ أﻋﻈﻢ ﻣﻦ اﻟﺤﻴﺎة‬،‫اﻟﺘﺎرﻳﺦ واﺣ ًﺪا‬
‫اﳌﺎدﻳﺔ اﳌﻌﺎﺷﺔ أو إﱃ ﺗﻔﺴري ﻣﺎ ﻟﻔﻮﴇ اﻟﻮاﻗﻊ ﻛام ﻳﻌﺘﱪ ﺟرياردو؟‬
‫ ﺗﻄﺮح اﻟﻜﺎﺗﺒﺔ راﻳﺘﺸﻞ ﻧﻮﻳﺮ ﺳﺆاﻻ ﻋام‬,‫ﳼ‬.‫يب‬.‫ﰲ ﻣﻘﺎل ﻟﻞ يب‬
10
Health & Lifestyle
+LJKOLJKWV,VVXH$SULO
How Much Control Do You Have Over Yourself?
What is freedom? Is it when you leave your
parents’ house and live on your own, where you
take all the decisions? Is it when you are free to do
whatever you would want to do?
According to Kant, freedom is following
reason, and in order to follow reason you must be
in control of your body. Plato describes the body
as being divided into three parts: rational, power,
and vegetative. The vegetative part connects the
body with the soul. If you are able to control the
vegetative part of your body, then you are more
likely to be in control of yourself. Kant believed that
you are not free when exercising your will, because
will can be swayed. You are only in control when
you are free from the particular, because if your will
is tangled with a particular, then you are a slave to
it. For instance, if you want to smoke a cigarette,an
example particular, you may be considered as
a slave to it. You are only free when you have
enough control to realize that the cigarette is not
healthy and you do not need it. To be in control,
you must obey reason. Your actions must abide by
universal laws. That is, you must act in a manner
that would be seen as socially accepted anywhere
http://mattzavadil.com/
Mohammad Fakhereddine
in the world.
It is never easy to have control over yourself.
As humans, we have very little control, regardless
of what we may think. We are prisoners of our own
desires and materialism. Holbach believed that we
have no control over ourselves. As long as we remain
materialistic, we will continue to work to achieve
more , be it saving money to buy the latest phone
or studying hard to earn a degree. These are objects
that will disappear over time and as long as they
exist, they have control over us.
According to philosophers there are several
steps to being in control of oneself., . First, allow
your rational mind, rather than your desire, to make
decisions. Second, distance yourself from unwanted
situations and be the audience of your own life.
Third, deliberate and think about your past to know
what you have done. Finally, create personal morals
or your own code of ethics.
In summary, being a moral and rational person
provides a large degree of control over oneself,
emotionally, financially and psychologically. In the
end, who of us would not like to be in control? It is
human nature to desire to be in control.
What Is the Difference Between Health and Healthy?
Lea Sacca
our own well-being and health. Well-being or wellness
is a dimension of health that goes beyond the absence
of disease and includes the integration of social, mental,
emotional, spiritual, and physical aspects of health. It
targets a rise in the adoption of health-enhancing behaviors
rather than simply attempting to minimize illnesses. Wellbeing is special due to its ability to be holistic; it includes
health in addition to an assembly of other determinants to
achieve a higher health status.
To improve your physical health, try joining the gym
at your local community center to improve your physical
health and try volunteering at a club or organization to
boost your social health. Additionally, emotional and
mental health can be amended by organizing family
activities, especially those involving group communication.
Environmental health can be accomplished through the
adaptation of positive actions that help reduce pollution.
Finally, spiritual health can be reached by practicing
religious views or meditation. Our health is in our hands,
and it is up to us to promote our own well-being.
http://www.nwinsight.com/
We all strive to be happy and relaxed in our daily lives
in order to benefit from the unique gifts we are granted
with. What else but health can aid you in accomplishing all
your goals and attaining all your dreams? According to the
World Health Organization (WHO), health is defined as
a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being,
and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. It was
later expanded to include “the ability to lead a socially and
economically productive life.”
Most people characterize their health into two broad
aspects: physical health and mental health. Physical health
is described as a state wherein our bodies are in good shape,
mainly as a result of a proper nutrition, regular exercise,
and adequate rest. Physical health has become the
ultimate concern of all health care providers and awareness
campaigns since people primarily focus on their physical
status as the foundation of their general state.
Similarly mental health has become of great
significance to members of our society. Mental health
deals with an individual’s cognitive and emotional wellbeing. Normally, a person with a healthy mental state can
juggle all his struggles and can manage the stress he or she
endures at work, at home, or when facing any problems.
People who lack this form of health are usually diagnosed
with a mental disorder such as anorexia, bulimia, anxiety,
or one of the various kinds of phobias. It may seem easy
to take care of your health nowadays due to technological,
medical, social, and psychological developments that rule
the modern world. Yet, obesity, heart attacks, strokes,
diabetes, car accidents, and endless health disorders
increase death rates each year, a fact that highlights how
vulnerable our health can be.
How can we become healthier? We must fight for
Science & Tech
+LJKOLJKWV,VVXH$SULO
11
HTC One M9
Galaxy S6 - S6 Edge
Mazen Wafai
Tarek Deeb
Screen: a 5.0 inches screen with 441 ppi (pixel per
inch) pixel density the one m9 would be better than
transparent glass
Camera: well for the rare camera the one m9 is a
huge improvement from its predecessor the new rare
camera provide 20.7 mega pixels it almost feel like the
pictures are taken through your own eye In both day
and night conditions.
Front Camera: Come here selfie lovers, HTC
listens to you a 4 MP front camera with a wide angle
to get everyone in the picture. it will certainly fill your
passion to selfie #awesome
Specs: two processors both of them are quad core
the first is 1.5 GHz and the second is 2.0 GHz (no it is
not octacore) packed with 3GB of ram.
Weight: 157g it will definitely feel like a rock in
your pocket still it is surely worth it.
Material: metal… all metal if they can they would
even make the screen metal.
iPhonation: One m9 is too cool to imitate iPhone.
No Finger print no unnecessary expensive add-ons.
Battery: 2840 mAh capacity compared to the
screen size this monster will last you 402 hours on
standby mode yes 402 hours those are 17 days and 21
hours in active 3g usage.
Memory: 32 GB of internal memory supports up
to 128 GBs of SD card
Money Talk: well you need to save up a little bit,
maybe stop eating too if you want it soon since it will
cost you around 1000 dollars.
In few words: the search is over this is the ONE
you are looking for.
Screen: Corning Gorilla Glass, Super AMOLED 5.1
inch display, with 1440x256 resolution and 577 ppi. Even
better than what’s better than transparent glass. This phone
has 2 versions. One that looks like what you would expect
a phone would look like, and one with a curved screen
dubbed 6 Edge.
Camera: 16MP with an identical resolution to its
predecessor.
Front Camera: 5MP front camera that will make each
selfie worthy to be posted on all social media.
Specs: This phone is packed with a Samsung Exynos
processor, Samsung’s newly released 14nm -64bit chip
that is 30% more power efficient. It contains two quadcore
processors clocked at 1.5 GHz and 2.1 GHz respectively,
making a total of a 3.6 GHz octacore processor. This
amount of power is paired with a 3GB RAM that alleges
the annihilation of lag from Touchwiz.
Weight: 138g (4.87oz). Won’t feel like a brick in your
pocket that much.
Material: This beast is made entirely of glass – Front
and back. The Gorilla Glass 4 that engulfs the device is
supported with a metal frame that keeps everything together
and makes it look nice.
iPhonication: Similar fingerprint functionality, with
added PayPal function. If you hold the device at certain
angles, you can see some resemblance to the iPhone 6.
Battery: Powered by a non-removable 2550 mAh
battery that will surely suffice for each and all your mobile
computing needs.
Memory: Comes with 3 options: 32GB, 64GB and
128GB. No support for micro SD card.
Money talk: You may need to sell a kidney or two.
It can cost anywhere from 750$ to 1110$, depending on
which model and memory capacity you want.
At the end of day, you need to decide what you’re
looking for in a phone, and choose that.
vs.
linustechtips.com
god.com.my
Recording Dreams
Karam Karam
Dreams have always been an area of active and
intense research in the realm of the science of the
mind. Scientists describe dreams as some of the most
bewildering aspects and manifestations of human
beings’ minds. Sociopsychologists have agreed that
dreams are manifested by the human’s unconscious,
where elements and events are randomly and
arbitrarily selected from humans’ consciousness,
concocting stories of fantasy and surrealism. Dreams
have therapeutic benefits because they constitute a way
to exhale one’s repressed tensions and emotions. The
ability to dream has always been a mainstay not only in
stories of science fiction, but also in scientific research
attempting to decipher the mysteries that dwell
in dreams.
Scientists have been trying to record dreams
and have them replayed over and over. A Japanese
consortium of scientists from Kyoto has experienced a
major breakthrough when attempting to record and
replay human dreams. Per the Smithsonian magazine,
Japanese scientists can record your dreams and replay
them to you by measuring your brain activity while you
asleep. The brain activity is then relayed electronically
and plugged into an algorithm that rebuilds and
reconstructs your dreams. Thus, you can replay your
dream once you are awake.
In other words, scientists have actually managed
to construct a dream-reading machine that embraces
a seemingly straightforward idea: our brains generate
consistent neural patterns for different types of
objects that we visualize in our minds. These generated
neural patterns correlate with what is being visualized.
For instance, when you imagine a chair, your neural
circuitry fires in a pattern that occurs whenever a chair
is visualized. The data is then tied from a brain scan to
the appropriate correlated images through the use of an
algorithm. The premise that the brain reacts to seeing
objects with repeatable patterns was the basis on which
the Japanese group designed its study. The repeatable
patterns are studied using an fMRI. A dream-recording
machine can give us a window to what is going on
inside people’s heads while they dream by reverseengineering the recognizable patterns generated by the
human brain when visualizing a certain object.
The study was comprised of 3 participants who
were selected to sleep for three-hour blocks in an fMRI
scanner. Scientists interrupted the participants’ sleep
and asked them to describe what they had seen in their
dreams. The visualized objects were grouped into loose
categories and subcategories like “female”, “male”, “car”,
or “dwelling”. Representations of those categories were
then picked by the group from an online image search.
The images were shown to the participants to measure
their brain activity to investigate what patterns might
be unique to that concept. Finally, the participants were
asked to resume sleeping so that the machine would
perform a double function: record how their brains
responded to dreaming and match these recordings to
one of the categories with a series of images previously
selected from the online image search.
The machine turned out to match almost 60% of
the actual dreams, indicating that the dream-recording
machine is still fairly rudimentary. However, it remains
an extraordinary development in the field of the
science of the mind.
This ground-breaking Japanese breakthrough
highlights that soon even your dreams may no longer
be private. Hence, sooner or later the word “privacy”
will undoubtedly become a thing of the past.
12
Society & Media
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Why Does Sex Sell?
Adib “Hemingway” Ibrahim
An upcoming movie is going to display the lives of
friends-with-benefits, featuring Sofia Vergara, Angelina
Jolie, Dwayne Johnson, and Antonio Banderas. I am
sure that sentence grabbed your attention, but I must
apologize because this is not true. Nowadays, sex sells
like crazy. Is this just because celebrities and models
(both men and women) are regularly shown to us at the
peak of physical form? Or is it because of the society’s
sexual repression? Neither of these possibilities is
the answer.
Every person has his/her own fantasies and may
lust over people who are out of their reach because these
people are like a dream. People may often mentally
replace themselves with the characters of movies like
“50 Shades of Grey.” Several men, for example, imagine
themselves in the place of the sadistic Mr. Grey.
Several women imagine themselves as the submissive
Anastasia. The entertainment industry knows this and
manipulates people.
In my opinion, societies are divided into two
categories in this sense. The first type is the type of
society that builds hype around sex being a taboo. In
such a society, people who are exposed to sex scenes
in movies and on TV have an urge to emulate them
because these images appear to be surreal. The other
category is the open minded societies in which people
especially younger ones are attracted to watch sex
scenes to achieve a sense of belonging in these societies.
The problem with this is that younger generations
grow up surrounded by unrealistic sex-based media.
Actors/actresses and models who participate in this
explicit materials are slowly corrupting our youth’s
views of sex and sexuality. Explicit scenes can be
found in most movies nowadays and are being shown
to younger viewers who are, usually, not equipped
with the ability to understand what they are seeing.
They grow up with views of sexuality that may not
be compatible with reality, creating a conflict in their
minds that they cannot resolve. They may want to act
out the scenes they have viewed with their partners,
thus, making bad choices at a young age. Many end up
regret these choices as they grow older.
We all know that sex sells. It sells because it
is a taboo. Younger generations must be taught to
differentiate between what they see on the screen and
what actually happens in real life. Sex will always sell,
but we must be able to understand what we are buying.
http://www.marketingmattersinbound.com/wp-content/uploads/03/2013/Sex-Sells.jpg
Who Shapes Hollywood?
Lea Sacca
Sony Pictures, Warner Bros., and NBC universal are
all directed by lobbyist presidents, Chairmen, and
Chief Executives. What is more astonishing was the
release of the book written by Neal Gabler, a noted
media researcher, which outlined the lobbyists’
control of Hollywood. There has been clear evidence
presented indicating that the media molds and
shapes the opinions of international populations
and followers of Hollywood by constantly injecting
Zionist propaganda and bias into news programs,
television shows, movies, and children’s cartoons.
It is bad enough to be followers of political
parties who force us to endure another lifelong
brainwashing and manipulation. We can be up-todate on and entertain ourselves with Hollywood’s
latest releases, while remaining consciously able to
differentiate between the constructive aspects and
the destructive effects of Hollywood’s latest.
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/4_11735885294/5520fdd9de314_o.jpg
Grammy awards, Oscars, blockbuster movies,
famous actors, and all the other red carpet events
can only describe and reveal a trivial part of
Hollywood’s multifunctional activities, roles,
achievements, and outstanding work. We instantly
become victims of the big screen, the fake smiles, the
love-hate relationships, and, most importantly, the
horrifying fashion trends that we are manipulated
to follow to remain “cool”. From “Keeping up
with the Kardashians” to “Fifty Shades of Grey”,
our views of the world continue to be increasingly
negatively shaped.
Have you ever considered ethics and morality
while watching such TV programs or movies? Is it
right for women like the Kardashians and Lady Gaga
to turn into such popular and idolized figures in the
artistic avenue? It is true that we never seem to get
bored of being updated on their outrageous news, yet
we fail to see the dangerous message they are trying
to convey through brainwashing technologies, be
they television, YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, or
Twitter. Let us look with a critical eye to investigate
for the true source behind these nefarious influences.
Who shapes Hollywood? Who runs it? Many
of you may be blind to the fact that the Americans
are in charge of the golden empire, namely because
of its geographical location and because of the
United State’s grasp on the world. However, such
assumptions are completely wrong. As bewildering as
it may seem, recent studies published by researchers
show that establishments and huge media companies
such as News Corp, Paramount Pictures, Walt Disney,
‫‪13‬‬
‫‪Write Freely‬‬
‫‪+LJKOLJKWV,VVXH$SULO‬‬
‫”ﺑﺘﺤﺐ ﻟﺒﻨﺎن؟“‬
‫ّ‬
‫دﻳﺎﻻ ﻓﺮح‬
‫ﺗﺤﺐ اﻟﺘﺒﻮﻟﺔ أو اﳌﻄﺒﺦ‬
‫ﻻ أﻋﻨﻲ ﺑﺴﺆاﱄ ﻫﺬا إن ﻛﻨﺖ ّ‬
‫ﺗﺤﺐ‬
‫ﺗﺤﺐ ﻓريوز أو اﻟﻔ ّﻦ اﻟﻠﺒﻨﺎين‪ ،‬إن ﻛﻨﺖ ّ‬
‫اﻟﻠﺒﻨﺎين‪ ،‬إن ﻛﻨﺖ ّ‬
‫ﺗﺤﺐ ﻏﻨﺪور‬
‫أﻋﻤﺪة ﺑﻌﻠﺒﻚ أو اﳌﻌﺎمل اﻷﺛﺮﻳّﺔ ﰲ ﻟﺒﻨﺎن‪ ،‬إن ﻛﻨﺖ ّ‬
‫ﺗﺤﺐ ﻟﺒﻨﺎن اﻟﻮﻃﻦ‪.‬‬
‫أو اﻻﻧﺘﺎج اﻟﻠﺒﻨﺎين‪ .‬أﻧﺎ أﺳﺎل إن ﻛﻨﺖ ّ‬
‫أﻧﺎ ﻻ أﺳﺄل إن ﻛﻨﺖ ﺗﺪﻧﺪن اﻟﻨﺸﻴﺪ اﻟﻮﻃﻨﻲ اﻟﻠﺒﻨﺎين‬
‫ﰲ ﺑﺪاﻳﺔ اﻻﺣﺘﻔﺎﻻت اﻟﺮﺳﻤﻴﺔ‪ ،‬ﻛام ﻳﻘﻮل اﻟﺸﺎﻋﺮ اﻟﺴﻮري‬
‫أدوﻧﻴﺲ ”ﻣﺎ أﻛرث اﻷوﻃﺎن اﻟﺘﻲ ﻳﺒﺪأ ﻓﻴﻬﺎ ﺳﺠﻦ اﳌﻮاﻃﻨني‬
‫ﺑﺎﻟﻨﺸﻴﺪ اﻟﻮﻃﻨﻲ“‪ .‬ﻣﻦ اﻟﺠﻬﻞ أن ﻧﻌﺘﻘﺪ أن ﺣ ّﺒﻨﺎ ﻟﻠﻮﻃﻦ‬
‫ﻳﻘﺘﴫ ﻋﲆ ﻣﻌﺮﻓﺘﻨﺎ ﺑﺒﻌﺾ ﻣﻦ ﺗﺎرﻳﺨﻪ‪ ،‬أوﻋﲆ ﺗﺒﻌﻴﺘﻨﺎ ﻷﺣﺪ‬
‫ﺳﻴﺎﺳﻴﻴﻪ اﻟﺤﺎﻟﻴني‪.‬‬
‫اﻟﻮﻃﻦ إميﺎن واﻧﺘامء‪ .‬اﻟﻮﻃﻦ ﻣﺠﻤﻮﻋﺔ رﺟﺎﻻت ﺗﺤﻔﻆ‬
‫ﻛﻞ اﻟﺮاﻳﺎت ﺑﻐﺾ‬
‫وﺗﺼﻮن اﺳﺘﻘﻼل اﻷرض‪ ،‬وﺗﺤﻤﻞ راﻳﺘﻪ ﻓﻮق ّ‬
‫اﻟﻨﻈﺮ ﻋﻦ اﳌﺼﺎﻟﺢ اﻟﺨﺎﺻﺔ ﻣﻦ ﺳﻠﻄﺔ وﻣﺎل‪ .‬اﺑﺤﺜﻮا ﻣﻌﻲ ﰲ‬
‫ﻛﺘﺎب ﻟﺒﻨﺎن ﻣﻨﺬ اﻟﻌﺎم ‪ ١٩٤٣‬ﺣﺘﻰ ﺗﺎرﻳﺦ ‪ ،٢٠١٥‬ﻣﻦ ﻫﻮ ﻫﺬا‬
‫اﻟﺮﺟﻞ‪/‬اﳌﺮأة اﻟﺘﻲ ﺗﺤﻤﻞ ﻫﺬه اﳌﻮاﺻﻔﺎت‪ ،‬أو ﺣﺘﻰ ﺑﻌﻀﺎً‬
‫ﻣﻨﻬﺎ‪ .‬دﻗﻘﻮا ﰲ دﻓﺎﺗﺮ اﻟﺴﻴﺎﺳﻴني ﻓﻠﻦ ﺗﺠﺪوا ﻣﻦ ﺑﺬل ذاﺗﻪ ﰲ‬
‫ﺳﺒﻴﻞ ﺗﺤﺴني ﻟﺒﻨﺎن ﺑﺘﺠﺮد ودون ﻏﺎﻳﺎت ﺷﺨﺼﻴّﺔ‪ ،‬وﻟﺮمبﺎ ﻧﺠﺪ‬
‫ﰲ ذﻟﻚ ﺳﺒﺒﺎً ﻟﻌﺪم ﺗﻌﻠّﻘﻨﺎ اﻟﻌﻤﻴﻖ ﺑﻬﺬا اﻟﻮﻃﻦ‪.‬‬
‫ﻓﺎﺳﺘﻘﻼﻟﻨﺎ مل ﻳﻜﻦ ﻧﺘﻴﺠﺔ ﻟﺜﻮرة ﺷﻌﺒﻴﺔ ﺷﺎرك ﻓﻴﻬﺎ أﺑﻨﺎء‬
‫اﻷﻣﺔ اﻋﱰاﺿﺎّ ﻋﲆ ﺗﻨﻜﻴﻞ ﻣﻨﺘﺪﺑﻬﻢ‪ ،‬مل ﻳﻜﻦ اﺳﺘﻘﻼﻻً ﺗﻌﺒﻮﻳﺎً‬
‫ﺑﻘﻴﺎدة رﺟﻞ ﻋﻈﻴﻢ‪ .‬مل ﻳﺄت اﺳﺘﻘﻼﻟﻨﺎ ﻟﻴﻨﻬﻲ ﻣﺮﺣﻠﺔ اﻻﻧﻘﺴﺎم‬
‫اﻟﻄﺎﺋﻔﻲ أو اﻟﺘﺒﻌﻴﺔ اﳌﻨﺎﻃﻘﻴﺔ‪ ،‬ﺑﺤﻴﺚ اﺳﺘﻤﺮت وﺗﺴﺘﻤﺮ‬
‫وﺣﻴﺪا‬
‫مل ﺗﻌﺪ ً‬
‫ﻫﺬه اﻟﺘﻔﺮﻗﺔ ﻣﻊ ﺣﺠﺠﻬﺎ اﻟﺰاﺋﻔﺔ ﺣﺘﻰ ﻳﻮﻣﻨﺎ ﻫﺬا‪ .‬ﻫﻞ ميﻜﻦ‬
‫ﻛﻞ‬
‫ﻳﺤﺐ وﻃﻨﻪ أن ﻳﺒﻘﻰ دون رأس ﻟﻬﺬا اﻟﻮﻃﻦ ّ‬
‫ﻟﺸﻌﺐ‬
‫ّ‬
‫ﻫﺬه اﳌﺪة؟ ﻫﻞ ميﻜﻦ ﻟﺸﻌﺐ ﻣﺘﻌﻠّﻖ ﺑﺄرﺿﻪ أﻻ ﻳﺜﻮر ﰲ زﻣﻦ‬
‫اﻟﻔﺮاغ اﻟﺮﺋﺎﳼ؟‬
‫ﰲ ﺑﺎﻗﻲ اﻟﺪول‪ ،‬ﻋﺮﺑ ّﻴﺔ ﻛﺎﻧﺖ أم ﻏﺮﺑﻴﺔ‪ ،‬ﻳﺮﺑﻂ اﳌﻮاﻃﻨﻮن‬
‫ﻣﻌني أو ﺣﺎدﺛﺔ ﻣﻌﻴّﻨﺔ‪،‬‬
‫ﺣﺒّﻬﻢ ﻟﻸرض ﺑﻘﻀﻴﺔ ﻣﻌﻴﻨﺔ أو ﺑﻄﻞ ّ‬
‫ﻓريون ﻣﻦ ﺧﻼﻟﻬﺎ أﻫﻤﻴّﺔ ﻻﻧﺘامﺋﻬﻢ اﻟﺠﻐﺮاﰲ ﻟﻬﺬا اﳌﻜﺎن‬
‫اﳌﺤ ّﺪ د‪ .‬ﻟﺒﻌﺾ اﻟﺒﻠﺪان ﺷﺨﺺ »ﻓﻴﻨﻮﻣﻴﻨﺎ« ﺧﺎص ﺑﻬﺎ‪ ،‬رمبﺎ‬
‫ﻳﻜﻮن ﺣﺎﻛامً ﻋﺎدﻻً ﺑﻄﻼً ﻛﻌﺒﺪ اﻟﻨﺎﴏ ﰲ ﻣﴫ ﻳﺤﺘﺬى ﺑﻪ‬
‫ﻟﻠﻘﻮل ”أﺣﺒﻮا وﻃﻨﻜﻢ ﻛام ﻫﻮ أﺣﺒّﻪ“‪ .‬ﰲ اﻟﺤﺎﻟﺔ اﻟﻠﺒﻨﺎﻧﻴﺔ‪ ،‬ﻣﺎ‬
‫ﻫﻲ ﻫﺬه اﻟﺤﺎﻟﺔ اﻻﺳﺘﺜﻨﺎﺋﻴﺔ‪ ،‬أو اﻟﺸﺨﺼﻴﺔ اﻟﺘﺎرﻳﺨﻴﺔ اﻟﻌﻈﻴﻤﺔ‬
‫اﻟﺘﻲ ﺗﻜﻮن ﻣﺮادﻓﺎً ﻟﻠﺒﻨﺎن ﺑﺎﻟﻨﺴﺒﺔ ﻟﺸﻌﺒﻪ؟‬
‫ﻋﻨﺪﻣﺎ ﻧﻨﻈﺮ اﱃ اﻟﺒﺪان اﻷﺧﺮى‪ ،‬وﻧﺮى ﻛﻢ ﻳﺤﺐ اﻟﻨﺎس‬
‫ﻋام ﺗﻘﺪم ﻟﻬﻢ ﻫﺬه اﻷوﻃﺎن‪ ،‬ﻧﺄﺳﻒ‬
‫أوﻃﺎﻧﻬﻢ‪ ،‬ﺑﻐﺾ اﻟﻨﻈﺮ ّ‬
‫ﻟﻮﻃﻦ اﻷرز اﻟﺬي ﻻ ﻳﺠﺪ ﻣﻦ ﻳﺨﻠّﺪ وﻻءه ﻷرﺿﻪ‪ ،‬واﻟﺬي ﻻ‬
‫ﻳﺘﺬﻛّﺮ ﻣﻮاﻃﻨﻮه ﺣﺒّﻬﻢ ﻟﻪ إﻻ إذا ﻛﺎﻧﻮا ﰲ اﳌﻬﺠﺮ‪.‬‬
‫‪http://www.thetower.org/‬‬
‫أورﻧﻴﻼ ﻋﻨﱰ‬
‫‪www.shouselaw.com‬‬
‫ﻏﺮﻳﺐ أن ﺗﺪرك ﰲ ﻟﺤﻈﺔ ﻋﺎدﻳﺔ ﺟﺪا أﻧﻚ ﻓﻘري‪ .‬ﻋﲆ‬
‫اﳌﻨﻀﺪة ﺑﺠﺎﻧﺒﻚ ﺣﺒﺔ دواء ﻣﻨ ّﻮم واﺣﺪة ﻓﻘﻂ‪ ،‬وﻣﺎء ﻛﺜري‪ .‬ﰲ‬
‫ﻋﻠﺒﺘﻲ دواء ﻣﻦ اﳌﻨﻮم ذاﺗﻪ ﻟﻜﻨﻚ‬
‫ﺣﻘﻴﺒﺘﻚ ﻣﺎل ﻳﻜﻔﻲ ﻟﴩاء‬
‫ّ‬
‫ﻓﻘري‪ :‬ﻻ وﺻﻔﺔ ﻃﺒﻴﺔ واﺣﺪة ﺗﻘﺪﻣﻬﺎ ﻟﻠﺼﻴﺪﱄ ﺟﺎرك‪ .‬ﻛﺄن اﻟﻬﺎﻻت‬
‫اﻟﺴﻮداء ﺣﻮل ﻋﻴﻨﻴﻚ ﻻ ﺗﻜﻔﻲ ﻟيك ﺗﻜﻮن اﻟﺤﺒﺔ اﻟﺴﺤﺮﻳﺔ ﻫﺬه‬
‫ﻣﻦ ﺣﻘﻚ اﻟﻄﺒﻴﻌﻲ‪.‬‬
‫ﺛﻢ ﺗﺤﺘﺎر ﰲ ﻧﻔﺴﻚ‪ :‬ﻫﻞ ﺗﺄﺧﺬ اﻟﺤﺒﺔ اﻟﻠﻴﻠﺔ وﺗﻨﺎم ﻧﻮﻣﺎ‬
‫ﻳﻘﺮب اﻟﻬﻨﺎء‪ ،‬أو ﺗﺨ ّﺒﺌﻬﺎ ﻟﻠﻴﺎل أﻗﴗ آﺗﻴﺔ ﻻ ﻣﺤﺎل؟ ﺗﺮﻋﺒﻚ ﻓﻜﺮة‬
‫اﻟﻠﻴﺎﱄ اﻵﺗﻴﺔ‪ ،‬ﻓﺘﺠﺪ ﺧﻼﺻﻚ ﰲ ﻛﻮب ﻣﺎء ووﺳﺎدة‪ .‬أﻣﺎ اﻟﺤﺒﺔ‬
‫اﻟﺴﺤﺮﻳﺔ إﱃ ﺟﺎﻧﺒﻚ ﻓﺘﺬﻛّﺮ ﺑﺎﳌﺨﻠﺺ اﻟﺬي ﻳﺆﺟﻞ ﻣﺠﻴﺌﻪ اﻟﺜﺎين‬
‫إﱃ اﻷرض رﻳﺜام ﺗﻜرث اﻟﺨﻄﺎﻳﺎ ﺑﻌﺪ‪ .‬ﻳﻀﺤﻜﻚ اﻟﺘﺸﺒﻴﻪ ﻟﻜﻨﻚ‬
‫ﻻ ﺗﻀﺤﻚ‪.‬‬
‫ﻗﺒﻞ أن ﺗﻨﺎم‪ ،‬ﺗﻔﻜﺮ‪ .‬ﻣﺜﻼ‪ ،‬ﻟﻮ أ ّن اﻟﻠﻪ ﻣﻮﺟﻮد ﻓﻌﻼ ﳌﺎ ﻛﻨﺖ‬
‫أﻧﺖ ﻣﻮﺟﻮدا اﻟﻴﻮم‪ .‬وذﻟﻚ ﻟﺸﺪة ﻣﺎ ﺗﻮﺳﻠﺖ إﻟﻴﻪ أﻻ ﻳﺒﻘﻴﻚ ﻋﲆ‬
‫ﻗﻴﺪ اﻟﺤﻴﺎة‪ .‬ﻟﻜﻨﻚ ﻣﺎ زﻟﺖ ﺣﻴﺎ‪ ،‬وﻫﺬا دﻟﻴﻞ ﻗﺎﻃﻊ ﻋﲆ ﻧﻈﺮﻳﺘﻚ‪.‬‬
‫ﻣﻊ ذﻟﻚ‪ ،‬ﺗﻘﺮر أن ﺗﺼﲇ‪ .‬رمبﺎ إذا رددت ﺑﻀﻊ ﻛﻠامت أو ﺟﻤﻞ‬
‫ﻗﺼرية ﻣﺮة ﺑﻌﺪ ﻣﺮة‪ ،‬ﻳﺴﻌﻔﻚ اﻟﱰداد ﻋﲆ اﻟﻨﻮم‪ .‬ﻟﻜﻨﻚ ﺗﻔﺎﺟﺊ‬
‫ﻧﻔﺴﻚ ﺗﻬﻤﺲ ﻣﻘﻄﻌﺎ ﻟﻠﻜﺎﺗﺐ ﻋﺒﺎس ﺑﻴﻀﻮن‪” :‬اﻟﺤﻴﺎة ﻗﻄﻌﺘﻬﺎ‬
‫ﺑﴪﻋﺔ وﱄ ﻓﻘﻂ ﻫﺬا اﻟﺴﻄﺢ أﺣﻀﻨﻪ وأﺧﺮج ﺣﺎﻓﻴﺎ‪ ،‬ﱄ اﻟﺮﺻﻴﻒ‬
‫أُدﱄ ﻗﺪﻣﻲ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ‪ .‬ﺣﻴﺎيت أﺣﺴﺒﻬﺎ ﺑﺎﳌﺮﺑﻌﺎت وأﻗﻮل ﻫﻜﺬا أﺣﺒﺲ‬
‫ﺻﻞ‬
‫ﺣﴪيت‪ ،‬ﻫﻜﺬا أﺻﻔّﻲ اﻟﺸﻌﻮر اﻟﺼﻐري اﻟﺬي ﻳﺘﺒﻌﻨﻲ ﻛﺎﻟﻔﺄر‪ّ .‬‬
‫ﻻﻋﺮف أﻳﻦ أﺣﺒﻚ إذ أﻣﻀﻴﺖ ﻛﻞ ﻫﺬا اﻟﻮﻗﺖ ﰲ ﺣﻴﺎﺗﻚ‪ .‬إذ‬
‫ﻛﻔﺎﻧﺎ ﺟﺴﺪك ﻧﺤﻦ اﻻﺛﻨني‪ “.‬ﻻ ﺗﻌﺮف ﻣﺎ إذا ﻛﺎن اﳌﻘﻄﻊ ﻫﺬا‬
‫ﻳﺰﻳﺪك ﻛﺂﺑﺔ أو ﻳﺨﻔﻒ ﻣﻦ وﻃﺄة اﻟﻜﺂﺑﺔ ﻋﲆ ﻧَﻔَﺴﻚ اﻟﻀﻴﻖ‬
‫أﺻﻼ‪ .‬ﻻ وﻗﺖ ﻟﺤﻞ ﻣﺴﺎﺋﻞ ﻣﺸﺎﺑﻬﺔ ﻋﲆ ﻛﻞ ﺣﺎل‪ .‬ﻻ وﻗﺖ ﰲ ﻓﻤﻚ‪ .‬ﻟﻜﻨﻬﺎ ﻻ ﺗﺼﻞ إﻟﻴﻪ‪ .‬ﺗﻘﻊ اﻟﺤﺒﺔ اﻟﺒﻴﻀﺎء ﻋﲆ ﺑﻼط أرض‬
‫اﻟﻐﺮﻓﺔ اﻷﺑﻴﺾ‪ .‬ﺗﻀﻊ رأﺳﻚ ﻋﲆ اﻟﻮﺳﺎدة ﻟيك ﺗﻔﻜﺮ ﻣﻠﻴﺎ ﰲ‬
‫ﻟﻴﺎﻟﻴﻚ ﻟﺘﻔﺴري اﻟﻜﺂﺑﺔ‪ .‬ﻛﻞ اﻟﻮﻗﺖ ﻟﻠﻜﺂﺑﺔ‪.‬‬
‫ﰲ اﻟﺼﺒﺎح اﻟﺘﺎﱄ‪ ،‬ﺗﺮاودك ﻓﻜﺮة ﻋﻈﻴﻤﺔ‪ - .‬ﻻ ﺑﺪ ﻣﻦ أﻧﻚ اﻟﺰﺣﻒ أرﺿﺎ واﻟﺒﺤﺚ ﻋﻨﻬﺎ‪ .‬ﻟﻜﻨﻚ ﺗﻨﺎم ﻗﺒﻞ أن ﻳﺘﺴﻨﻰ ﻟﻚ ان‬
‫ﺗﻔﻜﺮ ﻛﺜريا ‪ -‬ﺗﻔﻜﺮ ﰲ أ ّن اﻟﺤﻴﺎة ﻋﺒﺎرة ﻋﻦ أزﻣﺔ واﺣﺪة ﻛﱪى‪ ،‬ﺗﻨﺘﻘﻞ ﻣﻦ اﻟﻔﻜﺮة إﱃ اﻟﻔﻌﻞ‪.‬‬
‫أزﻣﺔ ﻻ ﺗﻨﺘﻬﻲ إﻻ ﺑﺎﻧﺘﻬﺎء اﻟﺤﻴﺎة ﻧﻔﺴﻬﺎ‪ .‬ﺗﻔﻜﺮ ﰲ أ ّن ﺑﻌﺾ‬
‫اﻷﺣﻴﺎء ﻳﺪﻳﺮون أزﻣﺎﺗﻬﻢ ﺑﺸﻜﻞ ﺟﻴﺪ‪ .‬ﻋﲆ ﻋﻜﺴﻚ أﻧﺖ‪ .‬ﻣﻨﺬ‬
‫ﻓﱰة مل ﻳﻌﺪ ﺑﺈﻣﻜﺎﻧﻚ إدارة اﻷزﻣﺔ‪ .‬ﻋﲆ اﻟﺮﻏﻢ ﻣﻦ أﻧﻚ ﺗﺤﺎول‬
‫ﺟﺎﻫﺪا‪ .‬ﺗﺘﺼﻞ ﺑﺼﺪﻳﻖ ﻗﺪﻳﻢ‪ ،‬ﺗﺘﻔﻘﺎن ﺛﻢ ﺗﻠﺘﻘﻴﺎن ﻟﻴﻼ ﺣﻮل‬
‫ﻛﺄﺳني ودردﺷﺔ ﻻ ﺗﻠﻬﻴﻚ ﻋﻦ اﻟﺘﻔﻜري‪ .‬ﻣﺎ زﻟﺖ ﺗﺤﺒﻪ‪ ،‬ﻟﻜﻦ‬
‫اﻟﻠﻘﺎء ﺑﻪ مل ﻳﻌﺪ ﻳﺴﻌﺪك ﻛام ﰲ اﻟﺴﺎﺑﻖ‪ .‬ﺗﻘﻮم ﺑﻨﺰﻫﺔ ﺻﺒﺎﺣﻴﺔ‬
‫ﻋﲆ ﻛﻮرﻧﻴﺶ ﺑريوت‪ ،‬ﺗﺘﻨﻔﺲ اﻟﻬﻮاء ﻧﻔﺴﻪ وﺗﻠﻘﻲ اﻟﺘﺤﻴﺔ ﻋﲆ‬
‫»اﻟﻘﻬﻮﺟﻲ« ﻧﻔﺴﻪ ﻟﻜﻦ ﻧَﻔَﺴﻚ أﻧﺖ ﻣﺎ ﻳﺰال ﺿﻴﻘﺎ‪ .‬مل ﻳﺘﻐري‪.‬‬
‫ﺣﺘﻰ اﻟﺤﺐ مل ﻳﻨﺠﺢ ﰲ اﻧﺘﺸﺎﻟﻚ‪ .‬وأﺻﺒﺢ اﻟﺒﺤﺚ ﻋﻦ ﺳﺒﻞ‬
‫ﻻﻧﺘﺸﺎﻟﻪ ﻣﻦ ﻗﻌﺮ اﻟﺤﻔﺮة اﻟﺘﻲ وﻗﻌﺖ أﻧﺖ وأوﻗﻌﺘﻪ ﻓﻴﻬﺎ‪ ،‬ﻋﻤﻼ‬
‫ﻣﺮﻫﻘﺎ ﻻ ﻋﻠﻢ ﻟﻚ ﺑﺄﺻﻮﻟﻪ‪.‬‬
‫ﺗﺮاﺟﻊ أﻓﻜﺎرك‪ .‬ﻣﻨﺬ ﻓﱰة مل ﻳﻌﺪ ﺑﺈﻣﻜﺎﻧﻚ إدارة اﻷزﻣﺔ‪.‬‬
‫رمبﺎ ﺣﺎن اﻟﻮﻗﺖ ﻟيك ﺗﺘﻮﻗﻒ ﻋﻦ ﻣﺤﺎوﻟﺔ إدارﺗﻬﺎ مبﻔﺮدك‪ .‬رمبﺎ‬
‫ﺣﺎن اﻟﻮﻗﺖ يك ﺗﻄﻠﺐ اﳌﺴﺎﻋﺪة‪ .‬ﺗﺮﻓﻊ اﻟﺴامﻋﺔ‪ ،‬ﺗﺘﺼﻞ ﺑﻌﻴﺎدة‬
‫اﳌﻌﺎﻟﺠﺔ اﻟﻨﻔﺴﻴﺔ اﻟﺘﻲ ﺳ ّﺠﻠﺖ رﻗﻤﻬﺎ ﻋﲆ ﻗﺼﺎﺻﺔ ورق‪ .‬ﺗﺘﻔﻘﺎن‬
‫ﻋﲆ ﻣﻮﻋﺪ ﰲ ﺑﻌﺪ ﻇﻬﺮ اﻟﻴﻮم اﻟﺘﺎﱄ‪.‬‬
‫وأﻧﺖ ﺟﺎﻟﺲ ﻋﲆ ﻃﺮف اﻟﴪﻳﺮ‪ ،‬ﺗﻨﻈﺮ إﱃ اﻟﺤﺒﺔ اﻟﺴﺤﺮﻳﺔ‬
‫اﻟﺼﺎﻣﺪة ﻣﻨﺬ ﻣﺪة‪ .‬ﺗﻔﻜّﺮ ﰲ أﻧﻚ اﻟﻠﻴﻠﺔ ﺗﺴﺘﺤﻖ أن ﺗﻨﺎم ﺗﺤﺖ‬
‫ﺗﺄﺛريﻫﺎ‪ .‬ﺛﻢ إﻧﻚ مل ﺗﻌﺪ ﺧﺎﺋﻔﺎ ﻣﻦ اﻟﻠﻴﺎﱄ اﻟﻘﺎدﻣﺔ‪ .‬مل ﺗﻌﺪ‬
‫وﺣﻴﺪا‪ .‬متﺴﻚ اﻟﺤﺒﺔ ﺑني إﺻﺒﻌني‪ ،‬وﺑﺤﺬر ﺷﺪﻳﺪ ﺗﻘﺮﺑﻬﺎ ﻣﻦ‬
14
About That
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Fadel Shaker’s Controversy
Sharin Al Assad
his intermediaries with the government, that Layla Al
Solh managed to get Shaker a deal with the Lebanese
army that requires him to firstly return to his basic form
and stop the fiery speeches against the army, secondly
hire a lawyer to help him in his upcoming “trial” and
thirdly publicly cut all ties with Al Assir and adding that
LBC was agreed upon to be the TV station to handle
his rebirth, through a pre-prepared interview. These are
hefty accusations put forth by Al Akhbar published on
March 9th, 2015 that did not contain any source for this
information or justification.
The reporter, Edmond Sassine had the opportunity
to defend himself on Joe Maalouf ’s “7ki Jelis” where
Zakia Al Dirani, a journalist in Al Akhbar, was called on
air to explain where the newspaper got this information
from implying that it’s not true. However Dirani did
not explain where her sources are from. This creates
doubts on the credibility of the newspaper. She also
blamed Sassine for not asking Shaker for proof that he
was not involved in the Abra battle. However this is not
a journalist’s or reporters job, it’s the justice systems job
to investigate such claims.
Sassine on the other hand explained that there
is no deal to promote Shaker and that getting an
interview with him is basically news scoop which
many other media outlets would have done if they
had gotten the chance to. Ex-minister Ziad Baroud
justifies that there is no law against conducting
an interview with a criminal or fugitive, therefore
legally there’s no fault in LBCI’s interview with
Fadel Shaker.
I believe that Shaker intended to promote himself
through this interview in order to get supporters. By
doing so, if he is to conduct any concerts in the future
to get people to attend for his own good meaning that
he might bomb the audience, use the profit from the
concert to support a terrorist group by buying weapons
for example or to get a minimum sentence since he is
a fugitive from the Lebanese authorities and he shortly
gave himself in after the interview. However, I do not
think that LBCI intended to assist Shaker in doing
this through their interview. It was simply a good
opportunity for them as a news station since its news
scoop that will attract viewers.
http://i.ytimg.com/vi/031xvx2bvr8/maxresdefault.jpg
In an interview with LBCI on March 7th 2015,
Fadel shaker seemed different in appearance and
behavior compared to his last posted video on YouTube.
He is shown to have shaved his beard and dressed in
a suit. He spoke with composure with his musical
instruments in the background.
Shaker has been accused of murdering soldiers of
the Lebanese army since he joined Ahmad Al Assir.
In addition, Shaker appeared on YouTube boasting
about killing two soldiers imploring foul language to
describe his acts. However, in the interview with LBCI’s
reporter Edmond Sassine, Shaker claims his innocence
saying that he was asleep during the battle and when he
woke up to the shootings, he hid. This does not seem
convincing when compared to what he said in the
previous video. Shaker also claims that he did not have a
good relationship with Assir for a while. This might be
an attempt to convince the public that he regrets joining
Assir and wishes to get back to his normal life.
Some news sources have greeted LBCI’s interview
with Shaker with critical acclaim. This includes
accusations such as Fadel Shaker and LBCI struck a deal
to promote Shaker to make him seem innocent since
he’s a fugitive and the Lebanese authorities are after
him. Shaker is trying to get out of Ain El Helwe camp
since he ran out of cash and his wife is controlling his
assets, that this difficult situation forced him to make
compromises through a concert contractor called Imad
Qanso. Fadel Shaker got into contact with Prince Walid
Ben Talal as well as Minister Layal Al Solh who became
http://ia.media-imdb.com/images/M/MV5BMjE1MTM4NDAzOF5BM
l5BanBnXkFtZTgwNTMwNjI0MzE@._V1_SX640_SY720_.jpg
50
Shades
of
Controversy
Sharin Al Assad
Much attention has been directed towards
the movie “50 Shades of Grey”, which is evident
through its number one place at the box office
globally within the first two weeks of its release.
The movie, which features unusual sexual scenario
enactments, was met with varying reactions from its
audience, some extremely positive and others not.
On one hand, the movie can be regarded as
insightful in terms of sexual behavior since it brings
the viewer in to understand how the unusual sexual
relationship occurs since it surpasses the norm
of a typical romantic sexual experience, which
usually does not include physical or emotional
harm. For instance, Christian Grey involves sadism
enacted onto his sexual partners for pleasure
during intercourse, which is displayed through his
relationship with Anastasia Steele. This can also
aid in the understanding of factors that lead to
these sexual fetishes through understanding the
character’s psyche. The audience learns that the
reason behind Christian’s unusual sexual preferences
is due to physiological issues because of trauma he
experienced as a young boy due to being molested
by his mother’s friend and because of his neglectful
mother and, possibly, other reasons that he did
not mention.
On the other hand, some believe the movie to
be offensive to women since Christian is abusive
and Anastasia is submissive to him even though
she does not enjoy it. Many also suggest that the
movie sends an incorrect message to viewers about
sexual behavior, which might encourage younger
audience members to attempt being abusive or
submissive to abuse. This might be due to a lack of
sexual education in some countries like Lebanon.
Many Lebanese people have little or no knowledge
regarding sexual practices featured in the movie
before watching it, where they may acquire this
knowledge. This can give them an inaccurate idea
about it, or it can shock them, since they have no
knowledge of these practices prior to watching
the movie in the cinema. This is the main reason
why 50 Shades has been banned in some countries,
such as Malaysia, and restricted to viewers aged
21 and above in other countries, such as Lebanon.
However, some countries, such as France, allow
people as young as 12 to view the movie. Another
problem is that even with an age limit placed on
viewers or outright banning of the movie, people
are still able to watch 50 Shades using the internet
or illegal DVDs.
Overall, the movie brings forth controversy
on issues such as if it should have an age limit
on viewership, if it should banned or if it should
have been made altogether. This might be because
displaying a sexually explicit story in this manner
is uncommon in the world of cinema, which can
cause fear of the effects it may have on younger
audience member.
Athletics
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15
Charbel Saad: An Inter-University Champion
Meet Charbel Saad, a 20 year-old Physical
Education student. Charbel is athletically active
and enjoys shot put, discus throw, and javelin
throw to name a few. He competes in national and
international championships, and in March he won
1st place in both javelin throw and shot put in the
inter-university championship.
How it all started:
His father is his coach and he’s been playing
these sports since he was 8 years old. His father
inspired and encouraged him to pursue an athletic
lifestyle and career. Charbel used to see his father
train as a kid which was one of the main reasons he
started playing sports himself. His father was the
champion of lebanon in long jump, so naturally he
first pursued long jump but moved on the play shot
put and disc cause he liked more as competitive
sports. Charbel claimed that if it wasn’t for his father
he wouldn’t be playing sports now. There pasted a
time when he used to train day and night to evolve
and make progress. It become such a ritualistic
thing, that Charbel can no longer let a day pass
without doing something sporty and because he’s
been playing for so long he feels like its something
in him and it’s something he’s very good at.
The Present Day:
With an exceedingly tight schedule, between
managing university and courses along with
training, charbel also works in the afternoons in a
gym. Two years ago, charbel competed in the west
http://etinspires.com/wp-content/uploads/02/2015/basketball-hd-wallpapers-cooldesktop-backgrounds.jpg
Hala Mirza
Asian championship and he was ranked the 5th
out of 12 competing countries, and this year he
qualified for the World University Games 2015
that will take place in Gwangju, south Korea’s
sixth largest city, from the 3rd till the 14th of July.
Charbel will represent the University by playing
Shot put. This Championship will gather over More
than 9,000 student-athletes and officials from over
170 countries
What the Future holds:
Charbel expressed that he wants to graduate
and continue to compete in tournaments and
championships.
Message:
Congratulations to the UOB Men’s Basketball team for
achieving the second place in the Nasri Lahoud FSUL
Men’s Basketball Cup 2015. The final against USEK was
very close. The two teams gave everything they had.
During the whole game none of the teams was able to
achieve a score difference of more than 6 points. UOB
Player Jean Marc Jarrouje earned the trophy of scorer of
the tournament.
‫ ﺑﻄﻞ ﺟﺎﻣﻌﺎت ﻟﺒﻨﺎن ﰲ اﻟﺘﻴﻜﻮاﻧﺪو‬:‫ﻓﺎدي ﺧﻮﻳﺮي‬
‫ﻣريﻳﻢ ﻣﻨﺼﻮر‬
‫ ﺑﺤﻴﺚ إن ﻫﻨﺎك ﻓﺌﺘني‬.‫ﻣﻘﺴﻤني ﺑﺤﺴﺐ اﻟﻮزن وﻟﻮن اﻷﺣﺰﻣﺔ‬
‫أﻧﺎ أمت ّﻨﻰ ذﻟﻚ ﻷ ّن اﻟﺮﻳﺎﺿﺔ راﺋﻌﺔ وﻣﻦ اﳌﺆﺳﻒ أﻻّ ﺗﻨﺘﴩ‬
ّ ‫ﻛ ّﻨﺎ‬
.‫ أﻧﺎ ﺷﺎرﻛﺖ وﺗﺄﺧﺬ ﺣﻘّﻬﺎ‬.‫اﻟﺴﻮداء‬
ّ ‫ ﻓﺌﺔ اﻷﺣﺰﻣﺔ اﳌﻠ ّﻮﻧﺔ وﻓﺌﺔ اﻷﺣﺰﻣﺔ‬:‫ﻟﻸﺣﺰﻣﺔ‬
‫ ﻛﻮين ﺣﺎﺋ ًﺰا‬.‫ ﻛﻎ‬٨٠‫ﻋﻦ ﻓﺌﺔ اﻷﺣﺰﻣﺔ اﳌﻠ ّﻮﻧﺔ ﳌﻦ ﻫﻢ دون وزن ال‬
.‫ﻋﲆ اﻟﺤﺰام اﻷزرق‬
‫ﻣﺎ ﻫﻮ ﺗﺮﺗﻴﺐ اﻷﺣﺰﻣﺔ وﻣﺎ اﻟّﺬي ﻳﱰﺗّﺐ ﻋﻠﻴﻚ ﻓﻌﻠﻪ ﻟﻠﺤﺼﻮل‬
‫ﻋﲆ اﻟﺤﺰام اﻷﺳﻮد؟‬
.‫ﺑﻌﺪ اﻟﺤﺰام اﻷزرق ﻫﻨﺎك اﻟﺤﺰام اﻷﺣﻤﺮ وﻣﻦ ﺛ ّﻢ اﻷﺳﻮد‬
. ‫ﲇ ﺧﻮض ﻋ ّﺪة ﻣﺴﺎﺑﻘﺎت‬
ّ ‫ﻟيك أﺣﺼﻞ ﻋﲆ اﻟﺤﺰام اﻷﺳﻮد ﻋ‬
ٍ ‫ﺳﺄﺣﺼﻞ ﻋﲆ اﻟﺤﺰام اﻷﺣﻤﺮ ﰲ‬
.ً ‫ﻗﺮﻳﺐ ﺟ ّﺪا‬
‫وﻗﺖ‬
ٍ
‫ﻫﻞ ﺗﻌﺘﻘﺪ أنّ اﻟﻠّﻌﺒﺔ أﺧﺬت ﺣﻘّﻬﺎ اﻟﻄّﺒﻴﻌﻲ ﰲ ﻟﺒﻨﺎن ؟‬
‫ اﻟﻌﺪﻳﺪ ﻣﻦ‬.‫اﻟﻼﻋﺒني ﻟﻜﻦ ﻻ أﺣﺪ ﻳﺄﺧﺬ ﺣﻘّﻪ‬
ّ ‫ﻫﻨﺎك اﻟﻜﺜري ﻣﻦ‬
.‫اﻟﻼﻋﺒني ﻳﺴﺎﻓﺮون وﻳﺤﻮزون ﻋﲆ اﳌﻴﺪاﻟ ّﻴﺎت وﻳﻔﻮزون ﺑﺎﳌﺴﺎﺑﻘﺎت‬
ّ
‫اﻟﻼﻋﺒني ﻟﻜﻦ اﻟ ّﺪﻋﻢ اﳌﺎ ّدي ﻏﺎﺋﺐ ﻣﻦ‬
ّ ‫اﳌﺸﻜﻠﺔ ﻟﻴﺴﺖ مبﺴﺘﻮى‬
.‫ﻗﺒﻞ اﻟ ّﺪوﻟﺔ ﺑﺎﻹﺿﺎﻓﺔ إﱃ أ ّن اﻟﺘّﻐﻄﻴﺔ اﻹﻋﻼﻣ ّﻴﺔ ﻣﺘﻮاﺿﻌﺔ‬
‫ﻫﻞ ﻛﺎﻧﺖ اﻟ ّﺘﻐﻈﻴﺔ اﻹﻋﻼﻣ ّﻴﺔ ﻏﺎﺋﺒﺔ أﻳﻀﺎً ﻋﻦ اﻟﺒﻄﻮﻟﺔ؟‬
‫ ﻛﺎن ﻫﻨﺎك ﺗﻐﻄﻴﺔ ﻣﻬ ّﻤﺔ ﻛﻮﻧﻪ ﺣﺼﻞ ﺗﻌﻤﻴﻢ ﻋﲆ ﺟﻤﻴﻊ‬.‫ﻛﻼ‬
ّ
‫ ﺑﺎﻹﺿﺎﻓﺔ إﱃ أ ّن‬.‫اﻟﻮﺳﺎﺋﻞ اﻹﻋﻼﻣ ّﻴﺔ اﳌﺮﺋ ّﻴﺔ واﳌﺴﻤﻮﻋﺔ واﳌﻘﺮوءة‬
.‫اﻟﺴﻨﺔ اﳌﺎﺿﻴﺔ‬
ّ ‫اﻟﺘّﻐﻄﻴﺔ اﻹﻋﻼﻣ ّﻴﺔ ﻟﻠّﻌﺒﺔ‬
ّ ‫ﺗﺤﺴﻨﺖ ﻣﻨﺬ أواﺧﺮ‬
ّ ‫ﻛﻜﻞ‬
‫ﻛﻴﻒ ﺗﻌﺎﻃﺖ اﻟﺠﺎﻣﻌﺔ ﻣﻊ ﻓﻮزك ﺑﺎﻟﺒﻄﻮﻟﺔ؟‬
‫ﻟﻘﺪ ﺣﺼﻠﺖ ﻋﲆ دﻋﻢ ﻛﺒري ﻣﻦ اﳌﺪ ّرب ﻃﻮين دﻳﺐ اﻟّﺬي‬
.‫ﻛﺎن ﻣﺘﺤ ّﻤﺴﺎً ﺟ ّﺪا ً ﳌﺸﺎرﻛﺘﻲ وﻓﻮزي ﺑﺎﻟﺒﻄﻮﻟﺔ‬
‫ﻫﻞ ﺗﻔﻜّﺮ ﺑﺎﻟﻘﻴﺎم مبﴩوع ﻣﺎ ﻟﺘﻌﻠﻴﻢ اﻟﺘﺎﻳﻜﻮﻧﺪو ﰲ اﻟﺠﺎﻣﻌﺔ‬
‫ﻓﻮر ﺣﺼﻮﻟﻚ ﻋﲆ اﻟﺤﺰام اﻷﺳﻮد؟‬
‫اﻟﺴﻨﺔ ﻣﺠ ّﺮد ﺳﻨﺔ دراﺳ ّﻴﺔ ﻋﺎدﻳّﺔ ﻟﻔﺎدي‬
ّ ‫مل ﺗﻜﻦ ﻫﺬه‬
‫اﻟﻄّﺎﻟﺐ ﰲ ﻗﺴﻢ اﻟﻬﻨﺪﺳﺔ اﳌﻴﻜﺎﻧﻴﻜ ّﻴﺔ ﰲ ﺟﺎﻣﻌﺔ اﻟﺒﻠﻤﻨﺪ‬،‫ﺧﻮﻳﺮي‬
‫ وﺣﺎز‬،‫اﻟﺴﻨﺘني‬
ّ ‫اﻟّﺬي ﺑﺪأ مبامرﺳﺔ رﻳﺎﺿﺔ اﻟﺘﺎﻳﻜﻮﻧﺪو ﻣﻨﺬ ﺣﻮاﱄ‬
‫ ﰲ ﺣﺪﻳﺜﻪ ﻟـ‬.‫ﻣﺆ ّﺧﺮا ً ﻋﲆ ﺑﻄﻮﻟﺔ ﻟﺒﻨﺎن ﻟﻠﺠﺎﻣﻌﺎت ﻟﻸﺣﺰﻣﺔ اﳌﻠ ّﻮﻧﺔ‬
‫ أﺧﱪﻧﺎ ﻓﺎدي ﻋﻦ ﺗﺠﺮﺑﺘﻪ وأﺟﺎﺑﻨﺎ ﻋﻦ اﻟﻌﺪﻳﺪ ﻣﻦ‬،Highlights
.‫اﻷﺳﺌﻠﺔ ﺣﻮل اﻟﺘّﺪرﻳﺒﺎت واﻟﺒﻄﻮﻟﺔ وﻃﻤﻮﺣﺎﺗﻪ اﳌﺴﺘﻘﺒﻠ ّﻴﺔ‬
‫ﳌﺎذا وﻗﻊ إﺧﺘﻴﺎرك ﻋﲆ ﻟﻌﺒﺔ اﻟﺘﺎﻳﻜﻮﻧﺪو ﺗﺤﺪﻳﺪاً؟‬
‫ ﻛﻨﺖ ﻋﲆ إﻃّﻼع‬.‫ﰲ اﻟﺒﺪاﻳﺔ ﻛﺎن أﺧﻲ ميﺎرس ﻫﺬه اﻟ ّﺮﻳﺎﺿﺔ‬
‫ أﻣﺎ اﳌﺤﻔﺰ اﻷﺳﺎس ﻫﻮ أ ّن‬.ّ ‫ﺟ ّﻴﺪ ﺑﻜﺎﻓّﺔ ﺟﻮاﻧﺒﻬﺎ ﻓﺈﺳﺘﻬﻮﺗﻨﻲ ﻛﺜريا‬
‫ ﻓﻠﻢ ﻳﺸﻜّﻞ‬.‫اﻟﺠﺎﻣﻌﻲ‬
‫أوﻗﺎت اﻟﺘّامرﻳﻦ ﻛﺎﻧﺖ ﻣﺘﻨﺎﺳﺒﺔ ﻣﻊ دواﻣﻲ‬
ّ
.‫ﻋﺎﻣﻞ اﻟﻮﻗﺖ ﻋﺎﺋﻘﺎً أﻣﺎﻣﻲ‬
‫ﻛﻴﻒ أﺗﺘﻚ ﻓﻜﺮة اﳌﺸﺎرﻛﺔ ﰲ اﳌﺴﺎﺑﻘﺔ؟‬
‫ﺣني ﻳﺒﺪأ اﻟﺸﺨﺺ مبامرﺳﺔ اﻟﺘﺎﻳﻜﻮﻧﺪو ﻳﻄﻤﺢ دامئﺎً ﻷن‬
‫ وﻓﻮر ﻋﻠﻤﻲ ﺑﻮﺟﻮد اﳌﺴﺎﺑﻘﺔ‬،‫ ﻟﺬﻟﻚ‬.‫ﻳﻨﺎﻓﺲ وﻳﺸﺎرك ﰲ اﳌﺴﺎﺑﻘﺎت‬
‫ ﻓﺒﻌﺜﺖ اﻟﺠﺎﻣﻌﺔ‬.‫ﺗﻮاﺻﻠﺖ ﻣﻊ اﻟﺠﺎﻣﻌﺔ يك أﺷﺎرك ﰲ اﳌﻨﺎﻓﺴﺔ‬
‫ﺑﺮﺳﺎﻟﺔ ﻟﻺﺗّﺤﺎد اﻟﻠّﺒﻨﺎين ﻟﻠﺘﺎﻳﻜﻮﻧﺪو ﺗﻔﻴﺪ ﺑﺄﻧّﻨﻲ أرﻳﺪ اﳌﺸﺎرﻛﺔ ﰲ‬
.‫اﻟﺒﻄﻮﻟﺔ‬
‫ أﻻ‬,‫ﺻﻒ ﻟﺘﻌﻠﻴﻢ اﻟﺘﺎﻳﻜﻮﻧﺪو ﰲ اﻟﺠﺎﻣﻌﺔ‬
ّ ‫مبﺎ أﻧّﻪ ﻻ ﻳﻮﺟﺪ‬
‫ﺗﻔﻜّﺮ ﰲ أن ﺗﻘﻮم ﺑﺎﳌﺒﺎدرة وﺗﻌﻠّﻢ ﻫﺬه اﻟ ّﺮﻳﺎﺿﺔ ﰲ اﻟﺠﺎﻣﻌﺔ؟‬
‫أﻧﺎ ﺣﺎﻟﻴّﺎً ﻏري ﻣﺨ ّﻮل ﻟﻔﻌﻞ ذﻟﻚ ﻛﻮين ﻻ أﻣﻠﻚ اﻟﺤﺰام‬
.‫اﻷﺳﻮد ﺑﻌﺪ‬
‫أي ﻓﺌﺔ ﺷﺎرﻛﺖ؟‬
ّ ‫ ﻋﻦ‬.‫أﺧﱪﻧﺎ أﻛرث ﻋﻦ اﻟﺒﻄﻮﻟﺔ‬
.‫اﻟﺒﻄﻮﻟﺔ ﻫﻲ ﺑﻄﻮﻟﺔ ﻟﺒﻨﺎن اﻟ ّﺮﺳﻤ ّﻴﺔ ﻟﻠﺠﺎﻣﻌﺎت ﰲ اﻟﺘﺎﻳﻜﻮﻧﺪو‬
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Add-ons
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Drawing by Judy Abi Roustom
Sudoku
Tribute
A tribute to
Issam Breidy
an inspirational
young talent
who lost his life
in a tragic car
accident.
http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/02260/Untitled260717_1b.jpg
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CBBpIUjVIAEQDbO.jpg:large
Abeer Obeid
Lea Sacca
Adib Ibrahim
Marie-Christine Melhem
Anna Baradhi
Mazen Wafaai
Anthony Doumit
Michael Salem
Asma Kammoun
Mohammad Fakhereddine
Camelia Elias
Dr. Nawaf Kabbara
Cendrella Azar
Taki Louka
Charbel Harika
Myriam Mansour
Claudia Mirza
Ornella Antar
Claudine Ramadi
Photography Club
Diala Farah
Rawan Ayoubi
Georges Sassine
Saher Kammoun
Hala Mirza
Samer Kammoun
Hassin Khalifeh
Sarah Abboud
Imad Karam
Sharin Al Assad
Jad Yassine
Tarek Deeb
Karam Karam
Veronica Alwan
Lea Aoude
Zaki Dib
highlights@balamand.edu.lb
YouHighlights UOB
Highlights - UOB Student Newspaper
Words of gratitude to Dr. Hasan Abiad (for the Arabic editing)