what I think we need in this country

[mr_j]

I think we need to be all independent of political parties, and follow demands rather than parties. I often admire independent rallies like the civil marriage one and the teacher's rallies etc... they protest for demands and not because a party asked them to

the problem with our political parties is that, despite that they have good intentions and we all trust and love them... but they honestly cannot help us, they are tied down with formal stuff, negotiations, statements wel "tawefo2" best example of this is Hizbollah. we know the HA's parties has good intentions and they want to help, but they are tied down, they cannot move freely without becoming under fire about their weapon and the "attempt to overthrow the system" same goes with fpm, once the government is formed, the opposition forfeited the right to protest because they got a share of the government. but we are not happy in the current situation, are we?

and being committed to a party rather than a cause weakens us as lebanese. all Lebanese want lower taxes,(and better internet) but if the opposition makes a protest against TVA, followers of the government party will see it as a threat and will not join or will even try to hamper it. the problem is organization is difficult in such cases

[halhoula]

I couldn't agree more with you Mr.J. We Lebanese learn to follow the leader (za3im) or the party even if it costs us main rights such as decent life or the mere right of expression. Do you remember the time when the association of the workers الإتحاد العمالي العام decided to arrange a demonstration against the high cost of living but the LF the phalanges and the future movement refused to participate because the opposition did.

When the taxes fuel prices and everything are high, does this touches only a certain part of the Lebanese citizens?

[El-Meghwar]

Parties are the most civilized groups that gather a group of people who share the same thoughts and principles and aim to get the majority in a certain country in order to apply their thoughts and principles when reaching the power.

I don't agree with you that parties in Lebanon are the problem.

The problem in here is our rotten political system, the sectarian system in Lebanon classify people based on their religious view, the Lebanese parties have no role.
Since our independence The Lebanese people are a group of tribes(Christian tribe; Shiite tribe; Sunnite tribe etc..) and every tribe has his own leader who take a party's name as a cover.

Take FPM for example, if you take a look to its principles, goals and History, you will find in it a very ideal party that may offer you a certain hope in making Lebanon a modern civilized state.
The founder of FPM (General Aoun) is an honest sincere and patriotic man, he is secular and not the son of a certain feudal leader.
But what happened when FPM started to involve themselves in the political game?? the party is being destroyed day after day and its principles are becoming a hard dream to achieve..
why??
it's not GMA's fault nor FPMers fault... but the current Lebanese system is preventing any creative and reformist thoughts of being applied.

As long as we are living under this rotten system where we are classified based on our religious view, and where every sect is a tribe, NOTHING will change. even if you had the most strong reformist party in Lebanon you will fail to achieve true change and reform.

The only problem is the rotten sectarian system that cannot be changed except by an armed revolution or we will stay like this for million of years.
Sadly, nowadays the majority of Lebanese people cannot make by themselves a modern state with a civil law and where people are considered citizens not sects. and this is due to many reasons(civil war, being raised on sectarian thoughts...).
such a modern and progressive reform should be implemented by force, and with time people will be convinced that it is the best for them.

We need a revolution that establish a temporary dictatorship in order to start building everything from Zero: a new modern constitution, and new educational program that raises new generations on the principles of patriotism and loyalty to our nation not to our religious view. even this will take us many years to evolve.. but we should start with it anyway because it is the only solution, or else we will keep living in this retarded zoo forever.

[mr_j]

And I agree with most of what you said except the armed revolution part

people like the system as it is now, most people do not want to see it change, I think what we need is the people to realize first that it must change, and the rest is easy(well easier) armed revolution will be against who? the majority that is ok with the sectarian system?

we should improve our society, and you start doing that by not committing and aligning yourself with one party but rather adopt a certain goal.

I think the first step of removing sectarianism from the government is to remove it from the educational system. I grew up in a catholic school, haven't met a Muslim until I was 18 and I think it was Tarek you raise kids in separate closed environments, and after they grow up you wonder why they have trouble with mix marriages and with someone outside their religion as their leader and suddenly you want to teach them about being opem minded ...

[RUSSIAN]

The idea of "state" or "country" is wrong, it's the source of most problems. But we can't do anything with it.

[El-Meghwar]

Originally Posted by mr_j

I think the first step of removing sectarianism from the government is to remove it from the educational system.

and how r u willing to do this?
any plan?

[mr_j]

more protests news articles.
why aren't there continuous articles on newspapers and TV about such things?

[Sheriff Ice]

this country needs 3 things:

* Secular system
* Civil Marriage
* Liberal economy

These 3 point mentioned above will solve all Lebanon problems

[Adam]

Not a damn thing will happen as long as there is corruption in the government, police force and society.

The country has gotten so used to chaos that people rarely ask for order.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by mr_j

and being committed to a party rather than a cause weakens us as lebanese. all Lebanese want lower taxes,(and better internet) but if the opposition makes a protest against TVA, followers of the government party will see it as a threat and will not join or will even try to hamper it. the problem is organization is difficult in such cases

This is called democracy.
Every politician is worried about votes, seats and legacy that whatever goal they had when they started their political career is long forgotten.