what can we do?

people ask me the same question over and over and i don't have an answer for them

-do you ever plan on going back?

ideally, i would love to.

technically, and with the way the shit keeps hitting the fan in lebanon, highly improbable

i've come to a point in my life where even my job does not satisfy me

it is strange that i have this urge to make a difference NOW and not 10 years ago when i used to scorn patriotism and idealism and politicism

i'm becoming idealistic as i'm growing older and i begin to realize that i want to play a part in the future of my country (or assure a future for it let's start with that)

i see a 2 caste system in lebanon right now - middle class and the elite

they differ mainly in lifestyle and social circles - BUT- what is striking is the similarity in their way of thinking: sectarianism, religiosity, corruption and 'bribability' are still hot on the market

and we still have the blind leading the blind. ruling families that continue to rule and propagate. and the public that is so easily swayed by emotion and short-term happiness but lacking in logical and wise choices.

and to think that ONLY A FEW have looked back at the war and repented. how will they repent if they do not understand that what we are still doing today and all the trash that we throw at each other because of race or religion or ignorance was the fuel behind our civil war. AND WE HAVE NOT PUNISHED OURSELVES FOR IT. NOT ONLY THAT BUT THE SAME WARLORDS YES WARLORDS NO MATTER WHAT THEY CALL THEMSELVES TODAY ARE STILL IN POWER.

Soooo, where is justice?
should justice not be in our hands rather than in some int'l court?
why not lift this carpet of a country that we have and give it a vigorous shake once and for all?

i was talking to a friend and we were trying to think of ways that WE the new (and hopefully wiser) generation can make a radical change in lebanon if we ever go back

it has to start with changing the way people think

the goal would be a secular politically stable country resilient to external poking
where civil marriage is mandatory and society is no longer patriarchal, and there is a real democracy based on political affiliations and not religious/regional ones

but how can you change the way of thinking of an entire country?
i want your input on that.

target the young
engage them in non-political non-religious community work (like the wonderful Volunteer Outreach Clinic) and inter-mix the christians with the druze with the muslims etc etc

teach kids about the civil war in schools and agree on ONE version (that alone will provoke another civil war)

but what else? AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, PRACTICALLY SPEAKING, WHAT CAN WE DO?