I 13, V 43

Outlook The American University of Beirut

SOS orphans visit AUB

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Vol. XLIII, No. 13

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Jan 4, 2011

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Ibsar discusses nature conservtion

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Independent Student Publication Since 1949

The Annual FEA Christmas Dinner Rayane Zahreddine Staff Writer

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he annual Faculty of Engineering and Architecture Christmas dinner took place this year on Tuesday, December 21 at Crowne Plaza Hotel in Hamra. The event brought 340 FEA students and faculty members together to celebrate the Christmas spirit, away from exam pressures and studying.

The formally dressed guests, distributed on tables of 12 around the Queen of Colonies ballroom, got a chance to catch up and enjoy a nice and entertaining atmosphere. Before the dinner started, the organizers said a few words wishing everybody a pleasant evening.

The dinner was accompanied by popular Christmas songs and followed by a tasty dessert, a Bûche de Noël. Later, after the three courses were

served, the DJ switched to party tunes and the dance floor overflowed with energetic students. After a very enjoyable night, each guest left with a stuffed polar bear souvenir. Dr Manal Moussallem, from the department of civil and environmental engineering said, “The event was very warm, people were joyful and enthusiastic. The initiative should be promoted and encouraged because these events create close ties between students and bring people together.”

The dinner was organized by the CES (Civil Engineering Society,) the FEA-SRC and the I-EEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers.) It was sponsored by the CCC (Consolidated Contractors Company) and covered by Beiruting. com and Mondanité Magazine. Christopher Sassine, CES secretary said “It was a very hard event to orga-

nize, but we enjoyed every bit of it. And it was great to see everyone having fun at the end of it all.” Emile Zankoul, FEA-SRC secretary added “We worked really hard for this event, and fortunately, as you see, it paid off! This

Jafet’s network printers Outlook investigates

Khodor Abou Daya Fouad Badaoui Staff Writers

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INSIDE

t the start of 20102011 year, network printers replaced the printing cards on campus, amid mixed opinions among students. Proponents of the network printers argue that they eliminate various technical mishaps and present a more advanced solution to the university’s printing needs. On the other hand, Campus News Sports Arabic Entertainment Arabic Opinion

www.aub.edu.lb/outlook

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many students complain that the new system actually requires more effort since, for a period of time, they had to buy quota at the Cashier’s Office before registering online. To them, this presented a useless hassle since the buying of quota was limited to the cashier’s opening hours and to the availability of registration cards. In addition, color printing was, at first, only theoretically available.

Arabic News Entertainment Editorial & Op. Out of the Box

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(Photo courtesy of Amanda Kamar)

annual Christmas dinner is one of the most important events every year. It has become an FEA tradition, and once again it turned out to be a huge success thanks to all those who put their effort organizing it and of course to

‫الذكرى السنوية األولى‬ ‫لرحيل األمير فيصل‬ ‫مجيد أرسالن‬

According to last year’s Vice President of the University Student Faculty Committee (VP of the USFC) Elias Ghanem, the USFC had forwarded the students’ complaints to Jafet Library and the Office of Student Affairs. The card system’s disadvantages included frequent crashes and jams, no color printing and insufficient printers. Another major

‫تاله مقطع فيديو يحكي حياة‬ ‫األمير فيصل ومواقفه السياس ّية‬ ‫ ولد األمير فيصل في عام‬.‫الوطنية‬ ،‫ في بيت زعام ٍة درزي ٍة يزبكية‬،1941 ‫في كنف والده األمير مجيد رجل‬ ‫ كان األمير فيصل رجل‬.‫االستقالل‬ ّ ‫اعتدال حني‬ ‫وطن‬ ‫قل أمثاله في‬ ٍ ‫أغرقته دماء األبرياء في حروب توصل‬

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Campus News Biology Student Society karaoke night

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all those who attended! Without them, the event wouldn’t have been a success. Finally, I’d like to assure you that this is not the last successful event that will be taking place this year, just wait and see!”

Campus News Ayadina’s Christmas concert addendum

Bliss Street, West Hall 208 Tel: 01 350 000 or 01 374 444 Ext.3193

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‫عامر الص ّريع‬ ‫كاتب صحفي‬

ّ ‫أقيمت‬ ‫السنوية األولى لوفاة‬ ّ ‫الذكرى‬ ‫األمير فيصل مجيد أرسالن مساء‬ ‫ من كانون‬21 ‫يوم الثالثاء الواقع في‬ »‫الـ»أسمبلي هول‬ ‫األول في مبنى‬ ّ ‫ وقد حضر‬.‫في اجلامعة األمريكية‬ ‫ذلك احلدث العديد من رجال الدين‬ .‫والسياسة‬ ّ ،‫كانت البداية بالنّشيد الوطني‬ Arabic News

‫تاتيانا برمياك خوري‬ ‫تعزف في األسمبلي‬ ‫هول‬

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Campus News

Jan 4, 2011

LeMSIC SCOME fundraising Christmas dinner opens up hearts in time for St. Nic Wajiha Jurdi Kheir Staff Writer

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he Standing Committee on Medical Education (SCOME), part of the Lebanese Medical Students’ International Committee (LeMSIC), held its annual Fundraising Christmas Dinner on Wednesday, December 22 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Hamra. With 300 medical students and doctors in attendance, this year’s event brought the Christmas spirit to all, especially since the dinner would be benefiting a great cause.

Half the proceeds from the dinner will be donated to the Lebanese Down Syndrome Association. LDSA is an independent organization that strives to “build an inclu-

sive society, which acknowledges the abilities of all people, particularly those with Down Syndrome, supports their needs, and encourages the achievement of their full potential for successful and happy lives, as individuals and as citizens.” The rest of the proceeds will go to SCOME as a means of supporting all the activities that it holds yearly.

The dinner began with an opening speech given by LeMSIC president Sara Hassan, during which she explained just how important LeMSIC is to both Medical students and to the community as a whole. Next to take the podium was the Nation-

al Officer on Medical Education, Habiba Hassouna, who thanked attendees for coming and SCOMEdians for all the hard work they had put into the dinner. Finally, she thanked LDSA and especially LDSA helper ushers at the event that “have shown us that they are different, because we are all different.”

After the speeches, two movies were shown. One showcased all of SCOME’s activities, which provide Medical students with what is missing from their curriculum like first aid sessions and USMLE orientations. The other was prepared by LDSA; it was a montage of Roger Sanchez’s video called “An-

other Chance,” promoting us to open our hearts to our fellow man.

For the entertainment portion of the dinner, medical student jugglers from USJ pleased the attendees with some nifty tricks. Another USJ medical student sang Christmas songs while guests at the dinner finished up their four course meals.

When tickets to the dinner were sold, the option of sending a mug to a friend was given, and many people took that opportunity. Those mugs were diligently delivered by the SCOME Santa and his SCOMEdian helpers to many lucky attendees.

The final event planned be-

fore the dancing started was the tombola, which included many prizes such as dinners at Crepaway, a Samsung digital camera and photo frame as well as numerous spa treatments. It was a nice treat and a great way to close the dinner portion of the night.

By the time the dancing started, attendees had already got their hands full with mugs and prizes. That left them free to celebrate Christmas with their classmates and friends before parting for the vacation. The atmosphere was electric and signified a satisfying end to another successful SCOME Christmas Dinner.

21 orphans from SOS visit AUB Mohammad Yaghi Staff Writer

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n December 22, the Biology Student Society (BSS) and Student Rights Club (SRC) organized a community service event where 21 orphans from the SOS Village in Bikfaya came to AUB to participate in games, a surprise visit by Santa Claus and a dinner.

The children played many games such as soccer, capture the flag and at one point began ganging up on Fouad Badaoui, president of the SRC, and Ali Haidar, head of this specific BSS group.

After the games were over, there was a surprise visit by Santa Claus. Sherif Maktabi actually came dressed as Santa Claus and had grown his beard two months prior to this event to look as close as possible to the real Santa Claus. Gifts were distributed and the children were very pleased. The event was an overall success and many participants such as

Sima Ghaddar, a member of the SRC, stated, “I love the thought of this event and helping and making the children happy felt great.”

The BSS is one of the biggest societies in AUB in terms of members, therefore the BSS is split into many branches and the branch that organized this specific event was the charity/community service group of the BSS. This event, according to Haidar was, “A chance to change the image of the BSS through this social outreach event.

This is because many people think that Biology students only study and don’t do anything for their community, well this event is to prove them wrong.” The event took three weeks to organize Jessica El-Asmar, a senior representative of the BSS group saying, “It took a lot of work and time because we were also organizing a Christmas Gala.” The BSS is planning many future events that include a lunch for the elder-

AUB Student Sherif Maktabi as Santa Clause with an SOS orphan

ly, dedicating a day to play and interact with disabled children and a tree-planting project. Haidar also mentioned, “I think with a little more coverage we could have a lot more people coming to these events.”

This event was done in close collaboration with the SRC. Badaoui stated, “This project was done with the BSS because the SRC felt it was beneficial.” The SRC was created three years ago and its focus is in essence to give the

(Photo by coutesy of the BSS)

students basic rights that according to the SRC are unapparent. Badoaui also said, “It took two weeks to organize the event, but it was disappointing to not have the other SOS Village from Saida join us.”

Jan 4, 2011

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campus news

Ta3a Ne7ke with Ibsar Destruction of Lebanon’s nature, who’s responsible? The media, environmentalists, or the government?

Mohamad Al Medawar Webmaster

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n a series of debates discussing nature and the toll of human activity on the environment, Ibsar held its third Ta3a Ne7ke Debate on Tuesday December 21 in West Hall Auditorium B. The topic also handled nature conservation but from a different aspect. This time it was the media’s turn to defend its position on how it raises awareness about the dangers threatening mother nature.

Dr. Salma Talhouk, the moderator and also last year’s Ibsar director, started off the debate explaining “we do a lot of interesting activities related to nature conservation though there is a problem in relaying the information either we write about it and it turns out to be the most boring thing to read about, or we

ask someone to talk to us and they just don’t get it, they end up getting something completely different than we intended to say, so what we are trying to do today is to pin down the problem.” Talhouk went on to comment on the role the media should play in lobbying for awareness towards nature conservation.

“We have a very active Lebanese media, but a very destructive population. Yet, I believe it’s the media fault, because they treat the topic in a superficial way while it should be covered at different depths and contexts, not to mention adding the elements of suspense and tragedy to attract the viewers,” she continued.

The first reply came from panellist Mazen Abboud, a freelance reporter and current councillor in the United

Nations program for Nature and a member of the International Institute of Journalism. Abboud attributed natural hazards not to the corruption in Lebanon’s political and financial system, but primarily, to “the corruption of the Lebanese society which leads to the corruption of the media since it’s a part of the society.” “This is due,” he continued, “to the lack of transparency and accountability.” Next to him was environmentalist and Future TV Correspondent Sobhiya Najjar who stressed the fact that we “lack specialized journalists in Lebanon.” She also added that the Lebanese public is more “interested in topics involving politics, art, and culture but not in the environment.” As for Research Director of the Internation-

al Center for Media and the Public Agenda and Assistant Professor of Journalism and Media Studies at AUB Jad Melki, Melki disagreed with the fact that corruption of the media comes from a corrupt society and provided statistics about the global media coverage on the 2006 war in Lebanon which covered the damage in the environment in only 0.5 % of its news and reports concluding that that fault was more related to the media structure rather than the journalists themselves.

“We should also blame the government policies and the environmentalist groups because they don’t know how to make an environmental topic interesting. Do you want to hear about the environment, or about a sex scandal? Everybody prefers to hear about

the scandal.” Last but not least was Assistant Research Professor of Health Promotion and Community Health at AUB Rima Nakkash, who stressed on the need for “a joined responsibility between all the sectors in the society.”

However, these sectors find difficulty in communicating “because these different parts use different languages. Thus, when environmentalists talk, the politicians don’t understand the value of what they’re saying.” Then she asked the crucial question “do we all value the environment in the same way?” for which its answer will, in her opinion, “improve how much the media really wants to cover stories about the environment.”

The impact of study abroad on university students Vanessa Hobeika Special to Outlook This article was written for the course SOAN 205 titled “Basic news writing” and has been published with the approval of the corresponding course administrator and author respectively.

B

efore going to Berlin, Nadi Chemali thought that he could get along only with people who dressed, behaved, and shared the same interests as him, but after four months in the German capital, Chemali’s perspectives changed. He was open to meet people who were totally different from him.

“I would see in the same train on a regular night a guy dressed up like Elvis Presley next to a guy looking like Marilyn Monroe,” said Che-

mali, 21, a senior student in computer and communication engineering who spent a semester in the Technical University in Berlin, Germany.

Chemali is among a growing number of students who are eager to experience a study abroad program, seeking a life-altering experience.

Study abroad is either a onesemester or a one-year stay at a university in a foreign country.

Experts consider that students who studied abroad showed greater independence, responsibility, perseverance, flexibility, leadership skills, intercultural communication skills and comfort with ambiguity, compared to students who haven’t studied abroad. “Research shows that people who study abroad become

more civically engaged,” said Katherine Nugent Yngve, director of International Programs at AUB. Students learn to accept differences in cultures, and therefore become less judgmental. “What’s different is not always bad. You have to learn to look at it from different points of view,” said Bassel Jaafar, 20, a senior student in mechanical engineering, after spending a summer semester in U.C. Berkeley in California, U.S.A. One of the biggest benefits to study abroad though, is the variety of people students meet.

Students “build bridges across the cultures and the sea,” said Student Affairs Dean Talal Nizameddine.

The experience breaks down a lot of cultural stereotypes

and their perspective toward other cultures becomes less biased. “I travelled to many countries through the things I heard from people I met,” said Jaafar.

However, the experience of study abroad definitely includes some negative impacts, especially reverse culture shock. “I felt a bit depressed when I came back,” said Diala Hajal, 20, a senior student in political science who spent a semester in Sciences Po. , France. “The bad things looked worse, and the good things looked better.”

Psychologists advise students not to forget who they are wherever they go and to “take a part of the new culture and make a synthesis in a way that suits the student’s identity best,” said psychologist Aida Choufani.

What’s more, students serve

as promoters of Lebanon and the Middle East. Some people “were intimidated when I told them I was from Lebanon, but after a few beers, you see the person you are talking to without a flag or a label,” said Tony Qamar, 20, a senior student in business administration who spent a year in Masaryk University in Brno, Czech Republic.

What is most remarkable about study abroad however, as Qamar said, is that it shows you that “the world isn’t what you were born into. There is always more, there is always somewhere else and the world is there for the taking.”

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campus news

Jan 4, 2011

AUB network printers net work

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problem was the fact that a printer would continue a previous job on a current card, thereby wasting that cardholder’s pages. Jafet automation librarian Mona Assi explained that “card reader printers malfunction more often and there [was] always a need for a technician.” Librarian Aristidi Abu Samra (Science and Agriculture Library) said that with the new printers, color cartridges could be used, but took time to become available. He added that “network printing solves the problem for printing jobs since everyone has his own account and printing jobs are private.”

It was not until recently that students were able to buy quota on-line from any location. The quota fee is added to the web statement of fees. This allows students to pay the fees at their discretion. Prior to this, the students had to be physically present at the cashier, take a number, wait in line and purchase a registration ticket. After registration, a student could send a printing job from any computer in the library to a release station. At the release station, the student net ID and password must be provided in order to either accept or cancel the printing order. The advantage of the release station is that the student could review the number of pages printed and the total price of

(Photo by Khodor Abou Daya)

the printing order. Assi announced that Jafet staff is “working on having network photocopiers such that there is a panel where you could log in and photocopy.”

In response to student dissatisfaction, the USFC under Nadine Hamdan lobbied for the implementation of a

free 25 black and white page package to all students. Several students believed that the service had increased in price. Yet, Assi specified that “the cost of each paper is still 50LL but the extra 10LL is for the license of the software of the network printing.” Concerning the non-in-

clusion of the printing quota in the tuition, Nizameddin replied in an email that the “service is meant to be optional and […] was only recently introduced.” In conclusion, Assi commented that “students will always complain but rarely do they say thank you.”

Biology Student Society holds annual karaoke dinner at Taxi Fouad Badaoui Senior Staff Writer

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he Biology Student Society (BSS) held its annual Christmas Karaoke dinner at Taxi Dining Station on Wednesday, November 22. Previously that very same day, in collaboration with the Students’ Rights Club, they had hosted an entertaining afternoon for 21 orphans from Village SOS. Almost 90 students attended the dinner that comprised a pre-selected menu offering starters, a salad and a choice between several main courses. An addition of 5,000L.L. to the ticket price provided two alcoholic drinks along with the rest of the menu.

The dinner was scheduled to start at 9:00 pm, yet at 8:00 pm, several members of the BSS were still in the Green Field area saying goodbye to the Village SOS children and BSS President Ali Haidar had feared they might not make it on time.

The orphans, he explained, were expected the day before and when he learned from the Students’ Rights

Club that the orphanage had postponed, he thought the entire day would be “disastrous.” His anxiousness increased when it was discovered that the orphans were running late and that their “afternoon” of entertainment would end at 8:00pm.

Yet the first event was a success and put many members of both student organizations in a cheerful disposition. “I wouldn’t have had this much fun at the dinner had I not just felt that rewarding emotion when we were with the kids,” said Haidar.

There was no precise timetable for the evening. Some students sang songs to Nancy Ajram and Eagle Eyed Cherry while others finished their salads, ordered more drinks or marveled with glutinous eyes at an approaching burger. Haidar considered the event successful, explaining that many more Juniors attended this year’s karaoke dinner, thus breaking the myth that Biology Majors can only have fun after they

(Photo by Giovanny Reaidi)

take their MCATs. “We’re trying to show that this year, Biology students can’t really be reduced to this stereotype of students who constantly work and have no fun whatsoever.” Since most Biology students are Premed, they achieved the campus reputation of hard workers who can’t afford to find time for fun. Haidar explained that the BSS has been struggling with this preconceived notion for at least two years. He not-

ed with satisfaction that the dinner included non-Biology Majors who admittedly enjoyed themselves. At the end of the dinner, Haidar took the microphone, thanked everyone for their presence and announced that new activities, both fun and charitable, were on their way.

Haidar explained that, although this year was an “extension” to last year’s BSS that “tried to change the Bio student image,” his cabinet

is giving much more attention to social outreach and charity. It is his belief that the “[Biology] student body should be involved in things beneficial to society.” “Most Bio students are Premeds and you can’t be a doctor if you haven’t felt the society around you” Haidar said, finishing with:”a doctor invests in their community.”

Outlook

Jan 4, 2011

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campus news Cine Club classics

Dalia Hosn Staff Writer

A

UB’s Cine Club screened the 1950s classic motion picture All About Eve on Wednesday, December 22. As is usual for most Cine Club events, the screening was held in West Hall, Auditorium B. Despite the inherent value in airing such a classic, due to the stress of upcoming finals and the subsequent cram-time before the break, there was an unfortunate decrease in viewership compared to previous Club events.

All About Eve is a classic work of art that stars celebrated actors and actresses from the 50s. Most noteworthy among them is Bette Davis in the role of Margo Chan-

ning, a successful actress that struggles under the weight of remaining successful as an older woman. The cast includes other famous stars, including Anne Baxter, who played the role of the young actress and opportunist, Eve. Of course, other notable individuals starred in this movie, such as George Sanders, Celeste Holm, Gary Merrill, Hugh Marlowe and the infamous Marilyn Monroe.

Rola Hammoud, Vice President of the Cine Club, explained, “We picked this movie because it’s a classic and it won six academy awards in its time, and till this day it’s one of the most nominated movies. It got 14

nominations.” The six academy awards that Hammoud speaks of were awarded for Best Picture, Director, Writing, Supporting Actor, Costume Design and Sound Recording in 1950. The movie is best known for Bette Davis’s remarkable performance and the dialogue written by Joseph L. Mankiewicz. “The scenario is beautiful; it’s very smart and witty, sad and happy. For an old movie, the acting and the cinematography are very well-done and beautiful,” says Hammoud.

The storyline itself is a timeless scenario that centers around the intricacies of the theatre and movie industries, explaining, from a very

personal perspective, the hardships all actresses must face as they grow older in such a competitive industry.

The character of Eve and her transformation on the screen, from a struggling awe-struck actress to a conniving manipulative one that will stop at nothing to obtain stardom, are not only true to the theatre industry of the 50s, but are rather timeless emotions.

The air of competition is by no means gone in the cutthroat capitalist industries of today, theatre and cinema among them. Of course, for a Cine Club, screening a movie that is not only a cinematic classic but one that deals with the industry itself as its

main topic is very telling.

The Cine Club’s upcoming projects include an Anime week, which would consist of screening animated movies from known and acclaimed filmmakers and cartoonists from Japan. The Anime genre itself is a keystone in the global film-making industry. Also, according to President Jamal Srouji, a thematic approach to movies will be adopted in later events, a possible theme being that of motorcycles and journeys. Whatever movies are chosen for the next event, they will surely shed light on the world of movies and its many facets.

Addendum to Ayadina’s fifth annual Benefit Christmas Concert Sara Chibli Ayadina Association’s Office Manager This article was written by and printed with the consent of Sara Chibli, office manager of the Ayadina Association, to highlight Ayadina’s fifth annual Benefit Christmas Concert, which took place on December 18 at AUB Assembly Hall.

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n this day 500 children from 11 different NGOs, hospitals, orphanages and shelters around Lebanon: St-Jude Cancer Center, Paradis D’Enfants, Ajialouna, Afel, Beit al Yatim el Durzi, Sesobel, Fista, Lebanese Down Syndrome Association (LDSA), Dar al Aytam al Islami, Ayadina Association and AUB Syndicate. These children attended pro-bono and participated in an interactive arts-based holiday environment with a lively and magical atmosphere.

The concert first began by singing performances by the Ayadina Children Choir and the International College Elementary School Choir, which was followed by the surprising appearance of Jancouz the Clown. To the joy of the children, Santa Jim, impersonated by AUB Vice President Mr. Jim Rudolsky with the help of the AUB Students clubs (the Red Cross Club, the Environmental Club, the Business Student Society, Children of Adam, Greenpeace, Special Olympics, Syrian Cultural Club) distributed presents and goody bags to each and every child present.

Through this concert every year, Ayadina Association continues to empower lives, one child at a time.

Ayadina Association have already started planning for their Spring Fair: a two day fun event for the whole family to enjoy that will, once again, be hosting special needs children. Ayadina Association counts on your support.

(Photo by Nishan Simonian - Office of Communications)

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Jan 4, 2011

Sports

AUB wins against Balamand in Handball League Matchup Hadi Mehio Contributing Writer

O

n Tuesday December 21, the AUB’s Handball team and the University of Balamand met at the Charles Hostler Student Center (CHSC). The game was scheduled at 5pm, however the Balamand players were delayed by traffic

and the matchup began some 40 minutes later with the final score settling at 26 AUB – 14 Balamand.

The game gathered a very small crowd. Nevertheless, it seemed joyful to watch as reflected from the crowd with both teams displaying great sportsmanship, fair play, skill, and teamwork. With less than 10 outfield play-

ers, including a single goalkeeper, the Balamand squad lacked the availability of substitutes in contrast to AUB who had more players for replacement. The AUB team took the lead from the beginning of the game and gradually intensified it by scoring fast-breaks. “We won this game with a high score difference because we are at-

tacking them from all sides of the court, not a single side,” said past First Division player Ahmad Hammoud. “The result was absolutely satisfactory, and I thank Coach Toufic Chahine on behalf of the AUB team for supporting and preparing us,” the AUB captain continued.

The University Handball league, to resume in the up-

coming Spring Semester, is the first of its kind in Lebanon with teams from AUB, UOB, LAU, and USJ competing. USJ and LAU meet next on February 22, while AUB meets UOB again on February 24.

AUB women’s basketball team leads the league Andrea Paoli Contributing Writer

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n Wednesday, December 22 at the Charles Hostler Student Center (CHSC), the AUB Women’s Basketball team defeated their biggest rival, the USJ team, in a tough and exciting game that ended in a score of 60 AUB – 48 USJ.

The domination of the AUB team was evident throughout the game although the great endurance and physical power of the USJ team helped maintain pressure which frequently got back the score to a tie. Both teams played very good defense that often prevented the opponent from scoring before the time-limit buzzer sounded. The game

seemed quite aggressive with three players ordered to leave the court after having reached their max limit of five fouls and with several other players also having committed some three or four fouls. The game was fast and strong, the atmosphere was tense, but, in spite of the strong competition that the former title holders repre-

Scoreboard

sented, AUB players demonstrated an impressive play, especially Lara Ammar and Line Reda. It is with bitterness that the USJ players left the court, down to third place after having dominated this competition for many years; whereas USEK managed to go up to second place after their loss against AUB and win versus USJ. Coach-

es Shada Nasr and Nayla Alameddine -both Antranik and Lebanese national team basketball players - made it clear from the beginning, AUB is working hard and aiming for the cup, and after such a good start, they are currently on top of the league, being the only undefeated team with a six-game winning streak.

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‫‪Jan 4, 2011‬‬

‫‪arabic entertainment‬‬ ‫شخص ّية األسبوع ‪ :‬الدكتور منيب العيد‬

‫سارة أحمد الديراني‬ ‫كاتبة صحفية‬ ‫الدكتور منيب من مواليد‬ ‫السمقانية‪ /‬الشوف وهو واح ٌد من‬ ‫أهم علماء الفيزياء الذين ساهموا‬ ‫في دراسة بنية النجوم وتط ّورها‬ ‫وكيف تتك ّون في داخلها املواد‬ ‫ونظائرها ‪ .‬بعد إنهائه لدراسته‬ ‫الثانوية سافر الدكتور منيب إلى‬ ‫أملانيا ملتابعة حتصيله العلمي‪ ،‬وفي‬ ‫العام ‪ 1971‬حصل على شهادة‬ ‫املاجستير في الفيزياء من جامعة‬ ‫‪Würzburg/Germany‬‬ ‫ثم شهادة الدكتوراه في الفيزياء‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫النووية الفلكية (‪Nuclear‬‬ ‫‪ )Astrophysics‬من جامعة‬ ‫‪ Darmstadt/Germany‬في‬ ‫العام ‪ .1975‬وبعد فترة سنتني من‬ ‫الـ‪post-doctoral research‬‬ ‫في جامعة ‪ Darmstadt‬التحق‬ ‫الدكتور عيد باجلامعة األميركية في‬ ‫العام ‪ 1978‬بصفة‪Assistant‬‬ ‫‪ Professor‬وبعد سنة واحدة‬ ‫وبسبب احلرب األهلية رجع مع عائلته‬ ‫إلى أملانيا بعد أن حصل على منحة‬ ‫من جمعية العلوم األملانية للقيام‬ ‫بأبحاث في بنية النجوم في جامعة‬ ‫«‪.»Göttingen/Germany‬‬ ‫وفي العام ‪ 1982‬عاد إلى قسم‬ ‫الفيزياء في ‪ . AUB‬ومرة أخرى لم‬ ‫تترك احلرب األهلية مجاال ً للبقاء‬

‫نهاد غازي عواد‬ ‫كاتبة صحفية‬

‫ُولد في عام النكبة‪ ،‬ومنا مع‬ ‫القضية الفلسطينية التي‬ ‫ظهرت في كتاباته السردية‪.‬‬ ‫الياس خوري‪ ،‬كره الظلم فكان‬ ‫انضم‬ ‫ثم‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫فدائ ًيا في األردن ّ‬ ‫إلى حركة فتح اجلهادية‪ .‬هو‬ ‫قاص وروائي وناقد وكاتب‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫مسرحي لبناني‪ .‬كتب عشر‬ ‫روايات تُرجمت إلى العديد من‬ ‫اللغات وال سيما العبرية وثالث‬ ‫عدة‬ ‫مسرحيات إضاف ًة إلى ّ‬ ‫كتابات نقدية‪ .‬أُدرج اسم خوري‬ ‫على الئحة جائزة نوبل لآلداب‬ ‫ضمن األسماء التي ت ّ‬ ‫ُرشح ّ‬ ‫كل‬ ‫سنة للفوز بها‪ .‬وقد فاز بجائزة‬ ‫فلسطني للرواية عن رواية‬ ‫باب الشمس (‪ )1998‬وجائزة‬ ‫الرواية املترجمة عن رواية‬ ‫مملكة الغرباء (‪ .)1996‬من أهم‬ ‫أعماله اإلبداعية‪ :‬املبتدأ واخلبر‬ ‫ مجموعة قصصية ن ُشرت‬‫عام ‪ ،1984‬جتربة البحث عن أفق‬ ‫ كتاب نقد نُشر عام ‪ ،1984‬زمن‬‫االحتالل ‪ -‬كتاب نقد ن ُشر عام‬

‫‪.‬وكان الرجوع إلى أملانيا صع ًبا هذه‬ ‫املرة‪ .‬لكن العمل اجليد يدوم حيث‬ ‫املنحة جاءت هذه املرة من فرنسا من‬ ‫معهد األبحاث الفرنسي (‪)CNRS‬‬ ‫وبعد حوالي سنة ونصف من األبحاث‬ ‫في فرنسا إعتبارًا من صيف ‪1985‬‬ ‫استطاع الدكتور منيب أن يلتحق مرة‬ ‫أخرى بجامعة “‪ ”Göttingen‬في‬ ‫خريف العام ‪ 1986‬محاضرًا وباح ًثا‪.‬‬ ‫وفي زيارة عائلية الى لبنان في سنة‬ ‫‪ 1993‬أي بعد انتهاء احلرب األهلية‬ ‫قي لبنان وبعد االتصال بالزمالء في‬ ‫قسم الفيزياء في الـ ‪ AUB‬اتخذ‬ ‫الدكتور منيب القرار أن يعود نهائ ًيا‬ ‫إلى ‪AUB‬في خريف ‪.1994‬‬ ‫له العديد من األبحاث العلمية ما‬ ‫ينوف عن املئة في حقل بنية النجوم‬ ‫وتط ّورها وتكوين املواد في الكون‪.‬‬ ‫لكن يقول الدكتور منيب أن ليس عدد‬ ‫األبحاث املهم بقدر النوعية التي هي‬ ‫ما تؤدي إلى التط ّور العلمي‪ .‬وبكل‬ ‫تواضع يقول بأنه استطاع أن ينشر‬ ‫أبحاثه في مجالت رائدة في علم‬ ‫الفلك مثل «‪Astrophysical‬‬ ‫‪Journal , Astronomy and‬‬ ‫‪Astrophysics», “Space‬‬ ‫‪ . ”Science Review‬و‬ ‫“‪Monthly Notices Royal‬‬ ‫‪ ”Astronomical society‬وما‬ ‫يعت ّز به بصورة خاصة هو املقال في‬ ‫مجلة “‪ ”Nature‬عن تكوين مادة‬ ‫الكربون في الكون‪ .‬يجب أن يكن‬

‫الباحث معرو ًفا كي يستطيع أن‬ ‫يصل إلى تلك اجمللة ‪.‬‬ ‫كما وشارك الدكتور عيد في‬ ‫العديد من املؤمترات الدولية التي‬ ‫طرحت وعاجلت الكثير من املواضيع‬ ‫الفيزيائية الفلكية املعاصرة‪ .‬وأهم‬ ‫هذه املؤمترات هو املؤمتر الذي ُعقد في‬ ‫أملانيا في سنة ‪ 1987‬ملناقشة وتفسير‬ ‫إنفجار النجم في ما يسمى مجرة‬ ‫ماجالن الكبيرة (‪Supernova‬‬ ‫‪in the large Magellanic‬‬ ‫‪ . )Cloud‬يجدر الذكر أن الدكتور‬ ‫عيد استطاع أن يبني عالقة علمية‬ ‫وخصوصا مع قسم الفيزياء‬ ‫متعددة‬ ‫ً‬ ‫في جامعة (‪Clemson, South‬‬ ‫‪ )Carolina, USA‬حيث أنه على‬ ‫ارتباط مستمر مع هذه اجلامعة منذ‬ ‫‪ . 1995‬ثم أنه كان استاذًا زائرًا في‬ ‫(‪Univ. North Carolina,‬‬ ‫‪Chapel Hill, US), (Max‬‬ ‫‪Planck Institute of‬‬ ‫‪)Astrophysics, Germany‬‬ ‫أخيرًا وليس آخرًا يُعتبر الدكتور عيد‬ ‫من حيث إلتزامه وكفاءته املهنية‬ ‫ومن حيث مواصلته في تقدمي العديد‬ ‫من األبحاث الفيزيائية في شتى‬ ‫اجملاالت واحد من أكثر الدكاترة شهرة‬ ‫في اجلامعة‪ ،‬ألنه محبوب من الطالب‬ ‫وخاصة طالب العلوم‪.‬‬ ‫أسئلة عامة‪:‬‬ ‫كيف ترى عملك وتقيمه؟ «‬ ‫اجلامعة األميركية مكان ميكنك‬

‫‪ ،1985‬رحلة غاندي الصغير ‪-‬‬ ‫رواية نُشرت عام ‪ ،1989‬مملكة‬ ‫الغرباء ‪ -‬رواية ن ُشرت عام ‪،1993‬‬ ‫مجمع األسرار ‪ -‬رواية ن ُشرت‬ ‫عام ‪ ،1994‬باب الشمس –‬ ‫رواية ن ُشرت عام ‪ ،1998‬رائحة‬ ‫الصابون ‪ -‬رواية ن ُشرت عام‬ ‫‪ ، 2000‬يالو ‪ -‬رواية نشرت عام‬ ‫‪ ، 2002‬كأنّها نائمة ‪ -‬رواية‬ ‫نُشرت عام ‪.2007‬‬ ‫تتم ّيز روايات خوري بالبعد‬ ‫تضم عدة‬ ‫اجلغرافي الواسع حيث ّ‬ ‫مناطق لبنانية وفلسطينية‬ ‫وفي بعض األحيان سورية كما‬ ‫في يالو‪.‬شخص ّيات رواياته هي‬ ‫في أغلب األحيان شخص ّيات‬ ‫مهمشة نأى بها عن‬ ‫شعب ّية‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫النمطية والنموذجية لتعيش‬ ‫معاناة يوم ّية تذيب أجسادها‬ ‫وتؤ ّرق ليلها‪ .‬شخص ّيات‬ ‫تك ّون التاريخ بأفعالها وتغيب‬ ‫عنه عندما تتف ّرغ لنزواتها‬ ‫أو همومها الشخص ّية‪ .‬وما‬ ‫أسرني ليس مقاربته الروائية‬ ‫للتاريخ بل طريقته السردية في‬ ‫إعادة كتابته على أيدي أبطاله‪،‬‬ ‫حيث ترتكز أغلب رواياته على‬ ‫أسس ثالثة‪ :‬هي األب‪ ،‬واأل ّم‪،‬‬

‫ّ‬ ‫تتفكك هذه األسرة‬ ‫ثم‬ ‫واإلبن‪ّ .‬‬ ‫ببعدها الثقافي ‪ -‬االجتماعي‪،‬‬ ‫والعاطفي‪،‬‬ ‫السيكولوجي‬ ‫ليندثر التاريخ ويُستبدل‬ ‫بحكاية تتوالد منها احلكايات‬ ‫بطريقة حلزونية جتعل من ّ‬ ‫كل‬ ‫بحد ذاتها تتراصف‬ ‫قصة قائمة ّ‬ ‫وتتكئ على األخرى كعمارة‬ ‫مسبقة التصميم‪ .‬وذلك إنمّ ا‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫تكسر‬ ‫يدل على ثقافة علمانية‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫القيم وحت ّرر الرواية من التقليد‬ ‫والقارئ من التبعية الغربية‬ ‫واالنغالق‪ .‬فرواياته وال سيما‬ ‫باب الشمس التي تُعتبر رواية‬ ‫بتعدد‬ ‫فلسطني الكبرى تتميز‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫الرواة‪ ،‬واللعب الروائي‪ ،‬وتداخل‬ ‫ضمائر السرد ليولد االلتباس بني‬ ‫الواقع واملتخيل فيملي خوري‬ ‫أفكاره على الق ّراء بطريقة‬ ‫خف ّية ساحرة جتعلهم ير ّددونها‬ ‫مهما كانت مستواياتهم‬ ‫العلمية‪ .‬ورواياته تكاد تكون‬ ‫موسوعة علمية ملا للكاتب‬ ‫من معرفة أدبية عاملية تظهر‬ ‫في كتاباته‪ .‬ويبدو جل ًيا عشقه‬ ‫للشعر حيث بات جز ًءا من بنية‬ ‫رواياته يع ّبر من خالله عن آرائه‬ ‫ورأيه في األساطير والعادات‬

‫الدكتور منيب العيد‬

‫العمل فيه بحرية مطلقة‪ ،‬ومكان‬ ‫تسيطر عليه روح املنافسة املهنية‬ ‫العالية مما يدفعنا للعمل بجهد‬ ‫أكبر‪ ،‬كما وأن هذه احلرية التي أعطتنا‬ ‫إياها اجلامعة ساعدتنا لكي نعمل‬ ‫ونقدم أفضل ما لدينا‪».‬‬ ‫بطالقة أكثر‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫مباذا تؤمن في احلياة؟ «أومن أن العلم‬ ‫كالوردة ولكن الروحانية من ميدها‬ ‫بعطرها؛ والروحانية التي أؤمن بها‬ ‫تشبه الـ‪Unified Physics‬‬ ‫بكل معنى الكلمة‪ .‬وأؤمن أن احملبة‬ ‫يجب أن تكون مبدأ حلياة كل إنسان‪،‬‬ ‫وهذا وحده ما ميكنه أن يعكس إمياننا‬ ‫احلقيقي‪ .‬كما وأؤمن أن مشاكل‬ ‫البشر ال تحُ ّل سوى باملنطق العلمي‬ ‫واملنهجي‪».‬‬ ‫كيف ترى عالقتك بطالبك؟ « أرى‬

‫أن األستاذ يجب أن يكون مرش ًدا‬ ‫وموجها لطالبه ‪ ،‬لكي يدفعهم‬ ‫ً‬ ‫للعمل بجهد ونشاط أكبر‪ ،‬كما وأرى‬ ‫أنه يتوجب علينا دعمهم معنويًا‬ ‫ويجب علينا أن نساعدهم في حتديد‬ ‫خياراتهم وحتديد ما هو األنسب لهم‬ ‫وملستقبلهم‪».‬‬ ‫ما هي نصيحتك للطالب بشكل‬ ‫عام؟ « يجب عليكم دائما ً أن تكونوا‬ ‫مستعدين للتغيير والتقدم( ‪to be‬‬ ‫‪)flexible and up-to-date‬‬ ‫وإال فستبقون مكانكم‪».‬‬

‫كاتب من هذا الزمن‪ :‬الياس خوري‬

‫الياس خوري‬

‫(صورة‪)Quarterlyconversation.com :‬‬

‫كقصة حبات العنب‬ ‫الشعبية‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫وتعليق الصور وغيرها من‬ ‫املوروثات‪ .‬هل ميكن أن نقول إ ّن‬

‫مؤسس لـ نيو‬ ‫الياس خوري هو‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫رواية – ما بعد احلداثة؟ سؤال‬ ‫برسم الق ّراء‪.‬‬

‫‪Jan 4, 2011‬‬

‫‪Outlook‬‬

‫‪arabic Opinion‬‬

‫‪8‬‬

‫ّ‬ ‫للتفكر في العام اجلديد‬ ‫أرقام مؤملة‬

‫مصطفى فضل اهلل‬ ‫كاتب صحفي‬

‫ماري نخول‬ ‫كاتبة صحفية‬

‫بني الهروب من الواقع إلى استثمار‬ ‫الفرح‪ ،‬وصنع الفرح من خالل‬ ‫مواجهة الواقع‪ ،‬خيط بسيط يدعى‬ ‫باملسؤول ّية‪ .‬وصناعة الفرح هو عمل‬ ‫يتط ّلب بعد املسؤول ّية إميان ًا بتلك‬ ‫األهداف وتصميماً‪ ،‬ووعيا ً للوقائع‬ ‫واألرقام بعيدا ً عن فوضى ا ّللهو‬ ‫وحفالت اإلسترخاء‪ .‬تركنا عام ‪2010‬‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫بكل ما اختزنه ذاك العام فيها من‬ ‫حرك ّية وجمود في احلياة اإلنسان ّية‪.‬‬ ‫وتأتي تلك ا ّللحظة ا ّلتي تعلن فيها‬ ‫واليد والـ”ديجيتال”‬ ‫ساعات احلائط‬ ‫ّ‬

‫الصفر إلى واحد في‬ ‫عن تغ ّير‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫تواريخنا‪ ،‬فتنطلق احلناجر بصرخات‬ ‫السماء باملفرقعات‬ ‫فرح جنون ّية وتنار ّ‬ ‫ولربمّ ا ال ّرصاص ‪.‬‬ ‫حسن‪ ،‬فماذا بعد‪،‬‬ ‫تغ ّير التّاريخ‪.‬‬ ‫ٌ‬ ‫هل صنعنا تاريخً ا جدي ًدا في الواقع‬ ‫أم هي بهجة األرقام على ّ‬ ‫الشاشات‬ ‫والتّقوميات؟ هل اختزن تغ ّير التّاريخ‬ ‫ملموسا في واقع حياتنا؟ أنا‬ ‫عمقًا‬ ‫ً‬ ‫هنا لكي أطلق كلمة ألعلن بعض‬ ‫األرقام املؤملة‪ .‬هي أرقام تتغ ّير ومت ّر‬ ‫بنا لتثير وعينا حلظات أمام شاشة‬

‫هذا العيد قد ّ‬ ‫أطل علينا حاملاً معه‬ ‫غالل العطاء واحمل ّبة‪ ،‬راس ًما تعابير‬ ‫الصغار كما الكبار‪،‬‬ ‫الفرح على أوجه ّ‬ ‫مرمن ًا اناشيده ومزغردًا في ّ‬ ‫كل مكان‪.‬‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫أطل مكلَّال جبالنا‬ ‫هذا العيد قد‬ ‫ببياض ناصع‪ ،‬ناشرًا‪ ،‬في ّ‬ ‫كل مكان‬ ‫ٍ‬ ‫ٍ‬ ‫‪،‬رسالة تسامح‪ ،‬لتفتح القلوب‬ ‫لدى إجتماع العائلة ‪،‬متبادلة أسرار‬ ‫قدس ّية العيد‪.‬‬ ‫يأتي عيد امليالد في كل سن ٍة‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫مبشرًا العالم بوالدة الطفل يسوع‪،‬‬ ‫لتكو َن والدته رمزًا للعطاء‪ .‬وتلبس‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫زي الفرح وتتن ّور‬ ‫الشوارع‬ ‫والطرقات ّ‬ ‫إبتهاجا وحتضيرًا الستقبال املولود‬ ‫ً‬ ‫الدفء‬ ‫اجلديد‪ .‬في هذا العيد‪ ،‬يسكن ّ‬ ‫بيوت العالم ليحارب صقيع ّ‬ ‫الشتاء‪،‬‬ ‫إنه حت ًما دفء القلوب‪ ،‬هي القلوب‬ ‫ً‬ ‫امليالد‪،‬إنعاشا أبديًا‬ ‫التي جتد ‪،‬في عيد‬ ‫وأمالً بغد أفضل‪.‬‬

‫السنة ليتالقى‬ ‫رأس ّ‬ ‫ومن ّ‬ ‫ثم يأتي عيد ِ‬ ‫ويتحضر‬ ‫مع ميالد الطفل يسوع‪،‬‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫العالم لتوديع سن ٍة مضت‪ ،‬وتركت‬ ‫معها أثارًا عميقة‪ :‬فهناك من حملت‬ ‫أفراحا وإجنازات ومكاسب‬ ‫السنة‬ ‫له ّ‬ ‫ً‬ ‫جمة‪ ،‬فاعتبرها سن ًة إنتقالية‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫إيجابية‪ ،‬و يشعر بحسرة لدى توديعها‬ ‫ويتحسر‬ ‫ودفنها في مساكن املاضي‪،‬‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫السنة‬ ‫عليها‪ ،‬ولكنّه ينظر دائ ًما إلى ّ‬ ‫اجلديدة نظرة تفاؤل ّية ويستقبل‬ ‫العام اجلديد بفرح وإبتهاج‪ .‬وهناك‬ ‫من كانت سنته سلب ّية مظلمة‪،‬‬ ‫ذرف فيها دمو ًعا حا ّرة ‪ ،‬وعاش قسوة‬ ‫احلياة ولوعتها ‪ ،‬و ذاق م ّر العلقم‪ ،‬إلاّ‬ ‫أنّه هو أيضا‪ ،‬ينظر إلى العام اجلديد‬ ‫بتفاؤل‪ّ ،‬‬ ‫عل السنة اجلديدة حتمل حتت‬ ‫إبطها خير األخبار والفرح ماحي ًة‬ ‫السنة التي قضت‪ .‬يستقبل‬ ‫أنني ّ‬ ‫السنة اجلديدة كمغترب ّ‬ ‫أطل‬ ‫العالم ّ‬

‫معنى العيد‬

‫التّلفاز إلى حني أن ينتهي اخلبر‪.‬‬ ‫نستقبل عام ‪ 2011‬مبليار من البشر‬ ‫يرعبهم ضغط اجلوع‪ ،‬فبحسب‬ ‫أخر تقارير منظمة الفاو فإن هناك‬ ‫‪ 578‬شخص في آسيا و‪ 239‬مليون‬ ‫في أفريقيا و‪ 37‬مليون في شمال‬ ‫أفريقيا و ّ‬ ‫الشرق األوسط و‪ 19‬مليون ًا‬ ‫املتقدمة و‪ 53‬مليون في‬ ‫الدول‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫في ّ‬ ‫أمريكا الاّ تين ّية‪ّ ،‬‬ ‫كل أولئك ينتظرون‬ ‫لقمة عيشهم بحرف ّية الكلمة‪.‬‬ ‫هذا على صعيد األمن الغذائي‪ .‬أما‬ ‫معدل‬ ‫على صعيد التّعليم فبلغ‬ ‫ّ‬

‫على بالده ّ‬ ‫ألول م ّرة بعد طول إنتظار‪،‬‬ ‫فتعم اإلحتفاالت في الشوارع‪،‬‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫ويكثر املطربون وتكثر العروضات ‪،‬‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫رقص‪،‬‬ ‫وتكتظ املطاعم باحملتفلني‪.‬‬ ‫ٌ‬ ‫السنة‬ ‫وأغان لطلوع الفجر األ ّول من ّ‬ ‫ٍ‬ ‫لكن بعض احملتفلني يفضلون‬ ‫اجلديدة‪ّ .‬‬ ‫السهر‪ ،‬ويفضلون‬ ‫اإلبتعاد عن أجواء ّ‬ ‫ويتسمرون‬ ‫جلسة عائلية في املنزل‪،‬‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫أمام التّلفاز الذي يربطهم بإحتفاالت‬ ‫يقدم لهم مسابقات وألعاب‬ ‫اخلارج‪ ،‬و ّ‬ ‫وجوائز‪ .‬واألهم من ذلك‪ ،‬أنّهم‬ ‫السنة اجلديدة‪ ،‬من‬ ‫ينتظرون قراءة ّ‬ ‫منجمني كثر عددهم‪ ،‬وتضاربت‬ ‫قبل ّ‬ ‫أقوالهم‪ .‬فالبعض من صدق أقوالهم‪،‬‬ ‫والبعض من إستهزائهم!‬ ‫وميضي العيد‪ .‬وكما يقال “بعد‬ ‫السكرة‪ ،‬بتجي الفكرة!”وتعود احلياة‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫إلى مجاريها ّ‬ ‫الطبيع ّية‪،‬تسكر ستائر‬ ‫العيد‪ ،‬وتعرى ّ‬ ‫الطرقات من احللي‬

‫ويعود كل امرء إلى عمله‪ ،‬وتفتح‬ ‫أولى صفحات السنة اجلديدة‪ .‬ومع‬ ‫الوقت ينسى الناس رهجة العيد‪،‬‬ ‫وصرخات احمل ّبة والتّسامح‪ ،‬وكأ ّن‬ ‫يطل في ّ‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫كل‬ ‫شبحا‪،‬‬ ‫العيد أضحى‬ ‫ً‬ ‫أي أثر يذكر‪ .‬وكأ ّن‬ ‫سنة دون أن يترك ّ‬ ‫احلياة أضحت د ّوامة تعيد نفسها في‬ ‫كل عام‪.‬‬ ‫فيا أ ّيها العيد‪ ،‬ويا أ ّيها العام اجلديد‪،‬‬ ‫أدخل في‬ ‫ال متر علينا مرور الكرام‪ ،‬بل ِ‬ ‫الغني كما الفقير‪،‬‬ ‫صميم الناس‪،‬‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫السعيد كما‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫الصغير كما الكبير‪ّ ،‬‬ ‫املسيحي كما املسلم‪.‬‬ ‫احلزين‪،‬‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫وترعرع في قلوبهم‪،‬وع ّلمهم معنى‬ ‫الفرح‪ ،‬احمل ّبة‪ ،‬العطاء والتّسامح‪.‬‬ ‫احلقيقي ا ّلذي‬ ‫ع ّلمهم مغزى العيد‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫محددة ويوم‬ ‫ال يقتصر على فترة‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫واحد‪ .‬وكم متن ّيت منك يا بابا نويل أن‬ ‫جتعل جميع أيامنا عيد ميالد‪ .‬عسى‬ ‫أن يصبح احللم حقيقة!‬

‫تقول‪»:‬وَ ِعن َد ُه َم َفاتُ الْ َغ ْي ِب ال َ‬ ‫ي َ ْعلَ ُم َها إال َّ ُه َو» ‪ ،‬حِ َ‬ ‫«ك َذ َب املُن َِج ُمو َن‬ ‫ِ‬ ‫ص َد ْقوا‪ ».‬وهذه اآليات وغيرها‬ ‫وَلَ ْو َ‬ ‫تظهر أن املنجمني ال يستطيعون أن‬ ‫يعلموا الغيب أب ًدا ألنه س ٌّر من أسرار‬ ‫اهلل ع ّز ّ‬ ‫وجل وال ميكن ألحد أن يعرف‬ ‫هذا الس ّر‪ .‬أما بالنسبة لألمور التي‬ ‫تصيب معهم فلن أقول لكم أنها‬ ‫أصابت مبحض الصدفة أل ّن البعض‬ ‫يصدق هذا الكالم بل على العكس‬ ‫ال‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫واضحا ومقن ًعا‬ ‫سأقدم لكم تفسيرًا‬ ‫ً‬ ‫لنجاح هذه التوقعات معهم‪ .‬إذا‬ ‫راقب أحد منا كالمهم وتو ّقعاتهم‬ ‫بتج ّرد ميكنه أن يالحظ أنهم ين ّوعون‬ ‫في تو ّقعاتهم أي يقولون أ ّن أصحاب‬ ‫هذا البرج الفالني سوف يشهدون‬ ‫في فترة من فترات السنة أيا ًما‬ ‫عصيبة ومتعبة ولكنهم فيما‬ ‫بعد سيشهدون انفراجات وحاالت‬ ‫جيدة‪ ،‬وهذا األمر طبيعي جدا ً فال‬ ‫ميكن ألحد منا أن تكون حياته‬

‫فقط مليئة بالتعب واحلزن أو فقط‬ ‫مليئة بالراحة والسعادة ألن حياتنا‬ ‫مبنية على أساس أ ّن ّ‬ ‫كل واحد منا‬ ‫سيشهد فترات جيدة وسيئة في‬ ‫حياته وبنا ًءا على تصرفاته في كال‬ ‫احلالتني سيحاسبه اهلل‪ .‬فما اجلديد‬ ‫في كالمهم أو الذي لم نكن نعرفه‬ ‫من قبل! وأما بالنسبة لألشخاص‬ ‫الذين يقولون إن توقعاتهم جنحت في‬ ‫حددوها فأقول لهم هل‬ ‫الفترة التي ّ‬ ‫ما قالوه انطبق على ّ‬ ‫كل األشخاص‬ ‫الذين ينتمون لهذا البرج؟ وما أعنيه‬ ‫هو هل شهد ّ‬ ‫كل من ينتمون لهذا‬ ‫حتدث عنها‬ ‫البرج فترة التعب الذي ّ‬ ‫املنجم ؛ ألم تفشل تو ّقعات هذا‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫املنجم فشهد أحد أصحاب هذا‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫البرج في أي منطقة من مناطق‬ ‫العالم فترة جيدة ومريحة!!‬

‫ِّ‬ ‫الشك ‪ ...‬واليقني‬ ‫األبراج بني‬

‫سارة الديراني‬ ‫كاتبة صحفية‬

‫األبراج القمرية ‪ ...‬األبراج الغربية ‪...‬‬ ‫األبراج الصينية ‪ ...‬األبراج الهندية‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫وحظك لهذا العام‬ ‫‪ ...‬برجك الطالع‬ ‫بد لنا من‬ ‫وغيرها من هذه الكلمات ال ّ‬ ‫أن نسمعها عند بداية ّ‬ ‫كل عام‪ .‬فما‬ ‫هو برجك أيها القارئ؟‬ ‫ظاهرة األبراج‪ ،‬ظاهرة يكثر‬ ‫انتشارها عند مطلع ّ‬ ‫كل عام وذلك‬ ‫نابع من رغبة ّ‬ ‫كل إنسان منا لسماع‬ ‫ما قد يخبئه له العام املقبل‪ ،‬أو‬ ‫كنوع من أنواع التسلية كما يقول‬ ‫البعض‪ .‬فال ميكنك أن تشاهد‬ ‫محطة تلفزيونية لم تستقبل أحد‬ ‫املنجمني (أو الفلكيني كما يزعمون)‬ ‫ليحدث املشاهدين‬ ‫ليلة رأس السنة‪،‬‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫عن دراساته الفلكية وكيف ستؤثر‬ ‫حركة الكواكب والنجوم على‬ ‫حياتهم واألحداث التي ستجري‬ ‫معهم في املستقبل‪ .‬واملضحك في‬ ‫املوضوع أنهم جميعا ً بدأوا يكتبون‬ ‫كتب سنوية تتحدث لك بالتفصيل‬

‫عن شخصيتك حسب برجك‪ ،‬كما‬ ‫وأن هذه الكتب تتضمن تو ّقعاتهم‬ ‫الفلكية لبرجك بشكل يومي أي ّ‬ ‫لكل‬ ‫يوم من أيام السنة وبدون استثناء‪.‬‬ ‫فتراهم ير ّوجون لهذه الكتب خالل‬ ‫فترة ظهورهم التلفزيونية‪ ،‬فتراه ّ‬ ‫كل‬ ‫ما قال كلمة أحلقها « وإذا قرأمت كتابي‬ ‫ستحصلون على معلومات أكثر‪،‬‬ ‫كافية ووافية‪ ،‬لتجيب عن جميع‬ ‫تساؤالتكم‪».‬‬ ‫وامللفت في املوضوع أ ّن هناك بعض‬ ‫الناس الذين يؤمنون إميان ًا مطلقًا‬ ‫باألبراج ويك ّيفون حياتهم وفقًا ملا‬ ‫تقوله فيقيمون عالقتهم باآلخرين‬ ‫إعتمادًا على مدى توافق أبراجهم‬ ‫مع بعضها‪ ،‬فيما يراها آخرون دجالً‬ ‫بد‬ ‫وخرا ًفة وظاهرة فسادٍ وكفر ال ّ‬ ‫من استئصالها نهائ ًيا‪ .‬فما هو رأيك‬ ‫أيها القارئ في هذا املوضوع؟‬ ‫في البداية يجب علينا جميعا ً‬ ‫أن نتذكر اآليات الكرمية التي‬

‫أمي‬ ‫األم ّية في العالم ‪ 800‬مليون ّ‬ ‫بحسب معهد اإلحصاء في منظمة‬ ‫اليونسكو‪ .‬أما عرب ًيا فـ ‪ 39‬مليون‬ ‫يهددهم اجلوع وسوء التغذية‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫أمي حوالي ثلثيهم‬ ‫ويظهر‪ 70‬مليون ّ‬ ‫من النّساء‪ .‬أرقام للواقع وإحصاءات‬ ‫من وحي احلقيقة‪ .‬لربمّ ا ليس الواقع‬ ‫بأجمعه بأيدينا لكن مبادرات بسيطة‬ ‫تستطيع أن تثلج قلوبًا أتعبها لَ َه ُب‬ ‫احلياة‪.‬‬

‫‪Outlook‬‬

‫‪9‬‬

‫‪Jan 4, 2011‬‬

‫‪arabic News‬‬

‫الذكرى السنوية األولى لرحيل األمير فيصل مجيد أرسالن‬ ‫تتم من ص ‪١‬‬ ‫من يخوضها إلى النّيابة والوزارة‪ .‬لكن‬ ‫السعي لتحرير‬ ‫األمير فيصل ّ‬ ‫فضل ّ‬ ‫اخملطوفني وتسهيل عبور األبرياء على‬ ‫حرب كيفما سارت‬ ‫املشاركة في‬ ‫ٍ‬ ‫ستؤدي إلى خسارة الوطن‪.‬‬ ‫آمن األمير فيصل بأن لبنان ال يحكم‬ ‫إال من خالل التعاون اجلاد بني أبنائه‪،‬‬ ‫نابذا ً ّ‬ ‫والصراع‬ ‫كل أشكال العنف‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫التي ال تثمر إال الهالك والدمار‪.‬‬ ‫لذلك عمل األمير فيصل على بناء‬ ‫الصداقات والعالقات املتينة مع‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫مختلف األطراف لبناء لبنان البلد‬ ‫الواحد املزدهر املهدد بالكسر‬ ‫والعاصي عليه‪.‬‬ ‫املس ّجل كانت‬ ‫وبعد انتهاء املقطع ّ‬ ‫كلمة النّائب متّام سالم التي قرأتها‬ ‫عقيلته بسبب ّ‬ ‫تعذر وصوله‪ .‬أشارت‬ ‫الس ّيدة سالم إلى أن سالح األمير‬ ‫فيصل كان التّواصل في جميع‬ ‫األزمات‪ ،‬كما أنه لم يكن يسعى‬

‫قيادات‪ ،‬وطن ّي ٍة كانت أم‬ ‫ملراكز أو‬ ‫ٍ‬ ‫ٍ‬ ‫حتّى ضمن العائلة‪ ،‬فبالرغم من‬ ‫لبسه عباءة الزّعامة األرسالنية فقد‬ ‫أوكل أخاه طالل بإدارة العائلة‪.‬‬ ‫ومن ثم كانت كلمة عصام خوري‬ ‫الذي أشار إلى أهمية األمير مجيد‬ ‫الذي يفتقده لبنان اليوم ثالثا ً‪:‬‬ ‫بطل االستقالل‪ ،‬وفارس بشامون‪،‬‬ ‫ثم قال بأ ّن‬ ‫وأسطورة شعب ّية‪ّ .‬‬ ‫فيصل أرسالن حسبه مقالة من‬ ‫كلمتني‪« :‬فيصل أرسالن»‪ ،‬فلتبتهج‬ ‫البالغة‪ .‬فالفيصل في اللغة هو‬ ‫السيف القاطع بني احلق والباطل‪،‬‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫أما أرسالن فأسد بالتركية‪ ،‬وحماة‬ ‫الثغور بالعربية‪ ،‬وأما باللبنانية فهو‬ ‫رصعته البطوالت واملكارم‪.‬‬ ‫تاريخ ّ‬ ‫وبعدها كانت كلمة إبراهيم‬ ‫شمس الدين الذي أوضح معنى‬ ‫االعتدال‪ ،‬شارحا ً إ ّياه بأنّه االستقامة‬ ‫في العدل‪ ،‬والوسط بني اجليدين‪،‬‬ ‫وليس بني اجل ّيد والسيئ‪ .‬هو سمة‬

‫الرجال واستقامة األقوام‪ .‬أن نكون‬ ‫معتدلني ال يعني أن نكون ساكنني‪،‬‬ ‫لكن ركيزته الصبر وليس العنف‪.‬‬ ‫ثم كلمة رفيق خوري الذي قال‪ :‬ما‬ ‫أكثر الرجال الذين آمنوا بإميان األمير‪،‬‬ ‫لكن الظلم في لبنان دفعهم إلى‬ ‫الظل وكأنهم أقل ّية‪ ،‬فهذا ميشال‬ ‫الدستور‬ ‫قدم مسودة ّ‬ ‫شيحا عندما ّ‬ ‫فال‪ :‬هذا دستور لبنان ال ّرسمي‪،‬‬ ‫الفعلي فهو بلد ال يحكم إال‬ ‫أما‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫لصراعات‬ ‫بالتّسويات‪ .‬البلد ساح ٌة‬ ‫ٍ‬ ‫أكبر منه‪ ،‬فالتحالفات مع القوى‬ ‫اخلارج ّية لهي أقوى من الروابط‬ ‫األخوية والوطنية‪ ،‬وعصبة الطوائف‬ ‫واملذاهب تغلب على عصبة الوطن‪.‬‬ ‫ها نحن وقد ّ‬ ‫حققنا االستقالل منذ‬ ‫زمن سحيق‪ ،‬ننتظر حل اخلالفات‬ ‫الداخلية من اخلارج‪ .‬واختتم خوري‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫باستعارة مثل من تكساس قال‬ ‫صح ولو لم يفعله‬ ‫فيه‪:‬‬ ‫الصح يبقى ّ‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫أحد‪ ،‬والغلط يبقى غلط ولو مارسه‬

‫اجلميع‪.‬‬ ‫ثم كلمة نعمت فريح الذي افتقد‬ ‫األمير فيصل وبعد مرور سنة على‬ ‫رحيله‪ .‬األمير فيصل الذي عمل على‬ ‫صون العالقات املتينة بني أبناء لبنان‪،‬‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫اجلل‬ ‫كما وقد رفض االقتتال في‬ ‫ودعا إلى احلوار واإلعتدال‪ .‬سالحه‬ ‫كان اإلرادة التي جتاري ال ّرياح وتسبق‬ ‫الصاعقة‪ .‬وناشد خوري املسؤولني‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫ويتذكروا أن‬ ‫بأن يكونوا واعني لألزمات‪،‬‬ ‫سبب وجود األوطان هي خدمة أبنائها‬ ‫وتطور البالد‪ ،‬وهكذا تصان األطان‬ ‫والكرامات‪.‬‬ ‫واخلتام كان بكلمة األمير طالل‬ ‫أرسالن الذي حاول حهده يضع‬ ‫العواطف جانباً‪ ،‬وشكر احلضور‬ ‫على هذه املشاركة الكرمية لذكرى‬ ‫أخيه فيصل رحمه اهلل‪ .‬فقد حرص‬ ‫فيصل طيلة حياته على عدم فصل‬ ‫السياسة‪،‬‬ ‫األخالق واإلنسان ّية عن ّ‬ ‫وغ ّلب الصداقة على املصلحة‪ ،‬وهي‬

‫املشكلة التي تواجه أبناء مدرسة‬ ‫مجيد أرسالن‪.‬‬ ‫ثم أشار إلى واقع لبنان هو نتاج‬ ‫والدين واملذاهب‬ ‫بالسياسة‬ ‫االجتار‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫والطوائف واملبادئ والكرامات على‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫املعذب‬ ‫اللبناني‬ ‫حساب اإلنسان‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫املق ّيد داخل املعتقالت الطائف ّية‬ ‫واملذهب ّية‪ ،‬وهده دميومة االنتحار‪.‬‬ ‫إن ّ‬ ‫الشعب املنقسم على نفسه ال‬ ‫يولد إال دولة جائرة‪ ،‬وثقافة الكراهية‬ ‫لآلخر التي هي لعبة املوت‪ .‬فالنظام‬ ‫السياسي يلفظ أنفاسه األخيرة إذا‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫لم نقل أنه سقط والدولة تتساقط‬ ‫معه على مراحل‪ ،‬وقد جتر بسقوطها‬ ‫الكيان‪.‬‬ ‫إ ّن األمان اليوم وكما قال أرسالن‬ ‫معقود على التح ّرك املشترك‬ ‫السوري‪ ،‬واألخوين الذين‬ ‫السعودي ّ‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫يتابعاه خادم احلرمني الشريفني‪ ،‬وأخي‬ ‫وصديقي الدكتور ّ‬ ‫بشار األسد‪.‬‬

‫تاتيانا برمياك خوري تعزف في األسمبلي هول‬

‫مصطفى فضل اهلل‬ ‫كاتب صحفي‬

‫أقامت صحيفة األخبار حفل‬ ‫كالسيكي‬ ‫عزف موسيقي‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫للعازفة األوكران ّية تاتيانا برمياك‬ ‫قدمة‬ ‫خوري*‪ .‬استبقت ُم ّ‬ ‫احلفل كالم احلضور ليل ذاك‬ ‫اخلميس ‪ 2010- 12 – 23‬عند‬ ‫الساعة الثامنة واخلمس دقائق‬ ‫بكالم صريح‪“ .‬محظوظون‬ ‫نحن أل ّن تاتيانا بيننا اليوم‪ ،‬وهي‬ ‫عاملية بلون البساطة املتف ّردة‪،‬‬ ‫تعزف تاتيانا اليوم لتثبت أن‬ ‫املوسيقى الكالسيك ّية اليوم‬ ‫ليست برجواز ّية ا ّللون‪ ،‬بل هي‬ ‫للجميع”‪ .‬وتنهي حديثها‬ ‫طالب ًة من اجلميع إقفال الهواتف‬ ‫اخلِل َيو ّية‪.‬‬ ‫بثقة يحكمها الكثير‬ ‫من التّواضع وانحناءة رأس‬ ‫بسيطة‪ .‬تخفر تاتيانا أرض‬ ‫املسرح صامت ًة و عينها‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫ملتصقة ببياض مفاتيح‬ ‫الـ”بيانو”‪ ،‬حتّى استق ّرت‬ ‫على ذلك املقعد األسود‬ ‫املد ّور‪ .‬جلستها مستقيمة‬ ‫كاستقامة حرف األلف‪ ،‬بعكس‬ ‫صمت‬ ‫إنحراف سياستنا‪.‬‬ ‫ُ‬ ‫األسمبلي مطبق إلاّ من‬ ‫قاعة ّ‬ ‫همسات طفلني لم يتجاوزا‬ ‫عامهم الثالث‪ .‬تخرق تاتيانا ذلك‬ ‫الصمت‪ ،‬وتسيطر على أفئدة‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫السامعني فتخلط الواقع بني‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫أوتار الـ”بيانو” واهتزازاتها وأوتار‬ ‫القلوب ونبضاتها‪ ،‬هو سحر‬ ‫ميض على عزف تاتيانا‬ ‫النغم‪ .‬لم ِ‬ ‫أكثر من دقيقة‪ ،‬ليخرق رنني أحد‬

‫السحر‬ ‫الهواتف اخللو ّية ذلك ّ‬ ‫املنتشر بني احلضور‪ ،‬بأغنية‬ ‫أجنب ّية مزعجة ألكثر من ثالثني‬ ‫ثانية‪ .‬لم تبالي هي وبغضبة‬ ‫عينيها وإنعقاد حاجبيها تابعت‬ ‫عزفها‪ ،‬ملتحم ًة بذلك البيانو‪،‬‬ ‫كأنّها ليست معنا‪.‬‬ ‫متسمر ٌة‬ ‫عيون احلضور‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫على وجه تاتيانا كأنّهم يرون‬ ‫املوسيقى في وجهها‪ ،‬وكأنها‬ ‫تغنّي‪ ،‬ولكنها لم تغنّي أبدا ً‪.‬‬ ‫شعرها أشقر منسدل بجموده‪،‬‬ ‫برغم حرك ّية ا ّللحن ويقظة‬ ‫املقطوعات وإنتشار الصوت‬ ‫على مدى القاعة‪ .‬صديق‬ ‫وصديقة‪ ،‬جاوراني حينها‪“ ،‬فيا‬ ‫بت وحيدا ً أستمع‬ ‫خليلي” كأني ّ‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫لتاتيانا في القاعة ونسيت‬ ‫باقي الوجود وكاميرات احلضور‬ ‫وهواتفهم‪.‬‬ ‫عزَ َفت لـ “جاكسون كاري‬ ‫فرانك” ‪Organ Prelude,‬‬ ‫‪Fugue and Variation‬‬ ‫‪ ،‬ولـ “لودفيك فان بتهوفن”‬ ‫‪Variation in C 32‬‬ ‫‪ ، minor‬ولـ “فريدريك‬ ‫‪Fantaisie‬‬‫شوبان”‬ ‫‪66.Impromptu, Op‬‬ ‫‪ in C sharp minor‬و‬ ‫‪10‬‬ ‫‪.Etude,Op‬‬ ‫‪in C minor 12.No‬‬ ‫‪”“Revolutionnaire‬‬ ‫‪ ،‬ولـ “ألكسندر سكرابني”‬ ‫‪ 1.No 2 .Etude, Op‬و‬ ‫‪ 12.No 8.Etude, Op‬و‬ ‫‪in F 4 .Sonata No‬‬ ‫‪،30.sharp major Op‬‬

‫(صورة‪ :‬رامي دياب)‬

‫تاتيانا برمياك خوري‬

‫ولـ “فرانك ليشت” ‪Reve‬‬ ‫‪ D’amour‬و ‪Mephisto‬‬ ‫‪ .Waltz‬مقطوعة مقطوعة‪،‬‬ ‫كانت تاتيانا تنسل بني ثنايا‬ ‫ذلك احلاجز املزعج بني املادة‬ ‫والروح بعزفها‪ ،‬ولترسم بسمة‬ ‫بوقوفها وانحنائها‪ ،‬مبتسم ًة‪،‬‬

‫أمام اجلمهور عند إنتهاء ّ‬ ‫كل‬ ‫مقطوعة‪.‬‬ ‫*ولدت تاتيانا برمياك خوري في‬ ‫أوكرانيا‪ ،‬ودرست في املعهد‬ ‫العالي للموسيقى في كييف‬ ‫وتخ ّرجت من هناك بتقدير عال‪.‬‬ ‫أ ّدت في العديد من األوركسترات‬

‫في أوكرانيا وحول العالم في‬ ‫عزف منفرد‪ .‬عزفت املوسيقى‬ ‫من قدميها إلى حديثها‪ .‬لديها‬ ‫‪ 10‬إصدارات باسمها‪ ،‬حازت على‬ ‫عديد اجلوائز العامل ّية واحملل ّية‬ ‫في املسابقات الكبرى‪ .‬إضافة‬ ‫إلى مهنتها فهي تعزف أالف‬ ‫احلفالت سنويا ً‪.‬‬

‫‪Jan 4, 2011‬‬

‫‪Outlook‬‬

‫‪10‬‬

‫‪arabic News‬‬

‫اجلامعة األميركية في بيروت تستقبل محاضرة للنواب الذين‬ ‫وافقوا على قانون منع التدخني في األماكن العامة‬ ‫ماري نخول‬ ‫كاتبة صحفية‬ ‫أقامت مجموعة البحث للحد من‬ ‫التدخني برعاية وحضور معالي‬ ‫الدكتور محمد جواد‬ ‫وزير الصحة ّ‬ ‫الصحة‬ ‫خليفة وبالتعاون مع جلنة‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫العامة والعمل ّ‬ ‫والشؤون اإلجتماعية‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫النيابية ‪،‬والبرنامج الوطني ملكافحة‬ ‫التدخني حفل إستقبال في اجلامعة‬ ‫األميركية في بيروت‪ ،‬وذلك نهار‬ ‫الثالثاء الواقع في ‪ ٣٠‬نوفمبر ‪٢٠١٠‬‬ ‫السابعة مسا ًء في‬ ‫في متام الساعة ّ‬ ‫قاعة الوست هول‪ .‬وقد شارك في‬ ‫هذه احملاضرة النواب ا ّلذين دعموا إقرار‬ ‫صارم للح ِّد من التّدخني‬ ‫قانون‬ ‫مشروع‬ ‫ٍ‬ ‫ٍ‬ ‫في لبنان‪ .‬فإجتمع في حرم اجلامعة‪،‬‬ ‫عد ٌد من ّ‬ ‫السياسية و‬ ‫الشخصيات ّ‬ ‫الباحثني وأصحاب اجلمع ّيات اخلير ّية‬ ‫بي وحضورٌ أراد التّعبير عن‬ ‫وحش ٌد طلاّ ٌ‬ ‫دعمه لهذا القانون‪ .‬واجلدير ّ‬ ‫بالذكر‬ ‫أ ّن القانون اجلديد يحظر التّدخني‬ ‫في األماكن العامة بشكل قطعي‬ ‫‪.‬من هنا كان حفل اإلستقبال تعبيرًا‬ ‫وتأكي ًدا على أهم ّية هذا القانون‬ ‫والدور املهم ا ّلذي تلعبه اجلامعة‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫األميركية حلثِّ شبابها على عدم‬ ‫التّدخني وبوسائل عديدة‪ ،‬إنطال ًقا‬ ‫من احملاضرات واملناشير املشددة على‬ ‫خطر التدخني‪ ،‬وعن طريق حظرها‬ ‫للتّدخني في احلرم بكامله‪ ،‬بإستثناء‬ ‫واخملصصة‬ ‫بعد احملطات احملدودة‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫للمدخّ نني‪ .‬هذا ما ع ّبر عنه رئيس‬ ‫اجلامعة األميركية الدكتور بيتر‬ ‫دورمان في افتتاحه هذه احملاضرة‬ ‫مانحا ً دع ًما معنويًا وح ًثا على تطبيق‬

‫هذا القانون‪ ،‬في لبنان كله‪ ،‬و أال‬ ‫يقتصر كما اليوم على اجلامعة ‪.‬‬ ‫الدكتور غازي زعتري‪،‬وهو مسؤول‬ ‫أما ّ‬ ‫قسم الباثولوجيا في اجلامعة‬ ‫األميركية‪ ،‬فص ّرح قائالً‪ ،‬أنّه من احملزن‬ ‫واملؤسف أن يجد خالل متثيله لبنان‬ ‫في اجتماعات دولية‪ ،‬أ ّن لبنان‪ ،‬هو من‬ ‫البالد القليلة ا ّلتي ال تتّخذ اجراءات‬ ‫حلظر التّدخني في االماكن العامة‬ ‫والتّشديد على مضا ّره‪ .‬ومن املؤسف‬ ‫أيضا‪ ،‬أن جند ‪ ٣٥٠٠‬مواطنًا ميوتون‬ ‫ً‬ ‫سنويًا في لبنان بسبب أمراض‬ ‫متع ّلقة مباشرة بالتّدخني وذلك‬ ‫بحسب وزارة الصحة ‪ ،‬ونظرًا لعدد‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫يشكل هذا العدد نسب ًة‬ ‫سكانه‪،‬‬ ‫كبير ًة وظاهر ًة خطير ًة في حال عدم‬ ‫إتّخاذ اجراءات مناسبة‪ .‬وما يزيد األمر‬ ‫سو ًءأ هو إحتالل اإلعالنات املر ّوجة‬ ‫للتّدخني جميع الوسائل ‪ ،‬مرئ ّية‬ ‫كانت أم مسموعة‪،‬وغياب العبارات‬ ‫التحذيرية عن هذه املنتجات‪.‬‬ ‫فشدد‬ ‫أما النائب عاطف مجدالني‪،‬‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫الدور الذي سيلعبه الن ّواب‬ ‫على ّ‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫يشكل‬ ‫لتحقيق هذا القانون الذي‬ ‫حل ًما‪ّ ،‬‬ ‫نظيف‬ ‫بوطن‬ ‫حلم‬ ‫لكل‬ ‫مواطن َ‬ ‫ٍ‬ ‫ٍ‬ ‫ٍ‬ ‫وصح ٍة سليمة‪ .‬كما ّ‬ ‫أكد على دور‬ ‫النّائب سمير اجلسر في تشكيل جلنة‬ ‫الصياغة األساس ّية‬ ‫فرع ّية ووضع ّ‬ ‫لهذا القانون مع مراجعة ال ّثغرات‪.‬‬ ‫أما القانون‪ ،‬فسيكون صار ًما‪ ،‬يشمل‬ ‫العامة‬ ‫أماكن العمل ووسائل النّقل‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫على انواعها‪ .‬وسيط ّبق القانون فور‬ ‫تصديقه‪ ،‬مع إعطاء مهلة ‪ ٣‬إلى‬

‫‪ ٦‬أشهر ملنع اإلعالنات التّرويج ّية‪،‬‬ ‫وحظر بيع الدخّ ان في جميع األماكن‬ ‫ملن هم دون ال‪ ١٨-‬من العمر‪ .‬وص ّرح‬ ‫النّائب مجدالني قائالً ‪ “ :‬هذا القانون‬ ‫سينقل اجملتمع اللبناني من فوضى‬ ‫التدخني إلى اإللتزام بالقانون كباقي‬ ‫ً‬ ‫صحة‬ ‫املتقدمة‪،‬‬ ‫الدول‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫حفاظا على ّ‬ ‫مواطنيه”‪ .‬كما شكر اجلامعة‬ ‫األميرك ّية على دعمها لهذا املوضوع‬ ‫مشددًا على أهم ّية حتذير‬ ‫األساسي‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫الشباب من مخاطر التدخني‪.‬‬ ‫وفي حديث للوزير خليفة‪ ،‬فقد ع ّبر‬ ‫عن شعوره باإلحراج عند متثيله لبنان‬ ‫دوليا‪ ،‬وإعترف بوجود تقصير‪ .‬لكنّه‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫الصحة تقوم باإللتزامات‬ ‫أكد أن وزارة‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫الدولية‪ .‬وفي حال إعتبر البعض‬ ‫أن هذا القانون سينعكس سل ًبا‬ ‫واملؤسسات‬ ‫على أصحاب املطاعم‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫السياحية‪ ،‬فإ ّن جميع االحصاءات‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫شدد على‬ ‫أكدت عكس ذلك‪ .‬كما أنه ّ‬ ‫مضا ّر التّدخني وارتباطها املباشر‬ ‫بسرطان املبولة والرئة وهما بشكل‬ ‫أساسي األكثر إنتشارًا في لبنان‪ ،‬من‬ ‫للحد‬ ‫هنا تكمن أهم ّية هذا القانون‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫السرطان ّية والقلب ّية‬ ‫من األمراض‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫صحة املواطن‪.‬‬ ‫واحلفاظ على ّ‬ ‫بحديث‬ ‫انتهى حفل اإلستقبال‬ ‫ٍ‬ ‫للس ّيدة رانيا بارود ممثل ًة جمعية حياة‬ ‫ح ّرة بال تدخني برئاسة السيدة نادين‬ ‫كيروز‪ ،‬وقالت‪ “ :‬هيدا القانون عندو‬ ‫شعبية!” مقترح ًة عدة شروط وهي‬ ‫‪ .1‬منع التّدخني التام والشامل مئة‬ ‫في املئة في األماكن العامة املغلقة‬

‫)‪(Photo by Ahmad Itani - Office of Communications‬‬

‫تتعدى‬ ‫وتطبيقه ضمن مهلة ال‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫الستة أشهر من حني إقراره مع حلظ‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫أماكن غير مغلقة للمدخّ نني وفق‬ ‫املعايير الدولية‪.‬‬ ‫‪ .2‬منع اإلعالن خملتلف منتوجات‬ ‫التّبغ في الوسائل اإلعالنية كا ّفة‬ ‫املرئية واملسموعة واملكتوبة‬ ‫واإلنترنت‪...‬‬ ‫منع الرعاية اإلعالنية على مختلف‬ ‫أشكالها ملنتوجات التبغ كافة‪.‬‬ ‫صحي مص ّور على ‪ %40‬من‬ ‫وضع حتذير ّ‬ ‫مساحة علبة السجائر من اجلهتني‬

‫األمامية واخللفية‪.‬‬ ‫في اخلتام‪ ،‬قام النواب بتوقيع العريضة‬ ‫َّ‬ ‫ليؤكد على‬ ‫ا ّلتي تدعم هذا القانون‬ ‫السؤال‪ ،‬متى‬ ‫أهم ّية تطبيقه‪ ،‬ليبقى ّ‬ ‫سيصبح هذا القانون حقيق ًة لينعم‬ ‫املواطن اللبناني بصحة ج ّيدة‪ ،‬قبل‬ ‫أن تلتهم شبابه نيران السجائر؟‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫سيظل املواطن ضح ّية‬ ‫وإلى متى‬ ‫السياس ّية في هذا البلد؟‬ ‫التّق ّلبات ّ‬ ‫عسى أن تكون هذه احملاضرة‪ ،‬إنطالقا ً‬ ‫من عتبة اجلامعة األميركية مفتاح‬ ‫ح ٍّل لهذه املشكلة ‪.‬‬

‫عائد إلى حيفا‬ ‫عامر الص ّريع‬ ‫كاتب صحفي‬ ‫غسان‬ ‫بالتّعاون مع‬ ‫مؤسسة ّ‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫كنفاني الثقافية التي تعنى بنشر‬ ‫غسان كنفاني األدبية والعديد‬ ‫أعمال ّ‬ ‫ومؤسسة‬ ‫من املشاريع اخل ّيرة‪،‬‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫التّعاون التي تدعم مشاريع وبرامج‬ ‫عدة في فلسطني‬ ‫في قطاعات ّ‬ ‫ولبنان من تعليم‪ ،‬وتنمية مجتمعية‪،‬‬ ‫وفن وثقافة‪.‬‬ ‫ومساعدات إنسان ّية‪ّ ،‬‬ ‫أقيمت في مسرح بابل وللمرة األولى‬ ‫باللغة العرب ّية مسرح ّية «عائد إلى‬ ‫غسان‬ ‫حيفا» املقتبسة من رواية ّ‬ ‫كنفاني حتت إعداد وإخراج لينا‬ ‫األبيض‪ .‬بعد أن ُعرضت وترجمت‬ ‫بلغات عدة ونشرت في مختلف‬ ‫أصقاع األرض‪.‬‬ ‫يدوم عرض املسرح ّية ‪ 62‬دقيقة‬ ‫على وقع مأساة مستمرة منذ ‪62‬‬

‫عامأ‪ .‬كما افتتح العرض يوم السبت‬ ‫‪ 11‬كانون األول لغاية ‪ 19‬كانون األول‬ ‫إحيا ًء «لذكرى قرار األمم املتحدة رقم‬ ‫‪ 194‬الذي يعطي الفلسطينيني حق‬ ‫العودة»‪.‬‬ ‫تتحدث املسرح ّية عن زوجني‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫فلسطينيني‪ ،‬سعيد وصفية‪،‬‬ ‫اللذان اضطرا في الواحد والعشرين‬ ‫من نيسان عام ‪ 1948‬إلى مغادرة‬ ‫مدينتهم حيفا حتت حراب اجلنود‬ ‫الصهاينة‪ ،‬لكن ومع احملاولة اجلاهدة‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫للعودة تركوا طفلهم خلدون ال ّرضيع‬ ‫وحيدا ً‪.‬‬ ‫وبعد عشرين عاما ً من محاولة‬ ‫سعيد وصفية معرفة أخبار‬ ‫خلدون ومحاولة استعادته‪ ،‬تسمح‬ ‫السلطات اإلسرائيلية وكجزء من‬

‫حربها النفسية‪ ،‬للفلسطينيني‬ ‫بالعودة لزيارة منازلهم العتيقة‪.‬‬ ‫يكتشف سعيد وصفية بأن املنزل ما‬ ‫زال على حاله‪ ،‬لكنه ساكنيه كانوا‬ ‫ميريام‪ ،‬وهي إسرائيلية من أصل‬ ‫بولوني‪ ،‬وابنها «دوف» االحتياطي‬ ‫في اجليش اإلسرائيلي‪ ،‬هو ليس إال‬ ‫خلدون ابن سعيد وصفية‪ .‬خسرت‬ ‫صفية الولد برزت ر ّدة فعلها‪ ،‬وحارت‬ ‫في مقولة «األهل من يربوا وليس‬ ‫من يلدوا»‪ ،‬لقد كانت تريد الولد قبل‬ ‫الدار أو الولد في الدار‪ ،‬ومن بعد اللقاء‬ ‫سكتت صفية‪.‬‬ ‫وبعد االنتهاء من املسرحية التي‬ ‫طغى عليها أسلوب التفاعل‬ ‫واملشاركة مع احلضور‪ ،‬جلس فريق‬ ‫العمل على اخلشبة ليثير نقاشا ً‬

‫مباشرا ً مع اجلمهور‪ .‬وكان من‬ ‫األسئلة املتابعة ما يلي‪:‬‬ ‫ميريام املدام اليهودية بدت مساملة‪،‬‬ ‫ملاذا؟‬ ‫كانت مساملة ألنها لم تكن تعرف‬ ‫فلسطني حتى جاءت بها الوكالة‬ ‫اليهودية في ‪ 23‬من نيسان ‪،1948‬‬ ‫وهي لم تأتي إال بعد مأساتها في‬ ‫أوروبا وهربها من احلرب والدمار‪.‬‬ ‫هل متثل ميريام الشعب اليهودي؟‬ ‫ليس بالضرورة‪ ،‬فاإلنسانية ال تخلو‬ ‫من اإلنسان‪ ،‬فهي تبدو مساملة‬ ‫ولكنها حتتل البيت والولد‪ .‬دور‬ ‫الوكالة اليهودية كان بخداع اليهود‬ ‫بقصة «أرض بال شعب»‪ .‬بإمكان‬ ‫ميريام متثيل اليسار اإلسرائيلي‬ ‫فهي تريد السالم وبنفس الوقت تريد‬

‫األرض‪.‬‬ ‫ما هو سالح خلدون أثناء اللقاء وما‬ ‫عالقته باجليش اإلسرائيلي؟‬ ‫لقد كان خلدون يوظف ضعف أبويه‬ ‫ليزداد قوة‪ ،‬وهذا ما يفعله الصهاينة‪،‬‬ ‫فهم يستعملون ضعف غيرهم‬ ‫ليزدادوا قوة‪.‬‬ ‫ما هي العبرة التي يجب أن‬ ‫نستخلصها من هذه املسرحية؟‬ ‫يجب علينا أن نرى اإلنسان في‬ ‫اليهودي حتى ال نتحول عند حترير‬ ‫القدس إلى صهاينة‬

Jan 4, 2011

Outlook

entertainment

Restaurant Review

O

ceanus is a casual Japanese eatery located on St. Georges Hospital Street, Achrafieh. Its main specialty is sushi (a full menu advertising the assortment of pieces is offered) but seafood and various types of salads are also found. The place has been selling fish for more than 30 years and stands to its reputation as one of the cleanest and freshest sushi serving restaurants in Beirut.

The restaurant has two shifts, one at 8 and one at 9:30; reservations are a must for both. Valet parking is always present, since the parking spots around the eatery are virtually non-existent.

Choices of seating vary between tables, booths and places at the bar (the latter are non-smoking). The staff is polite and efficient but not friendly or helpful. The hastiness and pressure of the waiters is noticeable. The de-

cor looks rudimentary (a few scattered paintings on the wall) and the atmosphere is very loud. The place, very small and narrow, is always packed, mostly with young adults. The music is barely audible, always covered by the voices of the other customers.

The various types of sushi are fresh and tasty overall, but the tuna and salmon maki may sometimes feel pasty and lack crunchiness.

The avocado wrap and the crazy roll are definitely recommended. Also, the platters look presentable, with a nice layout. Unfortunately, the restaurant doesn’t offer any unique pieces; its menu is very similar to that of other casual sushi eateries. Finally, the greatest asset of this restaurant is its very competitive value for money. So far, Oceanus’ clientele is blinded by the quality of the fresh food and the competitive pric-

Book Review

A

book titled Beirut, I Love You: A Memoir risks being underestimated as a cliché and gimmick targeting both Lebanese and foreigners fascinated by Lebanon, and Beirut in particular. Nonetheless, Zena El Khalil’s memoir transcends the simplicity and overuse of its title to “draw,” for El Khalil herself is an artist and painter, a fresh, human and most importantly, honest canvas of the Lebanese condition. Despite its undemanding and entertaining style, Beirut, I Love You remains a reasonably multilayered and emotive book about postwar Lebanese society.

With its truthfulness and straightforwardness, the memoir imposes itself as a daring and experimental book. Zena El Khalil’s utmost sincerity challenges the conservativeness of the Lebanese society and enables her

Oceanus

Christine Saliba

(Photo from Facebook.com)

es. In the long-term, however, Oceanus should work on

improving its atmosphere, interior and professionalism

Beirut, I Love You: A Memoir

by Zena El Khalil

to discuss her private life, her loves, friendships, emotional problems, and sexuality in the aftermath of the Civil War. The author further ventures to wittily portray the shallowness and corruption of many Lebanese.

“The same way the buildings were being remade, so were [Beirut’s] citizens,” writes El Khalil in “Beirut, I Love You.” She adds, “Girls were breaking off their cultural noses and replacing them with Barbie ones. . . .

Just like their buildings, the people were becoming sexy and luring on the outside, but hollow and empty on the inside. . . . There was Lexotanil and Xanax. Dewars and White Horse.”

Perhaps Beirut, I Love You’s only fault is that it contains too much of everything. The book is extremely vibrant and expository to the extent that El Khalil’s authentic-

11

ity and target audience are questioned. Where does one draw the line between reality and fiction in her writing? Is El Khalil writing for the Lebanese or for an international audience?

Zeina El Khalil’s Beirut, I Love You can indeed be considered an interesting, candid and lively addition to postwar Anglophone literature. Nonetheless, the book seems to abuse the very characteristics that distinguish it from other Anglophone Lebanese narratives. El Khalil is repetitive. In addition, she exaggerates the significance of her experiences, although they are very similar to—not to say less important than—those of the average Lebanese. As such, Beirut, I Love You remains an adjunctive rather than necessary addition to the list of Anglophone books written by Lebanese authors.

of service in order to face the growing competition.

Maya Sfeir

(Photo from Facebook.com)

12

Outlook

Jan 4, 2011

editorial & opinion Op-ed

A gross violation of human nature gets louder

Jackie Daoud Staff Writer

F

emale genital mutilation (FGM) also known as female circumcision is a term that entails the partial or total removal of the female external genitals for non-medical reasons and is a deeply rooted, common practice in Africa that is considered a rite of passage for young women. In doing so, most of these women

are inflicted harm yet currently there are 100 to 140 million women out there, living with the consequences of FGM. Despite this popular tradition in Africa, it is slowly becoming taboo to circumcise females especially given the health consequences they suffer and the complications that would arise later on with child birth. In Kuria (a Kenyan district) a couple were arrested for taking their underage girls for circumcision, in addition to other African countries such as Senegal who abandoned this tradition in 700 of their villages where the rate of practice was at its highest. Young girls from these regions, dressed in pink wrap around skirts and bright head dresses performed in front of a crowd to highlight the importance of abandoning such a foul practice, conveying an increased awareness that is

“During the month of December, each night after the stroke of midnight, young girls are taken from their homes and exposed to this horrifically painful act with no personal choice...” being spread.

This arises as a consequence of public denunciations, promoted after extensive efforts on behalf of governmental and nongovernmental organizations to put a stop to this. According to UNICEF, female circumcision is so deeply etched within some of these societies that there is more of a desperacy to diminish these practices, so that it isn’t perpetuated through more generations, as more and more girls are out casted for not undergoing this form of ‘self-mutilation.’ Uncircumcised girls are ostracized and branded unclean in these societies, placing an immense social pressure to

comply, especially as many who do not are not considered fit for marriage.

During the month of December, each night after the stroke of midnight, young girls are taken from their homes and exposed to this horrifically painful act with no personal choice in the matter. Not only does this impose a great deal of fear in their lives, but they are permanently mentally as well as physically damaged. The young girls are cut with blunt knives, often without being stitched up and are forced to walk back home bleeding profusely and terrorized.

In some cases, the whole

clitoris and external genitalia is removed and stitched up in a way that only a small opening is left, allowing for the flow of urine and menstrual remains to come out the same way. This not only leads to infections, shock and severe pains, but it also may lead to infertility or complications during childbirth and for what? To imply that women should not be allowed to feel pleasure, so that African chauvinistic beliefs could be propagated? This not only is a ridiculous traditional practice, but is also a violent act and a breaching of human rights. Luckily those opposing FGM are being heard louder and louder and as they unite against this menace to societies their voices will intensify, in the hopes that someday these girls will have the option of saying no.

Op-ed

Trio Keyrouz, Haidar and Bolun recite opera at Assembly Hall

Khodor Abou Daya Staff Writer

O

n December 20, 2010 at 8:00 pm in the Assembly Hall, Magda Keyrouz and Mohamed Haidar gave an unforgettable opera performance accompanied by Olga Bolun on the piano. Their performance

featured works by Mozart, Verdi, Puccini among other classical composers. Yet, although most audience members perceive music as an entertainment tool or outlet for releasing rage, fatigue, and pressure, one can’t help but wonder why we are still listening to music of men who died tenth or hundreds of years ago.

The answer to this fairly legitimate question might lie in the facial expressions and behaviour of the audience members as the music changes rhythm and the melody intensify. Newton might have been wrong when he stated that for every action there is an opposite and equal reaction. Well at least while trying to apply the third law of motion on the audience’s reaction to the force of the three profession-

“...one must admit that none of the euphoria and history that classical music contains could be unleashed without the effort of the professional soprano Magda Keyrouz, the extraordinary baritone Mohammad Haidar, and the celebrated Lebanese Conservatory teacher Olga Bolun.” al performers, failure is the outcome. The audience reacts positively more than the force of the performers ecpecially when the performers are reservoirs of pure talent and excellent execution of the legendary compositions. Habib Baydoun, a Chemistry Student explains “Each musical note is another step to mortal extacy and relief.” One audience member adds “…talent like this is dieing everyday”.

Truly, death is hunting this type of performance as more degenerate music pollute television channels and radio frequencies. Surprising-

ly, Mozart once said “ death is the key which unlocks the door to our true happiness.”

It seems Mozart did not consider the impact of his music’s death on the public which is now desperate for classical performances. This manifested in the good turnout of the recital.

Moreover, history is relived once the required conditions of the performance are met. Classical music contains within its tempo and rhythm much of the history of the composers and their time settings. Once indulged in the music, the barriers of imagi-

nation are broken and the images of the past are screened infront of the audience. This is why classical music is sometimes referred to as educative music.

However, one must admit that none of the euphoria and history that classical music contains could be unleashed without the effort of the professional soprano Magda Keyrouz, the extraordinary baritone Mohammad Haidar, and the celebrated Lebanese Conservatory teacher Olga Bolun. Their efforts are definitely to be cheriched and appreciated.

Outlook

Jan 4, 2011

editorial & opinion Op-ed

Editorial

A new year’s resolution?

Rami Diab Editor-in-Chief It is believed that the best enterprise is one that uses the resources at its disposal best and the most valuable resource to mankind I can think of, besides time that is, is mankind itself (great success is wrought through great numbers). Speaking of enterprises, if there’s any one quality top notch companies, businesses, hiring firms and corporations look for in people besides admirable academic and extracurricular standing, it’s the quality of functioning not just under pressure, but under people. Let me rephrase that; it’s not just whether or not you get the job done, but how well you get it done through collaboration and peer to peer engagement, a skill that is bound to be put to the test time and again in the professional working world.

Come to think of it, hasn’t everything we’ve ever accomplished possessed an element of team work to it?

Think about it. We’re raised with a team of family members, attend classes with a team of classmates and even compete, be it in sports, academia or what have you with teams of other competitor and players. It’s precisely this congregation of people, this synchronized exchange of collaborative effort that gives our deeds their flicker and sparkle. It’s this mutual devotion that gives our activities and undertakings meaning. So the real ques-

tion is, why work with a team? Well, for several reasons, in doing so, we are exposed to people of all walks of life allowing us to discover and learn from their experiences and mistakes. Not only do we accomplish objectives faster, but we savor the experience as we sail though, build long lasting relationships in the process and heck, who knows, many times we may even be inspired by our teammates either for their charisma, dedication or maybe just their up-beat attitude and lighthearted humor. I guess all it boils down to picking the right group of people, the best group of escorts - and this is really not as hard as it seems. The main criteria is searching for a uniting factor, a binding element, a common ground, be it academia, extracurricular activities, or just plain old fun on a weekend night out.

This year, why not resolve to invest more time in friends and family, more time in building meaningful relationships and more time in teamwork, chances are, it’ll save us a lot more time and heartache in the long run.

13

The truth about cats

Mohamad Al Medawar Webmaster What a warm beautiful site: a group of young college girls playfully rubbing the tummy of a young kitten that sprang out from the bushes and leaped in between the group, hoping to get a bit of what they were having for breakfast. After two long minutes of innocent playful snuggling, the kitten jumped away from the group and, to the girls’ surprise, into a garbage can!

Now, let’s pause for a second here. Is it possible that this cat was already in there before joining our lovely group of unsuspecting victims? Is it possible that this kitten is carrying around countless numbers of bacteria, fungi, parasites, ticks, mites

and the weirdest of God Almighty’s creations on its fur and in its saliva? Could it be that these pathogens have easily been transferred onto the girls’ skin, clothes, books and, most importantly, their food, contaminating it with the worst things you might ingest into your system?! The answer is simply...yes!

Dear God, I sure hope from the bottom of my heart that the following bacteria, parasites and fungi didn’t creep into those lovely girls’ system and cause the corresponding illnesses: Toxoplasmosis: You can acquire this parasitic disease from coming into contact with cat feces or surfaces that were in contact with the droppings, such as the Main Gate stairs, and then eating or putting your hands on your mouth!

Dermatophytes: Also known as ringworm fungi, this causes a fungal infection that can affect the scalp, body, groin, feet and nails.

Blastomyces dermatitidis: This causes symptoms ranging from flu-like productive cough, fever, and weight loss, to pulmonary cavitations and granulamatous lesions, not to mention dissemination

Op-ed

to the skin, bone, prostate, epididymis and testis (ouch!), causing inflammation. And I almost forgot, it also causes liver and spleen lesions and abscesses.

Sporothrix schenckii: Symptoms of this may include chronic submucosal mycosis with eventual lymphatic inflammation and joint Infection.

Pneumocystis jiroveci: This can cause pneumonia, only in the immune-compromised, including children, the elderly, and patients receiving immunosuppressant drugs. So, if you’re visiting grandma today, stay away from that cat, will ya?

The Solution? Basically, it’s prevention that rules at the end of the day, not to mention good hygiene practices that should always be observed.

Moreover, proper education and a good understanding of the disease and its method of transmission are vital parts of preventative care.

The take home message is this: stay away from those cats, don’t kick them, feed them or play with them; just let them be! And if you are really tempted to pet that furry creature, do wash your hands before doing anything else.

The hardships of growing a beard in the modern world Mohammad Yaghi Staff Writer

I

t was an accepted and often celebrated asset of nearly every man. Sean Connery, the Neanderthals and Socrates are particularly famous for it. Unfortunately, the concept of a man having any form of facial or body hair is now taboo amongst men of our generation. Why is it that the newest group of students in AUB has this particular opinion?

The first student, who wishes to remain anonymous, expressed the following, “I usually shave and wax because it’s the whole concept of the

modern day image. Many girls on reality shows have often said they would want a man who is clean of any facial or body hair, hence I’ve done as they wished.” The blame for this should be split equally between the viewer and media. Pop stars, celebrities and Ben Stiller may have their respective opinions on facial and body hair, but the matter of the fact still remains; the chance of actually meeting a celebrity randomly is so minuscule that their personal opinions shouldn’t affect the way people make decisions about their appearance.

Even if by faint chance meeting a celebrity does become a

possibility, would a man actually show his hairless chest to a celebrity to be thought well of? The answer would probably be no, unless being socially awkward is somehow appealing.

Mazen Makkawi, a freshmen student, has many objections to facial and body hair.

Makkawi stated the following, “Every time I go to the US, I’m always stopped just because I might either have facial or body hair. I’m tired of being called Osama Bin Laden. Unfortunately, the preconceived idea of a terrorist to a TSA agent is of a man with a beard or any form of Arab masculine attributes. Men

should fight this ideology instead of succumbing to it. If this freedom is revoked from men, what’s next then?

This issue isn’t discussed everyday and comedians might mention this subject once in a while. It definitely isn’t the most concerning compared to other problems in the world today, but it’s the symbolic and greater meaning that poses a threat. Being sucked into a “band wagon” movement and not being allowed to choose a physical appearance are two rights that should never be revoked, because if it starts here, then where will it end?

Outlook

14

out of the box

Crossword Puzzle

The Outlook team Chairperson

Talal Nizameddin

Faculty Advisor

Cleo Cacoulidis

Responsible Director

Antonios Francis

Editor-in-Chief

Rami Diab

Associate Editor

Timmy Malkoun

Editor at Large

Yahia Hamade

Arabic Editor

Mariam El Ali

Photography Editor

Salim Batlouni

Layout Director

John Hajjar

Members at Large

Samer Bu Jawdeh Giovanny Reaidi

News Executives

Heather Jaber Maya Sfeir Mostafa Fadlallah

Web Master

Mohamad Al Medawar

Business Managers

Sally Khalifeh Lara Traboulsi

Staff Writers Khodor Abu Daya Nader Al Ahmadieh Fouad Badaoui Caterina Belardi Amir Bitar Jackie Daoud Sarah Al Dirani Edrees Elrachidi Mark Francis Dalia Hosn Elie El Khoury Aziza Khalil Yasmin Fansa Yumna Ghandour Maryam Hoballah

Lynn Itani Anis Kadado Tala Kardas Wajiha Jurdhi Kheir Sherif Maktabi Marie Nakhoul Rita Obeid Rami Panayoti Yasmine Saab Joseph Saba Amer Sare Mohammad Yaghi Emile Fares Zankoul Rayane Zahreddine Lama Zakharia

Photographers Mohamad Alameh Tariq Buhilaigah Dima Hajj Nadi Nassar

Lotfi Al Salah Wael Salem Antoine Salloum

Cartoonist

Deedee El Jilani

Outlook is a weekly publication of the American University of Beirut (AUB) and represents the voice of the student body. It is an independent, non-affiliated publication that favors no ethnic, religious, or political group. All columns, articles, and reports are the property of Outlook and do not necessarily represent the views of Outlook or the AUB community. Outlook welcomes all contributions. Authors please include full name, major, ranking, and contact information for verification. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any way, shape or form without the written consent of Outlook and/or higher authorities. Outlook reserves the right to edit all material. © Outlook 1949

Jan 4, 2011

ACROSS

2. Which King was assassinated in 1908? Once you find out, go English.

8. Which drug was legally exported to China in 1879?

9. Which civilization in 2200 BC was destroyed by a drought?

10. In 1897, Bayer Pharmaceutical introduced what drug?

11. In 1859 he asked his brother James to send 24 wild gray rabbits 12. “Death solves all problems: no man, no problem” - Who said this?

13. The crew of what ship revolted in 1787 after getting breadfruit plants?

14. Killed 153 Cheyenne near Washita River in 1868

DOWN

1. What was the title of Nebuchadnezzar II? 3. Who was the first leader to face a labor strike?

4. “Sic Semper Tyrannis,” was said to what president?

5. “The Incorruptible” was his nickname 6. On January 25, 1947, who died from cardiac arrest?

7. After an inspection of Les Invalides in 1762, 14% of the men were wounded from what weapon?

Jan 4, 2011

Outlook

out of the box Evil Sudoku

Rules of the game: Each column and row must have the numbers 1 to 9 occurring in them just once and each small square should have all numbers 1 to 9 in them without any number missing.

15

AUB’s latest latest Campus Yearbook Volume 36 is out! Grab your copy from West Hall’s front desk before they run out!

Volume 42 (2009-10) is now online!

Check out our new website home to pictures and news coverage on several of your very own AUB-related events

www.aub.edu.lb/outlook