The American University of Beirut
Outlook |
Vol. XLIII, No. 20
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Wednesday, March 16, 2011
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Independent Student Publication Since 1949
The Mike Sport FEA basketball tournament
Anis Kadado Staff Writer
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hen it comes to sports, students forget about their families, their friends, their responsibilities and focus on one thing, their sport. On both Tuesday, March 8 and Thursday, March 10 AUBites got their chance to boast their basketball talents with “The Mike Sport FEA 3 on 3 basketball tournament.” Organized by FEA-SRC secretary Emile Zankoul and sponsored by Mike Sport, this event consisted of 32 teams and turned out to be a successful one. Each team was
made of three or four players; all players were supposed to be from the FEA except for one that can be from any other major and only one varsity player was allowed per team. The Charles Hostler center was packed with students, the mood was great and everyone was happy. A girls’ team registered but unfortunately lost its first game despite showing great skill and talent. The first and second rounds ended on Tuesday, only to give way to those that made it to the third round, the semi-
Caterina Belardi Staff Writer
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‘First in Space’ motivational lecture with a Soviet Cosmonaut
(Photo by Antoine Salloum)
continued on page 4
AUB’s new loan agreements, an even solution for all? n Friday, March 4, President Dorman signed for the implementation of new student loan agreements with Fransabank and BLOM, represented by their respective CEOs, Adel Kassar and Saad Azhari. The current data provided by the Financial Aid office, states that out of the 3,600 applications to Financial Aid, nearly 3,000 are accepted, and considering the fact that AUBites sum up to a total of 7,780, this implies that nearly half of the student body re-
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ceives a certain amount of Financial Aid, which all together totals up to an astonishing $13,200,000. As part of the Financial Aid program, grants and loans are awarded first based on need, then on an academic performance. In the process of assessing each student’s case, AUB performs a financial analysis of the information collected on the Financial Aid Application analyzing several factors to evaluate a family’s financial continued on page 4
The Russian Cultural Center in Beirut in coordination with the Office of Communications invite you to “First in Space” a motivational lecture with one of the first Soviet Cosmonauts Georgi Mikhailovich Grechko, on March 21 at 4 pm at Bathish Auditorium, West Hall
Ski Society, Civil Engineering Society and Business Student Society host Red Bull Formula 1 car Pitstop Game Christine Saliba Staff Writer
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f you happened to be walking in the area between West Hall and Ada Dodge cafeteria last Monday, March 7 you would have been surprised by a congregation of students, loud cheers and lively music. It wasn’t another Speakers’ corner, or another demonstration of some kind. It was the Pitstop Game, organized by the FEA and sponsored by Red Bull. This competition is held between four different universities: AUB, LAU, NDU and USJ. Students paired in teams must change the tires of an F1 car as fast as possible. The car whose tires were being changed is the actual Red Bull Formula 1 car driv-
(Photo by Ahmad Itani - AUB Office of Communications)
en by Mark Webber, the famous Australian driver. The prize is a couple of vouchers from Sport Expert. Danielle Abou Jawdeh, one of the or-
ganizers of the event, says, “The goal of this game is to encourage team work and continued on page 4
Speaker’s Corner: Arab revolutions ‘Domino Effect’
INSIDE
Wednesday March 16 at 1:00pm - West Hall - Ada Dodge Hall area. With respect to the recent Arab revolutions and regime changes, will the “Domino Effect” reach the Lebanese political scene? The first “Speakers’ Corner” for Spring 2011 DON’T MISS IT!
Campus News Alumni New Entertainment Out Loud Sports
www.aub.edu.lb/outlook
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Viewpoint Out of the Box 14-13 15
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منوعات وجهة نظر
Campus News Why do Americans hate their teenagers?
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Campus News Toastmasters Club Workshop
Bliss Street, West Hall 208 Tel: 01 350 000 or 01 374 444 Ext.3193
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Alumni News WAAUB 2nd MENA Regional Meeting
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readoutlook@gmail.com
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Campus news
March 16, 2011
Why do Americans hate their teenagers?
Jackie Daoud Staff Writer
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he age old question has always been why parents have developed a type of hatred towards their adolescent children over the years as Dr. Mike Zuckerman claims to be the case. The lecture was held in West Hall Auditorium C on Monday, March 7 and discussed the issues surrounding domestic tension that is not only a natural manifestation of teenage behavior, but is also overemphasized within western cultures, particularly in his paper where he discusses the American household. Zuckerman believes in the power of culture and its ability to either channel this rebellious behavior into something healthier or set it aside where it can fester beneath the surface and sprout many more issues later on. To add insult to injury, psychologists have always defined adolescence as a time of storm and stress therefore brainwashing parents over time to believe that what-
ever their children did was a symptom of their deviant urges. Zuckerman stresses that adolescences are neither deeply disturbed nor determined to act out to their parents; rather they are simply undergoing a transitional phase in their lives, trying to define their identities and become independent entities to their parents. The problem here is that teenagers are extremely responsive to how their parents react, so any mistrust between them will breed more animosity and resentment. When a 13 year old girl tells her mother she hates her, this does not really mirror how she feels; rather, it is simply another symptom of adolescence and her striving to resolve her inner conflicts. In a study that ranked the top 21 richest countries in terms of adolescent well-being, the States was ranked at 20, with only the UK being in a worse situation. The US has by far one of the highest youth poverty, two to eight times higher than old established European states. As a
Outlook
(Photo by Mohamad Azzam)
result they also have higher juvenile delinquency which has led to the death penalty being legalized in some states for children 15 years old and younger, which is a crime in itself. This mistreatment of American teenagers has bred more animosity and created a deranged gap between the two generations, filled with contempt as teenagers are framed by their own parents. James Coleman claimed that “adolescents are all alike, in solidarity opposing their parents.” However he was not
the only one to homogenize adolescents, Paul Goodman referred to adolescents as a subculture, excluding them as if they were a hostile tribe. In this “Regime of Rejection” are 300 million Americans wrong or are social psychologists asking the wrong questions? Zuckerman claims to be intrigued by this “generational antagonism” that has evolved among parents and their teenagers. The Paradox here is that the young have never been so far from adult control, yet simultane-
ously so dependent on their parents for their education and building their futures. Zuckerman makes an example out of the Japanese who send their teenagers straight forward messages, nurturing them toward a defined adulthood path. For those parents who look in the right direction, they may find that the main ingredient to a healthy household, is simply to provide a loving and nurturing foundation for their teenagers to blossom into secure, independent adults.
Media Manipulation 4th of March lectures: “We are the victims of [the] media” Mona Ayoub Edrees Elrachidi Staff Writers
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t’s unprecedented. It joins these renowned speakers on stage for the first time,” remarked the organizers as they introduced their event. The number of attendees, which attained 300, was an indication of the event’s anticipation. Hosted by the Inner Voice group in collaboration with the Insight Club, the Debate Club, and the Beirut Heritage Club, the event took place on Friday, March 4th, in Bathish Auditorium, West Hall. The event titled “Media Manipulation,” each of the speakers tackled the topic from a different perspective. Tarek Ahmad, the filmmaker, activist, and the co-producer of the movie The Ar-
rivals, talked about media manipulation and the indoctrination of masses. His main claim was that “we are the victims of media.” The media, he argued, bombards us with images and concealed messages, that influence us and, eventually we become conditioned by these images to the point where we don’t see reality anymore. By presenting one view, the media manipulates the news to complement an “agenda.” Thus, reality is changed and a standardized single view develops among the masses. Ahmad called such a view “mainstream thinking.” “Masses become passive and no longer think independently. They develop a slave mind,” he further said. Ahmad concluded by warning people not to be slaves, but rather be skeptical of what
the media is telling them. The renowned international speaker, Ammar Nakshawani, began his presentation by enumerating the different forms of media manipulation: stirring “nationalistic” emotions, inciting fear and war, generalizing, mocking ideologies and so on. He claimed that such manipulations “affect the way people perceive religions.” To elaborate on this idea, Nakshawani shed light on how the media manipulated the character and image of Prophet Muhammad as someone who spread Islam by the sword through interpreting verses out of their context. “Such a deception,” Nakshawani stated, “breaks all possibilities of coexistence between world religions.” He carried on the rest of his presentation to expose the falsity of such a claim by
(Photo Courtesy of the Insight Club)
setting on stage the Prophet’s teachings that call for peace and respect of all religions. Nakshawani concluded by suggesting a way to defeat media manipulation: “Leaders should sit together and study the scripture to reason about [its] origin.” The last speaker was British journalist and human rights activist, Lauren Booth. With a comical attitude, she narrated the story of her con-
version to Islam. Inspired by the noble manners of Muslims she met in Gaza and Iran, she came to realize that “[she] want[ed] this religion.” However, her conversion was hindered for a while by the manipulated images of Islam that she had conceived through media. It took her a while, she said, before she could transcend those biases.
Outlook
Campus news
March 16, 2011
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Toastmasters Club and Career and Placement Services workshop
Zahraa Shaito
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s part of its annual series of workshops in collaboration with the Career and Placement Services at AUB, the Toastmasters Club held its second Communication and Leadership workshop for the semester on Wednesday, March 9, 2011 at West Hall Auditorium B. Such workshops aim at raising awareness among the AUB community on the importance of honing and practicing communication and leadership skills in addition to academic achievement, to become better candidates for any job. This particular workshop was focused on practicing leadership skills through an interactive session involving all attendees. The workshop was introduced and facilitated by Zahraa Shaito, Club President who familiarized the audience with what Toastmasters is about and the importance of communication and leadership skills for future careers. The introduction was followed with a presentation on how to “take the terror out of the talk” by Farah Rayyes, a club mem-
ber and Economics senior student, who presented the different situations where people have to talk eloquently and confidently to get their demands. The presentation elaborated on some techniques to overcome the nervousness and fear of public speaking. Afterwards, the audience was divided into 5 groups of 6 team members each, in addition to one member from the Toastmasters Club joining each group as a facilitator for the tasks required from the groups for the session. The facilitators were Ray Maroun, Lynn Sharafeddine, Mohammad Yahfoufi, Mohammad El-Chami, and Farah Rayyes. The group tasks included brainstorming, presenting, and discussing: a list of 5 leadership skills, a list of 5 leadership characteristics, and generating a group definition of what a leader is using those lists. The second part of the 90 minute session included each group coming up with a presentation/ sketch on a selected characteristic and having the other groups guess what that characteristic is in the 5 minutes allotted to each group. The workshop allowed the partic-
(Photo Courtesy of the Toastmasters Club)
ipants to practice a collection of leadership skills: teamwork, facilitating discussion, presentation, communication, impromptu speaking, and brainstorming and organizing ideas. The workshop was concluded with a wrap-up of all the points mentioned and discussed during the workshop and attendees sharing their satisfaction of the benefits gained through this multiskills focused experience. Toastmasters Club has
helped many of its members enhance and develop their communication and leadership skills through its workshops and weekly meetings which allow everyone to continuously practice such skills in a supportive, learning-bydoing environment, eventually making all members very well equipped and better candidates for the jobs they had sought and are currently working at. Toastmasters is an international non-profit educa-
tional organization founded in 1924 by Dr. Ralph Smedley to help young women and men learn the skills of leading and speaking confidently through its positive, supportive, learn-by-doing meeting environment. Toastmasters has more than 300,000 members in over 12,700 clubs in 116 countries. Zahraa Shaito is the President of the Toastmasters Club
If you have any comments or suggestions concerning the magazine, or have an article you wish to submit, please email our current Editor-in-Chief Ramy Mourad at ram51@aub.edu.lb The Insight Club is glad to announce the launching of the 5th issue of Alloy, the club’s semesterly magazine. The magazine fosters a variety of topics including ethics, values, social issues, culture, health, personal experiences, student concerns, and more. Grab a copy at Main Gate or in front of West Hall on Tuesday and Wednesday. Otherwise, please email eic.alloy@ gmail.com for a personal copy. You can also read this and previous issues of Alloy online: http://insightclub.org/alloy.php
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Campus news
March 16, 2011
The Mike Sport FEA basketball tournament
continued from page 1
finals, and the final game. All the way and as part of every game, the competition was tight and tense, keeping fans and friends guessing as to how it was going to end. The final results ended on Thursday with George Abou Khalil, Amro Abdel Ahad, Roger Mazloum and Joe Atik in first place; Fouad Farah, Karim Mouzahem and Mohammad Allam in second, and Ali Moussawy, Mahdy Moussawy, Khaled Ghattas, Zaf-
er Victor Rustom, Mahmoud Kanbris, Mohamad Tousha, and Patrick Zakha at third. The winning team went home with $300 cash and a $300 voucher from Mike Sport, alongside gold medals and the winning cup. As for the team in second place, $150 were awarded in addition to a $150 voucher from Mike Sport and silver medals. Zankoul commented, “It’s nice to have such sports events. It’s interesting to watch all those students you’re used to see in class
studying, competing on the basketball court and having fun away from all the stress. It was a perfect occasion to let off steam! The event, despite including over a 100 players, went very well!” No problems were faced despite the fact that it was a very competitive tournament; the competition was well-organized, and most importantly, both players and audience were very pleased. Definitely to bring more to life at AUB, the FEASRC’s events are ones to wait and look for.
Outlook
(Photo by Antoine Salloum)
The Red Bull-sponsored Pitstop Game continued from page 1
promote healthy competition.” The event was scheduled to start at 10:30 am, but due to some technical difficulties in entering the car through Main Gate, it couldn’t actually kick off before 12pm. After two hours during which 22 teams tried their best, the winner was announced: ASME team (from the Mechanical Engineering Society) with a total time of 5.88 seconds. Tanguy, the famous Light F.M. radio presenter was commenting live and entertaining the audience with his humor. The students who recognized his voice were very eager to talk to him and some of them were even taking pictures with him. More-
over, to add to the entertainment, a D.J. was playing RnB music, and free Red Bull cans were being given away. Students generally enjoyed their time. Hadi Aridi, a CMPS Junior, says: “It’s a nice break from our daily routine of studying. Yusef Hassoun, a second year CCE student really “enjoyed this event, it was exciting.” Some students were just here to encourage their friends, such as Noura Sinno, an E2, who was just here to “encourage the CES group.” Jawad Kamel, a fourth year Engineering student says: “It’s too loud an exposure, marketing wise. I already drink Red Bull without such events.” Maan Halabi, a Biology Junior, thought it was “Too loud but amazing”. Serge Geara, a third
(Photo by Ahmad Itani - AUB Office of Communications)
year Psychology student says, “It’s very practical to learn how to change tires in Lebanon, since our roads are filled with so many potholes!” Some students couldn’t un-
derstand the point of such an event, apart from its obvious marketing goal. “Graduating mechanical engineers in Canadian universities are expected to build an entire F1
car, while here we’re getting excited about the opportunity of changing a few tires,” said a student who wished to remain anonymous.
AUB’s signs on new loan agreements for financial aid program continued from page 1
strength and ability to pay tuition costs. Merit scholarships, instead, are given out to new undergraduate students who are selected based on outstanding academic qualifications and promise alone. So what is this novelty all about? “The two loans are offered at a reduced 3% interest rate, and students are expected to start their ten year repayment plan one full year after graduation,” states the immediate release, published
on the AUB website. Dorman encouraged such a milestone by explaining how “it will help us in using our financial aid funds more efficiently and in maximizing the number of students that can obtain financial assistance. . . [I]t also enables students from all faculties and majors to obtain equal access to loans.” Both Kassar and Azhari proudly emphasized what a key institution AUB represents in molding students into serious professionals, and how these initiatives are
“...this implies that nearly half of the student body receives a certain amount of Financial Aid, which all together totals up to an astonishing $13,200,000” only to increase with time, so that as many students as possible will be able to benefit from this prestigious education. AUBites Suzanna Al Bacha and Mireille Najjar explain: “It is a good way to encourage more students of all backgrounds to apply and have a chance at coming to AUB; it broadens their options, ul-
timately giving our student body much more diversity. . . .” Yet some other students remain iffy, with particular regards to the way Financial Aid is attributed to students at AUB. AUBites Zeina and Dina, explain how “This could be a really good idea, if only we could make sure that the loans got to people who actually deserve the financial
aid. Unfortunately we often do hear of students proclaiming fake financial assets, creating empty bank accounts, just to obtain the Financial Aid, and it is just not fair because they do succeed [in doing so].” Ali Kassem says, “It’s great move and it’s about time for it as well. Having only select majors to benefit from financial aid is a ridiculous attempt at controlling and limiting what people choose to major in. I hope this is just the beginning because if it is, it’s a great one.”
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Alumni news
March 16, 2011
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WAAAUB 2nd MENA regional meeting at Damascus
Outlook represents AUB students before world-class entrepreneurs and AUB alumni
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n Thursday March 10, 2011, a team of four Outlook members, Editor-in-Chief Rami Diab, Member at Large Samer Bu Jawdeh, Senior Staff Writer Fouad Badaoui, and Webmaster Mohamad Al Medawar alongside a couple key USFC representatives, headed out with an elite pool of alumni, faculty, and students to the second MENA Alumni regional Conference held in Damascus, Syria at the Four Seasons Hotel and organized by the AUB Alumni Office and the World Alumni Associaton AUB (WAAAUB). In this meeting, the student representatives they participated as guest speakers addressing world-class entrepreneurs and AUB Alumni. What started as an idea by Diab to create an “Alumni” page in AUB’s weekly student newspaper Outlook, turned out to be a huge opportunity for Outlook to participate in such an event and express student voice in regards to topics concerning fresh graduates
and alumni. The team attended a nine hour conference, in which several alumni spoke, many of which are successful entrepreneurs in international companies. The Chair of the Chapters Committee, Flare Majali, initiated the conference by stressing the need to revive and establish new chapters, followed by WAAAUB president Khalil Makkawi, who focused on job creation for “life long engagement in [AUB’s] alma mater.” Provost Dallal followed up by announcing a transformation under way in WAAAUB and emphasized the need to increase mentoring skills in our community. Keynote speaker Adel Hussain Al Maskati then highlighted on the major impact of unemployment, and explained that it’s not enough to have a degree; experience and hands on learning are essential, that’s where the investment comes in. He finally concluded by stating that the most promise for the country lies in the private sector. Afterwards,
Outlook and USFC representatives with AUB alumni (Photo by Outlook Staff)
least, Bu Jawdeh, presented what Diab described as a “million dollar idea” about a “WinWin Proposal” for both graduating students and Alumni. In this low-risk, worthwhile investment, the Alumnus receives project proposals from graduates seeking jobs and careers and funds one or more of the projects based on a score set by a competition to which the students send their projects to. An online community can be also initiated to collect a database of projects and Alumni willing to fund them. Consequently, creating an “Alumni Investment Office” as Diab suggested. The conference was followed by a Gala dinner that generously rewarded the participants and concluded the day. The Outlook team sends a warm word of appreciation to the Office of Alumni and its staff, WAAAUB and most importantly Alumni Relations Director Mrs. Arabia Mohamad Ali for giving it’s team a chance at student representaion.
AUB Professor Jad. Chaaban continued by pointing out what could be a brighter future for entrepreneurship due to a decrease in fertility rate and thus an increase in abundance of the working age of the population. Reserach sector Director at the Syria Trust Development Nader.Kabbani picked up where Chaaban left off with a surprising fact that no MENA country scores above average when ti comes to international standardized academic tests. Moreover, he explained that the key for a productive labor force is derived not only fron education, but from skills and hands-on experience.. Last but not least, the Outlook team concluded the conference by providing recommendations and proposals for the alumni and entrepreneurs to take into consideration in efforts to improve job opportunities for alumni and new graduates. Diab kicked off the presentation by explaining how Outlook came to attend the conference
and then summed up the recommendation by stating, “We have a request for innovation, a request for creation and not just implication; to create the mold rather than just fit it.” He then introduced the three presenters, Fouad Badaoui, Mohamad Al Medawar and Samer Bu Jawdeh, respectively and briefed the listeners on what each will discuss. As Badaoui made his way to the podium, he explained the results of a survey he had formulated and distributed on more than 150 students to gather some statistics on the status AUB’s Career and Placement Services (CPS), the students’ level of satisfaction with the university’s efforts to guarantee their future jobs and careers,and whether AUB students where to leave Lebanon after graduation or stay to work. Then Al Medawar discussed the importance and benefits of starting a mentorship program at AUB to link Alumni and Students in a Mentor and mentee relationship, respectively. Last but not
Deloitte partner Rana Ghandour Salhab
Left to right: Outlook representatives Rami Diab, Samer Bu Jawdeh, Fouad Badaoui and Mohamad Al Medawar (All Photos by Ahmad Itani - AUB Office of Communications)
WAAAUB President Khalil Makkawi
Reserach sector Director at the Syria Trust Development Nader Kabbani
Pharmacy 1 CEO Amjad Al Aryan
Transtek CEO and AUB Trustee Abdulsalam Haykal
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Entertainment
Book Review
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ne of the most brilliantly written Anglophone Lebanese post-war narratives, Patricia Sarrafian Ward’s The Bullet Collection explores the drastic psychological, emotional and physical effects of the Lebanese Civil War on two young Lebanese teenagers, Marianna and Alaine. The two protagonists sharing with Ward her Lebanese, American and Armenian roots, the novel opens with the two sisters and their family settling in the United States after leaving Lebanon as a result of the war. While Alaine, her father and mother seem to give in to the “collective amnesia” or the deliberate forgetfulness that many Lebanese have slipped into following the conflict, Marianna insists on remembering and inciting others to remember the war years and the family’s experiences during the period. As memories of pain, death and love unfold, readers feel they are getting a taste of—for indeed
March 16, 2011
The Bullet Collection
Ward’s novel addresses the different senses—the Lebanese conflict. Wondering whether ordinary language would enable her to describe the war, Marianna ponders: How can I tell? I tell and I feel nothing. Only the fear, the search for language, a code that does not exist, it cannot, a way to read, to decipher, translate the alphabet of these images, the s of the road, the o of the sea, the endless m of the wave-trails in the sand, the z of the crippled body, the l of the soldier on the ground, . . . the alphabet of the universe, the colors of the tracers when I was drunk on the roof twirling in my black dress celebrating, the sound of the rockets over my head, in my head, in my hair, that whistle, the bomb, the great bombs that filled my body, you see, no words, only a wish to find and not to find words, to feel and not to feel, to remember and not to remember. As revealed in the above ex-
Outlook
Maya Sfeir
cerpt, Ward’s novel distinguishes itself by its style. Her work, unlike that of many other Lebanese Anglophone novels, “shows” without telling. Characterized by “defamiliarization,” a term coined by a group of Russian critics to mean removing the familiarity from the habitual so as to create surprise and wonder, Ward’s style remains captivating and thrilling. The story, though deep and moving, is that of the many Lebanese who experienced the war; however, with extreme skill and ability, Ward succeeds in telling ordinary events extraordinarily. Yet, Patricia Sarrafian Ward’s The Bullet Collection is not an easy read. In order to be able to fully enjoy the novel, the reader must thoroughly engage with the text and work at creating meaning. Despite its challenges, The Bullet Story remains a magnificently told story of love, pain, loss and the life and hope that remain. Photo from Facebook.com
“Honey,” I’m home! Jackie Daoud Staff Writer
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part from being the name attributed to your loved ones and the culprit for some of our acne nightmares, honey has also been found to have a myriad of health benefits and has consequentially been receiving growing medical attention. Not only is honey a tasty placebo, it has also been renowned for its antibacterial and healing properties. The Ancient Greeks used honey as a wound dressing; a standard practice in the past until the advent of antibiotics, subsequent to which honey took a backseat. Having said this, honey is back in the limelight given our recent breakouts in antibiotic-resistant bacteria. In fact topical treatments using honey has been shown not only to possess antimicrobial properties, but also hastens the healing process by pro-
moting tissue formation. In addition to this, honey has an anti-inflammatory effect on wounds, reducing any pain or edema that usually results after an inflammatory attack, thus clearing wound infections rapidly. Clinical reports have even attested the efficacy of honey on deep surgical wound infections, especially given its ability to hinder the spread of necrotizing fasciitis and diminish antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections that did not respond to any other much harsher treatments. Wounds sometimes are known for giving off a bad odor, this is once again where honey saves the day by deodorizing this funky odor. This could be explained by honey’s “wound intelligence” whereby it possesses the ability to promote removal of dead, necrotic tissue and replaces it with healthy tissue, free of infection. The secret to its competence in wound heal-
ing is its ability to create a moist environment, in which healthy cells are able to replace dead skin cells without any scarring. In dormant injured tissue, honey was found to jump-start the body’s defense mechanism and trigger the healing process, which should involve an intriguing cascade of biochemical events that no other substance could accomplish. Honey has proved to have a more pronounced effect than topical treatments with respect to superficial burns and to be just as effective as antibiotics such as bactroban in prevention of catheter infections. Having said this, studies have shown that honey not only works its magic by means of its antibacterial properties, rather it also has a stimulating effect on the immune system. More specifically, honey at the minimal concentration of 0.1 per cent was able to induce the proliferation of white
blood cells; more precisely the B cells, T cells and phagocytes responsible for defending our bodies from unwanted intruders. The exact mechanism honey uses to promote such wonderful healing attributes has long been sought after and has resulted in certain hypotheses whilst fumbling around for the right answer. One attractive assumption is that honey contains an enzyme that is able to produce hydrogen peroxide upon contact with bodily fluids, which in turn disinfects the wound and prevents further prevalence of infection. Another hypothesis implicates the immune system in this defense mechanism. Despite the means, honey’s astounding benefits make it an in disposable asset in our lives and rather than neglect it, we should learn to embrace it along with its versatile benefits.
Photo from Facebook.com
1 Outlook
Out Loud
March 16, 2011
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Q1 (targeted at AUB alumni): What are your reflections on mentorship of and investment (money, people, or resources) in, student-based entrepreneurship at AUB? Q2 (targeted at AUB student body): What are your reflections on mentorship of and investment (money, people, or resources) in your student-based enterprises by AUB Alumni?
Q1.1) (Left) Asaad Salhab (BEN ’84), Chief Commercial Officer of Fattal Holdings: I’m all for it, in fact you should try and hook up with Injaz, they have a program of that sort but for high school students. Students develop an idea for a product build on it and then sell their created company’s shares and dilute the company, allowing every shareholder to take their own revenue. The process is great in offering hands on experience in key areas such as human resource management, public relation, manufacture, sales and marketing. (Left) Amjad Al Aryan (PRM-D), CEO of Pharmacy 1: I think our investment in students would be a great idea as students will have a chance at first hand experience in fundraising, managing and facing the real world of business. This way when they head for an interview they know exactly what the CEOs are looking for. Moreover, it’s also an opportunity for these student-run projects to see the light and make it into the real world.
consider adopting.
Q1.3) Arabia Osseiran, Director of Alumni Relations: Definitely, I’d like a proposal from the student body addressing this matter. Our students must make the incentive of reaching out to the AUB alumni community. They should be the ones leading this project.
Q2.2) Christel Ghandour (Political Science and Public Administration) & Raja Al Kaldani (BBA ‘06): The welfare of all our AUBites should be a priority for AUB alumni especially considering that our alumni were once students themselves and that all of our alumni, fresh graduates, students and professors form one giant AUB community.
Q1.4) Elie Nasr (BE ’03), FOO CEO: If the student(s) in question can lead me to believe in the value of their project(s) and their diligence to uphold it(them), then yes, I would definitely invest in them, in their visions and their ideas. Q1.5) Adel Hussain Al Maskati (BS ’75): Youngsters have the ideas but not the capital. It’s a well known scheme around the world. Serious students are financed and mentored and if the student-based initiative succeeds, the students then pay back their dues and the cycle repeats. This may be a reasonable practice for AUB to
Q2.1) Mohamad Hmayed (Medical Lab): Of course I support this front. Our alumni’s investment in us aspiring students will without a doubt ease and facilitate the process of uprooting a student-based enterprise. Alumni-based funding and mentorship will be fundamental to any student-based enterprise.
Q2.3) Ali El-Hajj (MBA) Student mentorship could be strengthen by allocating various branches of the Career and Placement Services office to each separate faculty to further specialize the career guidance system. This will allow better attention and care for students of independent faculties and could allow better means of communication with targeted alumni on subjects relating specifically to these respective faculties. Q2.4) (Left to right) Ameen El Rhayem (MBA) & Rabih Radwan (MBA):
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We would love for the alumni to collaborate more extensively with the MBA program in finding better, more diverse topics for our theses. We could definitely use more case studies and internships from Alumni, but more than anything, we would like to replace our theoretical thesis with real consultancy projects where the second and final reader of the thesis in a project is an alumni and executive capable of recruiting us to his/her prestigious company. Q2.5) (Right) Nader Zeidan (Business Administration): I would certainly feel proud to have a mentor throttle me through the job market and the real world. After all, our alumni have valuable experience that we students can take advantage of. (Middle) Reem El Hajj (Environmental Health) Listening to these entrepreneurs discuss mentorship has given me further reason to chase after the job of my dreams, that of joining the United Nations (UN), even if it means going through a period of unpaid employment. (Left) Richard Aoun (Mechanical Engineering) In the long run, every alumnus and alumna capable of recruiting AUB students to their task force should not hesitate in doing so. In my case for instance, I feel this spirit of mentorsip will live on through me when my time will come to play the role of an AUB alumnus.
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Q2.3
(All photos by Mohamad Al Medawar and Rami Diab)
Q1.2) (Left) Khalil Makkawi (BA ‘54), WAAAUB President: Absolutely, I am totally in favour of student-based investment as it has proven that AUB’s standard of education is amongst the highest in the region. Proof of this claim lies in the fact that AUB students tend to compete quite well even in prestigious universities abroad (in Europe and in America). In fact, I know this from my experience as a former diplomat and student at Columbia University where I have come to see several AUB graduates excel in their re-
spective fields and occupy honourable job positions, quite particularly in the medical field. (Right) Rana Ghandour Salhab, (BS ’83), Deloitte partner: We can help students in mentoring, advising, setting projects, studying business plans and market potential and connecting them with professionals and companies.
Q1.
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Sports
March 16, 2011
Outlook
AUB’s Women’s Varsity Volleyball team: present and future Reflecting on victory and looking ahead
Tracy Dariane Contributing Writer
A
fter winning the League Tournament, AUB’s women’s varsity volleyball team is now at the top of their game. The participating teams of the League Tournament included the volleyball varsity teams of the Lebanese American University (LAU-Beirut), the University of Balamand (UOB) and Universite Saint-Joseph (USJ). The winner of the championship would be the one who accumulates the most points depending on the results of each
game. Each team had to play against every participating team two games, in each of their courts. AUB’s team won five out of six games. The only game lost was against LAUBeirut when the game was played on their court. Team setter Reem Abi-Ali said “We always have this trouble when we play on the LAU court, the ceiling is so low and the space around is not wide enough, our great disadvantage then comes from the fact that we are used to training in a completely different environment. Also, we made a lot of mistakes that we don’t usually make; I guess you can say that we started off
on the wrong foot. But we made sure not to repeat the same mistakes in the games that followed.” Luckily, in the second game against LAU, the varsity team made a comeback and won 2-0. The toughest game was the one played against the UoB team on their court. The score was 2-1 for AUB with very tight scores on each set. The last game of the tournament was against the USJ team, with great teamwork and consistency in their play, the girls were able to easily win 2-0, making them the winners of the League Tournament. This great start has given a lot of confidence for the next
tournament, the University Championship. The games will take place between the 15th and the 29th of March on the court of LAU Beirut. Unlike the League tournament, the there will be two pools, each containing three teams. Each of the three teams will have to play one game against each of the other team in the pool. The first place winner of the first pool will have to play the second place of the second pool and vice versa for the semi-finals. The winners will then move to the finals. The team’s setter, Reem says “We are going in this next championship with high spirits. We
hope to continue our wins. The League Tournament has allowed us to play against most of the teams that we will play against in the upcoming championship, therefore we know our competitors and are ready to go for it.” Reem adds that the greatest advantage of the team is that all players have a strong bond of friendship and are all motivated to give their best performance as a team.
Scoreboard League Match
Date
Location
Teams
Score
Basketball Women
Saturday, March 12, 2011
AUB
AUB vs. Hagazian University (HU)
84-39 for AUB
Volley Ball (Women)
Thursday, March 10, 2011
AUB
AUB vs. USJ First game
2-0 for AUB
Volley Ball (Women)
Thursday, March 17, 2011
AUB
AUB vs. USJ Second Game
2-0 for AUB
Football Men
Tuesday, March 08, 2011
AUB
AUB vs. MUT
4-2 for AUB
Football Men
Saturday, March 12, 2011
AUB
AUB vs. UPA
7-0 for AUB
Volley Ball (Men)
Tuesday, March 01, 2011
AUB
AUB vs. LAU (Jbeil)
2-1 for AUB
Volley Ball (Men)
Tuesday, March 08, 2011
AUB
AUB vs. USJ
2-0 for AUB
Volley Ball (Men)
Saturday, March 12, 2011
UPA
UPA vs. AUB
1-2 for AUB
LAU: Lebanese American University, MUT: Manar University Tripoli , USJ: Université Saint-Joesph de Beyrouth, UPA: University Pere Antoine
Outlook
Viewpoint
March 16, 2011
Opinion Maybe we too need a change
Editor’s Corner
Investing in the youth of today
Rami Diab Editor-in-Chief
L
ast week, a few colleagues of mine in the newspaper and I had the sincere pleasure of attending the World Alumni Association AUB’s (WAAAUB’s) 2nd regional meting to date, held in Damascus, Syria at the Four Seasons Hotel (more details follow in the Alumni News section of this issue; see page 5). Apart from jumpstarting our ambitions and firing up our creative intellects, the trip, by and large, led us to one key conclusion: If we are ever to see an unprecedented boom in our nation’s economy, it shall come assuredly as a direct consequence of investing in our country’s private sector and most particularly, in our youth’s ideas for our nation’s private sector. Doubtless, the youth must take the first step in upholding private enterprises and hauling in the job market to its doorsteps. That’s where we students come in with a definitive plan of action; that of launching an Alumni Investment Office of sorts aimed at financing those distinguished AUB students hoping to realize and materialize their own business plans. That’s right, with the establishment of such an office, AUB will not only have succeeded in helping students meet the rising costs of college tuition, but also, the more so taxing costs of uprooting an enterprise, whatever it may be. Not only could such an office generate excess reve-
nue for the university that may be channelled into financial aid programs, but it may also mean endowing AUB’s exposure abroad with a whole new label, that of being a primary hub for student entrepreneurship in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Other advantages may include a rise in the number of serious, well rounded and more importantly, career-oriented students on campus, which of course will in turn prime other such students to venture down the path of job-creation rather than just job exploration. What more could we ask for? What are we waiting for? Outlook invites all interested students to contact us at readoutlook@ gmail.com with any ideas or support. After all, who can doubt all that this university has prized us with? Can we then agree to part from its walls with unfinished business? Let us work together, as one and leave behind a legacy; a legacy to be valued and cherished by years and thousands to come.
Rayane Zahreddine Staff Writer
S
uddenly, all the problems of Lebanon seem very minor compared to the escalating events in the Arab countries. Tunisian and Egyptian people have already succeeded in putting an end to dictatorial regimes that managed to stay in power for decades. Constitutions are being reformed, democracy is being implemented and freedom protected. Libya is in the process. Jordan, Bahrain and Yemen are witnessing demonstrations… Other countries are to follow… It is
believed that the youth started a momentum that spread along the Arab countries. How about the youth of Lebanon? Are they satisfied with their country or will they also revolt? Many believe that Lebanon is better off than the other Arab countries because of the relative freedom the people enjoy. It is true that we are not starving, that we have access to the internet (although it is the slowest in the world,) that we are free to spe ak, and that we do not have dictators who have been in power for decades. But we have numerous political leaders who claim to represent the Lebanese since decades! Aren’t they causing damage to our country by dividing us emphasizing our religious differences? Maybe we too need a change. Lebanon is the home of the minorities in the Middle East. And because of that, a unique sectarian system was invented to protect the rights of these minorities. Now the Lebanese people are carried
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away with political (sectarian) parties and slogans, and religious affiliations, they are distracted from the true and critical problems that actually matter. Will they be affected by the ripples of the Arab revolutions to finally stand for their rights and needs? We suffer from constant power cuts, scarcity of water and expensive fuel. We also have issues with the education and hospitalization, rare job opportunities, and poorly organized public transport. Our environment is deteriorating; our national heritage is being wiped away… These problems obviously need our undivided attention. We need to get past our differences and build a real democracy that can improve Lebanon. Some believe in separating the state from religion. Would secularism be a better solution than forcing every Lebanese citizen to build his or her own Lebanon?
Opinion
Lent: Ignorance is one thing, impudence is another
Joseph Saba Senior Staff Writer
T
he aim of this opinion piece of I wrote is not to condemn a certain type of people based on their sect, but rather based on their capacity of thinking. When I came to AUB, I thought people would be, how am I going to say this, a bit smarter than your Average Joe. I really thought so, given that they were given the honor of getting an education at this prestigious
university. When I say “a bit smarter,” I usually mean respecting others and giving the benefit of the doubt of being ignorant rather than removing all doubt when that student opens his mouth. I was wrong. Big time. Here’s why: Usually, around this time, Lent starts for Christians. Now for those who don’t know what Lent means (believe me, I ran into a lot of those now), it’s like Ramadan for Muslims, where they fast for a whole month. Christians do that too, yet under different circumstances. On the first day of fasting, the tradition for Christians, especially the Maronites of them, is to go get the Cross painted on their forehead, usually by the priest, who says in Arabic ‘Remember, O man, that you are dust, and unto dust you shall return’.
I’m not typing this to give a lesson on religion, as this isn’t my job. Back to the main story, after I had the cross painted on my forehead, I came back to AUB to attend classes as normal. Being a senior means this isn’t the first time I do such a tradition and come to classes. But this year, it’s something else. I could not walk five meters without getting a dirty look, a “what-the-heck-iswrong-with-you” look, some of my friends even going as far as saying: “Dude, do you know what’s on your head,” or even saying “You look like an Indian,” and random girls, in their French accent, going to each other, “Yii look at this dumb guy hahaha what’s on his head OMG!” Let’s make a few things clear. As a human being who prefers to respect the environment and the people
around him, I do look at the mirror when I wake up and I do make sure that there’s nothing on my forehead. Also, comparing me to the people of a country that has more than a billion people isn’t really the right thing to do because I got a cross on my forehead. I’m not even going to respond to the dirty looks, given some people can be just plain ignorant and lack respect for themselves or for others. If your parents didn’t tell you are to mingle with other people in AUB, that’s not my problem. Yet, I’m pretty sure though at some point their parents taught them manners, and not to glare and make rude comments. If they didn’t, take this as a note for next time: It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt.
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Viewpoint
March 16, 2011
Opinion
Outlook
“No Rights No Women,” for a changing reality Lana El-Sahely Staff Writer This year, on Tuesday 8th of March, Women worldwide took to the streets to mark the 100th International Women’s Day, with protests against honor killings, the shooting of seven women in Ivory Coast and so on. Lebanese women in 2011 are still discriminated against in the Labor Law, the Nationality Law and other laws. “No Rights No Women” is a Lebanese movement fighting for this vital cause. I was lucky to get in contact with one of the eight ladies who organized their particular
event last Tuesday, Rana Khoury, an AUB Alumni. The idea behind “No Rights No Women” was for women to let go of their “womanship” and request a “citizenship.” Building on this idea, women were asked to go to Samir Kassir’s square in Downtown dressed as men and acting like them. I personally tried to make it to that event because what triggered my curiosity is how women really dressed up and faced their discouraging reality with a sense of humor. I think it is important to replace this absurdity of prevailing inequalities with another practically
non-existing situation where “womanship” fades away. In this open space, the demonstration was more of a discussion of the current Lebanese laws and how the demonstrators should proceed upon. Other ladies also had short speeches where they talked about some of their personal experiences or their family’s and friends’ experiences. Khoury also told me that there was a man who had a speech saying that this cause matters to men as well, but that they should be more present during such actions (sentence is ambiguous). Tanya Saleh, the famous
singer, was one of the women celebrities who participated. She also wrote a specific song for this event. Another central action of this event was a petition being signed by all in order to be presented to the Lebanese Parliament. The petition asked for a Ministry of Women Condition. Other events, organized by other people, also took place in Beirut; for example, the march around the town’s streets that we were able to see from our campus when they passed by Bliss Street. As an AUB student, I was proud to learn that a lot of our
university’s students participated in this sit-in and that most of the ladies who organized the events were AUB Alumnis. I think this cause is something we should keep investing efforts in, as women AND men of our country. I hope one day we will be able to have strong feminist movements starting up in universities, as this is the place where generations can be lead through a modern conception of citizenship where women have as much rights as men, hopefully more.
Opinion
A Lebanon for everyone but not everyone for Lebanon
Anis Kadado Staff Writer
S
o common do we hear the phrase “A Lebanon for everyone,” but is the opposite true? Is “everyone for Lebanon?” I think not. Okay, it’s very clear that Lebanon is home to people of 18 different sects, openly homes hundreds of non-natives, and welcomes people from across the world. But do these people in return respect Lebanon as a country for what it provides? Do these people see Lebanon as a country with a set constitution? Abide by its laws? Respect its nature? Or
would they at least support Lebanon in a world cup game of Lebanon versus Brazil? To get to my point, every day we see people “hurting” Lebanon as a country; “hurting” in terms of its nature, its image, and its reputation as a country that stands out in the Middle East. So often do we see land owners tearing down our notable pine trees in return for construction, so often is trash thrown into the “mountain of trash” that borders our delicate sea, and so often is the sidewalk a neighborhood dump for by passers. When viewed from abroad, Lebanon is seen as a country in turmoil and chaos, its streets dangerous and “gangster” infested, and its areas separated into unsafe ethnic regions. It is true that Lebanon recently came out of a devastating civil war, but those days are over and yes, it’s also been 20 years since then. So it’s about time that people move on and realize that having personal political beliefs is not a problem but forcing them on everyone else is.
Rather than entering a local war every now and then, or beginning a civil disrupt at other times, people should stick to keeping their country with the image of the book capital of the world, or the party capital of the globe. Every country in the world has parties with different political views, and in those countries the different political parties deal with real problems when fighting for power and all are subject to governmental regulations. Taxes, insurance plans, foreign policy, and economy are examples of debatable topics that should be tackled. A government with complete right over national and local issues must be respected and not attacked by any party that has differing views. It’s about time that we, as Lebanese, really work in the interest of Lebanon and promote an image of what it really is like; walking down the streets of Gemayzeh, skiing in the slopes of Faraya, and tanning at the beaches of Tabarja.
A trashed civilization? Mohamad Al Medawar Staff Writer
I
’ve had it! It’s probably the millionth time that I’ve tripped on those dirt bags and stained my pants and shoes with mustard and chocolate. Yes, I am talking about those stinking garbage bags that lay outside AUB’s Main Gate, lining the entrance like a defying fortress, tackling pedestrians and repelling AUB visitors. A feeling of shame and disgust grows all over me every time I pass through Main Gate. Aren’t we supposed to be symbolizing civilization and green living? Aren’t
we suppose to be enlightening people about the dangers of pollution and solid waste, and the threats they pose on the environment and consequently on our health? What have we got to say when foreigners visiting AUB, a symbol of civilization and education not just in Lebanon but the entire region, ask us why we have garbage on the main entrance welcoming visitors, faculty, staff and students alike? AUB! Please do something about it, or at least lobby a law to pose a fine on the restaurants that throw their garbage on our sidewalks indifferently.
(Photo by Mohamad Al Medawar)
Outlook
March 16, 2011
Letters to the Editor
Viewpoint
11
First Response to Red Cross Blood Drive - Transfusing stereotypes In response to the Letter to the Editor: “Red Cross Blood Drive – Transfusing Stereotypes” [published in last week’s issue of Outlook - Issue 19]: First and foremost, the Lebanese Red Cross Club at AUB should be highly commended for facilitating the blood drives and allowing the Blood Bank to keep a good blood inventory for the patients at CCCL and AUBMC. Secondly, a scientific explanation is in place. The Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine is accredited by the College of American Pathologists (CAP). This organization has internationally accepted standards which are applied at the Department and the Blood Bank. Moreover, the Blood Bank applies the International Blood Donor History Questionnaire of the American Association of Blood Banks (AABB). One of the questions requests the information regarding the sexual practices of the donor. Such requirement has been endorsed in the US by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The Blood Bank tests for blood-borne diseases to the best of what is commercially available. There are diseases that have a window period, meaning they require days to weeks to appear in a test; these are captured by the Donor History Questionnaire, as are diseases that are yet to have a commercial test and those that are still to be discovered. While such question is being debated under different forums, the current position of the Blood Bank at AUBMC is to adopt these policies until the date those guidelines are modified by the governing bodies of these international accrediting organizations. If there are any concerns, kindly call the AUBMC Blood Bank at ext: 5228 and email: rk49@aub.edu.lb Elizabeth Baz, MD Associate Professor of Clinical Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Medical Director, Blood Bank Stem Cell Processing Lab Musculoskeletal Tissue Bank Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine AUBMC
Second Response to Red Cross Blood Drive - Transfusing stereotypes 2 Dear readers, this is a response to the article entitled “Red Cross blood drive – Transfusing stereotypes” written by Mr. Ali Faraj that was published in last week’s Outlook issued on Tuesday, March 08, 2011. Mr. Faraj’s article targeted the Lebanese Red Cross Club at AUB along with the AUBMC Blood Bank and AUB with a range of accusations. This is The AUB Red Cross’ response. The questions referred to by Mr. Faraj are part of the confidential medical history questionnaire that the potential blood donor is required to fill in after passing the basic screening conducted by AUB Red Cross volunteers. This medical history questionnaire is provided by the AUBMC Blood Bank in accordance with the guidelines of the American Association of Blood Banks, more on that in the Blood Bank’s response. The article accuses the AUB Red Cross of discrimination against homosexuals by refusing their donation based on their sexual orientation, yet impartiality and humanity are two of the seven principles of Red Cross and any member that does not respect any of the fundamental principles of the Red Cross is subject to termination from the institution. In fact, the question is specifically directed towards men and asks whether they had a sexual relation with another male, even if only once and does not request to learn the male donor’s sexual orientation in any way. And the fact is that the medical history questionnaire is confidential, meaning that the person filling it out does not have to publicly announce any private matter and that their questionnaire will only be reviewed by qualified Blood Bank staff. It is important to point out that it is critical that all the questions of the questionnaire be answered honestly for the sake of the patient that will receive the blood. It is also important to know that no AUB Red Cross member has access to the questionnaires once they have been filled out. The article also quotes a Red Cross member anonymously. Please keep in mind that AUB Red Cross club counts 300+ members and any comment made by any Red Cross member might not be factual, since not all the information is at their disposal. Only the club committee and the project responsible should be the source of any comment especially when related to a controversial issue like accusing the club of discrimination and spreading stereotypes. The AUB Red Cross club is part of a bigger nationwide and worldwide humanitarian institution that works tirelessly on maintaining its reputation and spreading its humanitarian message. Any direct criticism is not to be taken lightly and is of crucial importance for the continuity and future of the Club. Fadi Chammas, AUB Red Cross Blood Drive Project Responsible 2010-11 Dima Hajj, AUB Red Cross Public Relations Director 2010-11 Malek Teffaha, AUB Red Cross President 2010-11
The Children of Adam Club at AUB will be hosting their first annual Children’s Field Day this Friday March 18, 2011, on the Green Field from 12-4pm God-willing. Underprivileged children from all sectarian groups within Lebanon have been invited. The aim of the tournament is to promote inter sectarian teamwork and to give the children a good time. The event is sponsored by Dunkin Donuts, Malik’s and Pizza Della Casa.
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Out of the Box
March 16, 2011
Seeing with sound
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
Webmaster
Mohamad Al Medawar
Business Managers
Sally Khalifeh Lara Traboulsi
Staff Writers Khodor Abu Daya Nader Al Ahmadieh Mona Ayoub 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 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 Mohammad Azzam
Cartoonists
Deedee El Jilani Jamila Mehio
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
Outlook
Aziza Khalil Staff Writer
B
en Underwood was born in Riverside California on January 26, 1992. He was just three years old when he was diagnosed with cancer. The cancer claimed his eyes. He had to have them both surgically removed. It was a day of heartbreak for the whole family. This should have caused Ben great problems, but it didn’t. He is able to play a pillow fight with delivering dead-on shots; he can play Foosball, and also video games. That is not all. Underwood was able to successfully walk around without using a cane, ride a bicycle, rollerblade, swim, play basketball and practice karate. He plays video games with his brother Isaiah. Playing with all the noises and with no way of seeing what’s on the screen, Ben figures out everything that’s happening just by listening. This would be normal for most teenagers, but when you’re are blind, being able to do that is remarkable. Somehow, Ben was able to learn echolocation. Echolocation is the biological sonar used by several animals most notably bats, toothed whales and dolphins. Dolphins use it to get around. They bounce sound waves trying to figure out where they are. Ben uses sound to find his way around. He makes a clicking sound and then listens to how the sound bounces off nearby objects; he is able to determine the location and distance of surrounding items. He is also able to turn corners and find places without any difficulty. Ben has used his hearing, his sense of touch, his sense of smell to conquer a world of darkness. His mother, Aquanetta Gordon, wrote “One thing that I truly get back from Ben being blind is that he truly sees people from within. When he hears someone say that someone else is ugly, or anything negative towards someone else, he says, “That’s what’s wrong with sighted people, you all look at one another and judge what you look like.” That statement is very true. If we all didn’t see we’d be able to view people for whom they truly are not for how they look or how they are dressed. Ben passed away on January 19, 2009 at the age of 16. He was taken by the same cancer that claimed his sight and leaves behind a legacy of inspiration few will ever match.
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وجهة نظر
مجزرة بئرالعبد .. استهداف املقاومة
مصطفى فضل اهلل كاتب صحفي
منذ أسبوع م ّرت علينا ذكرى مجزرة بئر العبد التي حدثت في الثامن من آذار في العام .1985 بحسب كتاب «أسطورة الوهم كشف القناع عن اإلستخبارات األميركية» لكاتبه محمد احلكامية ،أن اجملزرة متّت مبتابعة وتخطيط من ال ّرئيس األميركي رونالد ريغان ومدير استخباراته وليام كايسي من أجل القضاء على العالم الشيعي املزعج للواليات املتّحدة (السيد محمد حسني فضل اهلل). اجملزرة استهدفت الس ّيد فضل اهلل ،وكان التفجير بعد صالة اجلمعة للنساء التي كانت تقام في مسجد اإلمام الرضا(ع) ،وسقط في اجملزرة ثمانون شهي ًدا أكثرهم من ّ والشيوخ، النّساء واألطفال ولكن يد ودمر محيط املنطقة، ّ ّ اهلل أبت أن يرحل االس ّيد .وجنا الس ّيد. ّ الطرف ومن ناحية اآلخر ّ أكد الكاتب والصحافي األميركي بوب وودوورد في كتابه «كشف احلجاب» عن كلمة لرئيس اإلستخبارات األميرك ّية في تلك الفترة حرفيًّا « :لقد مزعجا أصبح فضل اهلل ً للسياسة األميرك ّية وعليه أن يرحل» .وكانت اجملزرة واستم ّر الس ّيد. على اخلط نفسه استم ّر الس ّيد ،ومن نفس املسجد استكمل عطائه ،ذلك املسجد ا ّلذي كان ساحة لصنع قيادات مؤمنة حقّ اإلميان ،إميان ًا واع ًيا ال يحمل عق ًدا من اآلخر، وال يعيش اجلهل والعشوائية في حركة الواقع املقاوم ،بل تتح ّرك من خالل منطلق الوعي ّ املنظم في واحلر ّية والتخطيط سبيل صنع حركة اإلنتصار .هي حركة هدفها الدفاع عن الوطن ومقدساته ،ومحاربة اإلرهاب ّ الذي كانت متارسه الدول الكبرى من أجل أن تدخل لبنان
(صورة)Facebook.com :
اذار 2011 ,16
جمال -قصة بطل جول ّ
اوتلوك
عامر الص ّريع كاتب صحفي
في العام 1956وبعد أن قام ال ّرئيس املصري ال ّراحل جمال عبد الناصر بتأميم السويس ،شنّت فرنسا قناة ّ وبريطانيا و»إسرائيل» على مصر حربًا اشتهرت باسم «العدوان ال ّثالثي» .أما ما م ّيز ألبطال هذا العدوان هو إجنابه ِ ّ الظلم والتقسيم. رفضوا ّ سطروا بدمائهم أبلغ ألبطال ٍ دروس الكرم والعطاء .ومن أبرز هؤالء ،ضابط عربي أبى احلياة وهو يرى شع ًبا شقي ًقا تصادر حقوقه. جمال عام 1932 ولد جول ّ في قرية املشتاية في الالذقية. التحق بالكل ّية احلرب ّية في ليتخصص في االسكندر ّية، ّ قيادة املنشآت البحرية برتبة مالزم .وعندما علم بتقدم البارجة الفرنسية «جان بار» “ ”Jean Bartنحو السواحل املصر ّية وعلى متنها ّ 88ضابط فرنسي و 2055 جندي بحرية فرنسي ،تطوع لقيادة عملية بحرية لل ّزوارق الطوربيد ّية املصر ّية في البحر املتوسط. جمال خط ًة وضع جول ّ
ّ الذل في نادي العربي .وهذه ّ ّ شكلت بتوقيتها املتفجرة ّ نقطة تك ّثف في تاريخ العمل املقاوم في لبنان ومن هنا تتو ّلد أهميتها. ّ رأى املرجع فضل اهلل أ ّن ما حصل يشكل حلقة من حلقات الصراع جاء في سياق السياسة األمريكية التي أعلنت احلرب على احلالة اإلسالمية ،حيث يقول« :تع ّودنا أ ّن األمريكيني يعملون بطريقة وقائية فيما يريدون أن يقدموا عليه من خالل أجهزتهم احمللية واإلقليمية ،كما أن أمريكا خصصت 300مليون دوالر وأعلنت ذلك منذ مدة حملاربة ما تسميه اإلرهاب والتطرف الديني في لبنان ،ما يعني أ ّن هذه احلادثة هي احللقة األولى التي ستتبعها حلقات». النهار.1985/3/10 أراد كثر ومنهم ّ منظمو املتفجرة ،أن تسقط هذه اجملزرة ّ من ّ الذاكرة وأن متحى أثارها الفاضحة لإلرهاب اإلستكباري، وحتّى أ ّن كثيرين ممّن طالتهم شظايا اجملزرة يحاولون طمس احلقيقة وإخفائها ،لتسم ّر محاوالت اإلغتيال ا ّلتي صارت أيضا ،لقائ ٍد أبى تطال التّاريخ ً أن يكون عب ًدا ،فكان حرًّا ،وحني صار حرًّا ،صار رمزًا لإلنسان ّية في رفض الظلم والعدوان ّ الذل مبنطق احلياة التي ترفض والعبودية. منى أيوب ّ اإلرهاب أن د نؤك أن نريد كاتبة صحفية مسميات تلقى على ليس ّ أشخاص وتغ ّلف بها حركات و أخيرًا حت ّول لقبي في « من مساهمة جهاد ّية مع ّينة .بل إ ّن اإلرهاب األوتلوك» هو حركة ظلم في الواقع ،هو صحافية الى كاتبة صحافية. ممارسة وتطبيق ،لطاملا غرقت أمتمت واجبي بكتابة ثالث مقاالت عن نشاطات ا ّ الدول الكبرى وإن حاولت جلامعة به ّ ٍ أن تعطيه مسميات أخرى بأن ليتسنّى لي أن أصبح ملكة ّ تلقي التهمة على الضح ّية ،هذه املساحة الصغيرة أكتب فتصبح الضح ّية ومن معها فيها ما اشاء. هم أهل اإلرهاب ،ويغدو اجللاّ د اسمي مدرج على الئحة الكتّاب بريئًا طاهر الثوب .واهلل أعلم. الصحافيني و لي احلق بأن اكتب
ال ّرئيس املصري ال ّراحل جمال عبد الناصر
ّصدي لتلك البارجة ،فكانت للت ّ ثالثة زوارق طوربيد كافية لتحطيم البارجة .وبال ّرغم من عدم التكافؤ بني ّ الطرفني، جمال من ّ ّ شل حركة متكن جول ّ البارجة وإحلاقها أضرار ً كبيرة. وقد بلغت ذروة الكفاح عندما جمال ،فجعل نفذت ذخيرة جول ّ ليفجر جسده ال ّرصاصة األخيرة ّ املدمرة الفرنسية بجسده ويغرقها.
جمال مثال وكما كان جول ّ االلتحام والتّعاضد في وجه الظلم ،فها نحن نرى اآلالف من أبناء العرب اللذين لم تف ّرقهم األديان أو الطوائف أو حتى احلدود املرسومة .ها نحن نرى مصر التي حتصد ثمار الفداء جمال والبطولة من بذرة جول ّ ومئات البذور املشابهة التي ُغرست في أرضها حتديا ً للظلم واإلستغالل.
أهال و سهال بكم في “األوتلوك” العربية مقالت «رأي» ,أتساءل : ملاذا أكتب؟ أكتب للتعبير عن النفس، لتحقيق الذات ،المناء موهبتي. و للـ « »CVأيضا ال أخفي عنكم. و عم أكتب؟ سأكتب عن احلياة :خواطر و تأمالت ,عن اخلير و الشر ,عن اخلالق و الديانات .
سأكتب عنّا نحن الشباب :عن املشاكل و األحالم .عن املستقبل و الطموح .عن ضغوط األهل و األصدقاء و اجملتمع .عن الثورات و االنتصارات. سأكتب و أكتب .و لكن من يقرأ؟ ال أدري...أتقرؤون أنتم؟ أتعدونني؟ اذن ,الى امللتقى في األسابيع القادمة.
اوتلوك
اذار 2011 ,16
نورا أنور سوبره مساهمة صحف ّية
تُعتبر ّ أهم الطائف ّية واملذهب ّية ّ الوطني في االنقسام أسباب ّ ّ والطائف ّية املقصودة لبنان. هنا هي الطائف ّية السلب ّية بالتعصب لطائفة التي تتم ّثل ّ معينّة سواء أكانت قضيتها محقة أو غير محقة .من جهة أخرى ،يعتبر اختالف املذاهب أمرًا محمودًا ،ملا فيه من تيسير ألمور الناس ،إال أ ّن استغالله ملصالح شخص ّية وسياس ّية بشكل يخدم الطائفية يح ّوله إلى أمر مذموم ،ألنّه يزيد من حدة اإلنقسام الوطني .من ّ هذا املنطلق ،يعالج هذا التّقرير أسئلة هي في غاية األهمية :ما هي األسباب التي أ ّدت إلى جتذر وتوسع الطائف ّية واملذهب ّية ّ في لبنان؟ وهل تلعب الهو ّية الوطن ّية دورا ً في التّخفيف من حدتهما؟ ثم ما هي مقومات ّ الوالء الوطني ومرتكزاته؟ ويبقى األهم ،هل يؤ ّثر النظام السؤال ّ ّ ّ الطائفي ،إضافة إلى القوانني واملمارسات ّ الطائفية واملذهب ّية على الهو ّية الوطن ّية؟ وكيف بإمكاننا ترسيخ هذه الهو ّية الوطن ّية مفهوما ً وممارسة؟ إ ّن تاريخ لبنان مليء مهدت باألحداث والعوامل التي ّ ّ وتوسع جتذر وتس ّببت في ّ الطائفية واملذهبية .فمنذ عهد العثمانيني ُوجدت احلروب الطائفية ،كأحداث 1845بني املوارنة والدروز وأحداث 1860 أيضا ًالتي كبدت جميع الطوائف
ماري نخول كاتبة صحفية
كثيرا ً ما تداول املواطنون يسمى بـ « طب موضوع ما ّ األعشاب» ،فمنهم من إعتبر املوضوع كذبًا وإحتياالً ،ومنهم من قبله واستخدمه بديالً عن الدواء ،وملعاجلة مشاكل صح ّي ٍة ال حتصى :من أدوية تنحيف ،تنشيط جنسي، مشاكل هضمية ومعوية، معاجلة تساقط الشعر وغيرها من الـ»أدوية» .وبقي املوضوع غامضا ً ما بني املدح والقدح إلى «طب أن سقط القناع! قناع ّ األعشاب» هذا الذي أضحى سما ً أوقع العديد ضحايا ً بكونه ّ ألنيابه التي سنّتها بعض وسائل اإلعالم مر ّوج ًة له! فقد متّ الكشف عن املواد السامة واملضرة بالصحة التي اضيفت إلى هذه املنتجات التي مت ترويجها بكونها «من قلب
ّ مؤجل مرض عضال، واحلل ّ اللبنانية خسائر فادحة .ويعزو البعض سبب هذه األحداث إلى عدم جتانس التوزيع الطائفي في لبنان ،لكن الواقع أن هذه األحداث استم ّرت حتى بعد تغير التوزيع عند إنشاء متصرفية جبل لبنان ووضع بروتوكول 1861وذلك بسبب اإلمتيازات والضمانات التي كانت تُعطى على أساس طائفي .وزادت حدة اإلنقسام بعد بدء احلرب ّ العاملية األولى ،فمع اضمحالل اخلالفة العثمانية وسيطرة حملة التّتريك اتّخذ جمال باشا إجراءات غير عادلة بحقّ بعض الطوائف مما أ ّدى إلى اختالف املواقف وتباينها حول مستقبل لبنان. ومع نهاية احلرب العاملية األولى ونشوء اإلنتداب وتطبيقه على لبنانُ ،كرست الطائفية حني أُقيمت دولة لبنان الكبير وأُق ّر الدستور نصت املادة 20من الفصل ا ّلذي ّ ال ّثاني منه كيف ّية التّقسيم الطائفي في توزيع املقاعد النياب ّية .وبعد فترة من الهدوء النسبي ،عادت احلرب لسنوات ذاق خاللها لبنان أم ّر أيامه، «احلرب األهلية اللبنانية». وجاء اتفاق الطائف ل»تهدئة األوضاع» ،لكن احلقيقة أ ّن عدم رسخ الطائفية في تطبيقه ّ لبنان على الصعيدين السياسي واالجتماعي .فتطبيقه كان يعني تطبيق املادتني «ط» و «ي» املشتركتني بني الدستور تنصان وهذا االتفاق واللتان ّ على إلغاء ّ السياسية الطائفية ّ
ّ بالطريقة ا ّلتي ذكرت في املا ّدة «ز» من االتفاق. أهم أسباب أما ّ ّ جتذر الطائفية فهو :التربية املنزلية والتضليل اإلعالمي الذي زاد الطني بلة .فالشباب اللبناني يترعرع اليوم في ج ّو محموم بالطائفية بحيث يدفعه التّعصب إلى التخلي عن هويته الوطنية مقابل نصرة طائفته ،ويزرع في نفسه احلقد والغضب .هذا هو الواقع ا ّلذي نعيشه اليوم .فقد ساهمت وسائل اإلعالم في تعزيز ّ الطائفية من خالل ّ بث األخبار موضوعي ممّا ال ز ي متح بشكل ّ ّ أ ّدى إلى زعزعة الهو ّية الوطن ّية عند ال ّلبنانيني. نعم ،الهوية الوطنية. فهذه الهوية ليست كما يعتقد البعض مجرد وثيقة تثبت اإلنتماء إلى الوطن ،إنمّ ا هي انعكاس األفعال على اإلنتماء للوطن والوالء له. فاالنتماء الوطني يقتضي الدفاع عن الوطن واحترامه من خالل التقيد بقوانينه واحترام عاداته وتقاليده إلى جانب احترام الرأي اآلخر ومعتقداته. إضافة إلى ذلك ،فإ ّن دور األهل حب الوطن في تربية األوالد على ّ واإلخالص له والتضحية في أهم مقومات الوالء سبيله من ّ الوطني ومرتكزاته ألنّه ينشئ جيالً يتمتع بوالء وطني وميلك هوية وطنية .وليس علينا أن ننسى دور الدولة في ذلك كله من خالل قيامها بواجباتها جتاه املواطن بالشكل الصحيح الذي
الدستور ،فيوجد ينص عليه ّ بذلك تكامل بني الشعب والدولة ونكون ،آنذاك ،قد وصلنا إلى خير وطن. إلاّ أ ّن النّظام ّ الطائفي، إضافة إلى القوانني واملمارسات ّ الطائفية مينعان لبنان من الوصول إلى كونه وطن متآلف ألنّهما يع ّززان االنتماء ّ الطائفي على حساب االنتماء للوطن، وألنّهما يدفعان باملواطن إلى ّ وتخطيها عدم التّقيد بالقوانني خلدمة احلسابات واملصالح ّ الطائفية .ومن أخطر األمور ا ّلتي تخ ّلفها املمارسات ّ الطائفية ،عدم احترام اآلخرين إلاّ إذا كانت آراؤهم ومعتقداتهم تتوافق مع آراء ومعتقدات الفرد، إضافة إلى تربية األوالد على طائفي ال أساس وطني .فإذا ّ ّ تك ّلم ّ كل منّا باسم طائفته أو مذهبه فمن يتك ّلم باسم لبنان ا ّلي يجمعنا جميعاً؟ هذه األمور ك ّلها تد ّلنا أ ّن ّ الطائفية ومفهومها يناقضان الهو ّية الوطن ّية والوالء الوطني. ّ إنطالقا ً من ذلك ،تبرز ضرورة ايجاد تدابير تؤ ّدي إلى ترسيخ الهو ّية الوطنية مفهوما ً وممارسة ،للوقوف في وجه هذا اإلعصار ا ّلذي لن يخ ّلف وراءه مدمر لن ينهض إلاّ سوى بلد ّ بعد فترة طويلة من ال ّزمن. عامة النّاس أو حتّى ولو سألنا ّ السياسة والدين عن رجال ّ مقترحاتهم ّ حلل هذه املشكلة ألجابوا أ ّن إلغاء ّ الطائف ّية هو ّ احلل ،ورغم ذلك ال يبدؤون بهذه املسيرة مع العلم بأ ّن اجلميع
الطبيعة» ،فمنها ما يسبب مضاعفات قلبية وغيرها من االنتكاسات الصحية! وتصل السامة إلى نسبة الكميات ّ ما يعادل خمسون باملئة من املنتج! ممّا يضع حياة املستهلك في خطر هذه املنتوجات. (نقالً عن نقيب الصيادلة زياد نصور لـ«السفير») .وبنا ًء على هذه النتائج الفادحة التي تهدد حياة املستهلك ، ّ الصحة النياب ّية حققت جلنة ّ خطوات إيجابية في هذا اجملال، فقد إتخذ الوزير محمد جواد خليفة قرارا ً بإلغاء رخصة «زين للمتممات االتات» كمصنع ّ الغذائ ّية و» أدوية األعشاب» في الثامن من شباط ،2011 وذلك بعد مخالفات املصنع لشروط الترخيص .كما اتّفقت جلنة النيابة الصح ّية مع وزراء الصحة والعدل بسحب هذه ّ املنتوجات من جميع األسواق اللبنان ّية وحصر بعض املنتوجات
املرخّ صة في الصيدل ّيات ،ومت ختم املصنع بالشمع األحمر. وقد مت الوصول إلى قرار بإلغاء جميع الترويجات اإلعالنية لهذه املواد ،وفي فترة صغيرة .وجتدر اإلشارة هنا إلى وسائل اإلعالم، التي لعبت دورا ً في الترويج لهذه الـ»أدوية» مستغلة وضع إستقالة احلكومة للمخالفة. كما أن بعض الدول كالسعود ّية واالمارات العربية ّ منعت ترويج هذه املنتوجات في داخل اراضيها بعد أن متّ السامة الكشف عن املكونات ّ والسرطان ّية داخل ما يسمى بـ»أعشاب طبيعية». وبعد إصدار هذا القرار بالتوقيف، ميكننا القول أن القناع قد سقط ،وظهرت احلقيقة. حقيقة متّ طمرها بوقائع كاذبة حاولت ّ غش املستهلك و اوهامه بأن هذه املستحضرات هي «خالصة طبيعية « ٪١٠٠و كأن املروجني الذين يدعون صفات
«خبراء األعشاب» أضحوا في مرتبة صانعي املعجزات! فلديهم «دواء « لكل داء ...وما الدواء إال سما ً مضرا ً ذو نتائج وخيمة! في النهاية ،حت ّية لهذا القرار الذي ح ّرر املواطن من األعشاب» تساؤالت»أدوية وأعطى الكلمة لالدوية املرخصة في الصيدليات .
إنتهاء عصر «طب األعشاب»
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منوعات
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موقن أ ّن هذا األمر لن يحصل بني ليلة وضحاها بل هو يحتاج إلى وقت طويل ليأخذ مفعوله. ّ حل هو لذلك يبقى أفضل معاجلة املشكلة من جذورها ،و بنا ًء على ما سبق ،جند أنّه بترتّب علينا تربية األوالد تربية وطن ّية بعيدة عن ّ الطائفية ،و هنا يكمن دور املرأة مر ّبية األجيال، كأ ّم وكمع ّلمة وطبيبة وغيرها، السالم بني في نشر ثقافة ّ أبناء وطنها الواحد ،باإلضافة إلى منع وسائل اإلعالم من ّ بث امة ا ّلتي تف ّرق بني الس ّ أفكارها ّ النّاس وتشرذمهم .والواقع أ ّن عمل ّية اإلصالح هذه يجب أن لتعم اجملتمع، تبدأ من الفرد ّ من خالل تصف ّية العقول من ّ الطائفية ،والتّعامل األفكار إنساني ال أساس على اآلخر مع ّ طائفي حتّى يصبح لبنان وطنا ً ّ واحدا ً ال أوطانا ً واحدة. و ختاماً ،اجلميع يدرك أ ّن هذه اخلطوة ليست سهلة أبدا ً وتستوجب جهدا ً كبيراً، لكن مشوار األلف ميل يبدأ بخطوة صغيرة ،وأعتقد أ ّن شباب اليوم قد أدركوا أ ّن الوقت قد حان التخاذ هذه اخلطوة التي ستغ ّير مستقبل لبنان وتدفع والرقي عند جتاوز به إلى التقدم ّ جميع العوائق التي لطاملا ف ّرقت بني اللبنانيني وجعلتهم يفضلون مصاحلهم الشخصية ّ على مصلحة الوطن.
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منوعات
شخصية األسبوع :الدكتورة ماي فرحات
سارة أحمد الديراني كاتبة صحفية
الدكتورة ماي فرحات في ولدت ّ العاصمة بيروت ،لوالدين كرميني هما األستاذ ع ّباس فرحات الدكتورة والسيدة هيام حطبّ . ماي هي اإلبنة الوحيدة لهذه أخ وحي ٌد أيضا ً العائلة ولديها ٌ وهو األستاذ هاني فرحات .كان الدوائر والدها مدير عام إلحدى ّ احلكوم ّية في لبنان ،وكان خ ّريج اجلامعة األميرك ّية لذلك كان من املتوقع جدا ً أن تتابع دراساتها هي أيضا ً هناك .درست في مدرسة الليسيه عبد القادر وتخ ّرجت منها في العام .1980 وبعد إنهائها دراستها ال ّثانوية إلتحقت بكل ّية الهندسة املعمار ّية في اجلامعة األميركية ملدة سنتني ،وخالل هذه الفترة شعرت أنّها متيل أكثر لدراسة تاريخ احلضارات عوضا ً عن دراسة هيكليتها لذلك غ ّيرت وتخصصت في إختصاصها ّ تاريخ احلضارات. وفي العام 1985حصلت على شهادتها اجلامعية، وبعدها مباشر ًة سافرت إلى كندا وإلتحقت بجامعة « Victoria in British وتابعة »Columbia دراساتها العليا هناك .وفي العام 1990حازت على شهادة قدمت الدراسات العليا بعد أن ّ الفن رسالة املاجيستير حول ّ املعماري في عصر املماليك ّ
(القاهرة) .وبعد ذلك متّ قبولها في جامعة هارفرد ملتابعة دراستها هناك وفي العام 2002 نالت شهادة الـ PHDوكانت الدكتوراه تتمحور حول رسالة ّ فوي وهذا الفن ّ الص ّ ّ املعماري ّ علي اإلمام مزار دراسة خالل من ّ بن موسى ال ّرضا في مشهد (إيران) .وخالل فترة تقدميها الدكتوراه تز ّوجت أطروحة ّ الدكتورة ماي وأجنبت إبنتها روان ّ في العام .1996 لها العديد من املقاالت، املعماري الفن التي حتدثت عن ّ ّ ومم ّيزاته في العديد من العصور واألماكن ،وأبرزها كان:
لماذا أخترت هذا اإلختصاص النّادر نسب ّياً؟ « ما أو ّد قوله هو أنّني لم أختر هذا اإلختصاص ألنه نادر بل ألنّني شعرت أنّني أح ّبه وأريد أن أعرف عنه املزيد وهذا على األغلب ما دفعني لدراسة هذا اإلختصاص .كما وأ ّن هذا الفن امليل نحو إكتشاف أسرار ّ الصغر املعماري تو ّلد ّ ّ لدي منذ ّ عندما كنّا نذهب أنا وأهلي في سفرات سياح ّية لنزور أماكن أثر ّية معروفة ومهمة .وكان من أروع األماكن التي زرتها قصر احلمراء في األندلس”. ما هي نصيحتك ّ لكل الطالب؟ « أود أن أقول لكل الطالب أن الفرصة التي متنحكم إ ّياها هذه اجلامعة لن تتكرر أبداً، وما أعنيه بهذه الفرصة هي فرصة التع ّرف إلى أناس جدد من مختلف اجلنس ّيات واألعراق .وهذا سيساعدكم في إكتشاف أمناط ثقافية جديدة وسيساعدكم لتع ّلم كيفية تق ّبل اآلخرين الذين يختلفون عنكم باآلراء واملعتقدات. أي كما وأنّني أعتبر ومن دون ّ مبالغة أ ّن احلياة اجلامع ّية التي تعيشونها اليوم هي من أفضل أيام حياتكم وهذا على صعيد تكوين الصداقات وتقرير املستقبلي في ميدان مصيركم ّ العمل .كما وأريد أن أشير إلى أهم ّية املشاركة في النّوادي الطالبية املوجودة في اجلامعة، ألنها تساعدكم في تعزيز
– ،1960كأس اخلمر – ،1961 يارا (باحلرف القومي اللبناني) – ،1961أجراس الياسمني – ،1961كتاب الورد – ،1972 قصائد من دفترتها ،1979 -كما األعمدة – ،1974خماس ّيات (باحلرف القومي اللبناني) – .1978 لم يكن الغزل هو ما استحوذ السياسة على سعيد بل كانت ّ والفلسفة هي ما انكب عليها وافنى عمره بني طياتها .هو من أبرز دعاة القوم ّية اللبنان ّية وكتابه لبنان ان حكى وتأسيسه حلزب التجدد اللبناني خير دليل على موقفه من بلده العزيز الذي ميثل بالنسبة اليه منبع احلضارات والثقافة واجلمال وسيأتي يوم يد ّرس في دول أوروبا كما الرياضيات واأللوهيات. د ّرس الفلسفة والالهوت في عدة جامعات مع انه لم يكمل ّ دراسته حيث اضط ّر للعمل منذ ان كان ابن خمسة عشر ربيعا بعدما أصيب والده بضائقة ّ وتعطشه اقتصادية .لكن نهمه
للعلم اوصاله الى ما هو عليه. العاملي فقراءته لروائع التُّراث ّ شعرا ُ ونثراً ،فلسف ًة وعلما ً وفنا ً والهوتا ً جعاله من طليعة ّ ّ والشعراء العرب حتى املثقفني ا ّن البعض اعتبره يضاهي املتنبي .هو ذلك الطموح ذو التسعة والتسعني عاما الذي يقول »:اقول :احليا ُة العز ُم ،حتى انتهيت ت َ َو ّلى ال َقب ُر إذا أنا ُ لكن عقل عزمي من بَعدي ». ّ لم يكن موفقا في احلب .تزوج م ّرة واحدة في حياته وانتحرت زوجته بعد فترة قصيرة .لذلك ترى شعره غزل بدون حب أو كما يقول عنه الشاعر صالح لبكي إنه «نحت ال مشاعر فيه وال شعور» .زعيم املدرسة اجلمالية يعتبر املرأة رمز العطاء واخللق وسر جمال الوجود. يتغزل بها تغزال رقي ًقا بعي ًدا ّ كل البعد عن اإلبتذال .رمبا ألنه يرى نفسه أكثر من سعيد عقل فهو يعتبر نفسه خمسة .األول أنّه اختصاصي باأليل اي اإلسم األول للخالق .والثاني انه شاعر
The Mashhad Shrine: Shi’ism, Piety and Legitimacy ”,in Early Modern Iran A “Mediterraneanist’s Collection: Henri Pharaon’s ‘Treasure House of Arab Art,” in Ars Orientalis, 2011 ,forthcoming “Shi’i Piety and Dynastic Legitimacy: Mashhad under ”the Early Safavid Shahs, in Fahmeda Suleman, ed., People of the Prophet’s House: Art, Architecture and Shi‘ism in the Islamic World. London, Institute of Isma’ili .Studies, forthcoming “Islamic Art in the Thought of ”Louis Massignon (in Arabic), published in Hurriyyat 1998 (Winter
اذار 2011 ,16
اوتلوك
الدكتورة ماي فرحات
ثقافتكم في مختلف اجملاالت، وتشعركم بضرورة التّعايش املشترك مع اآلخرين». أهم درس إستخلصتيه ما هو ّ من هذه احلياة ؟ « ّ كل شخص في هذه احلياة مسؤول عن حياته وبلده ٌ وكل منا وسعادته وجناحه، ميكنه أن ينجح ويتم ّيز إذا أراد ذلك ،وحتّى يستطيع أن ّ يحقق النّجاح يجب عليه أن ّ ينظم وقته ويعرف ماذا يريد حقيق ًة». هل تنصحني الطالب بأن يتخصصوا في مجال دراسة املعماري؟ الفن تاريخ ّ ّ « ما ميكنني قوله بهذا اخلصوص أن لهذا اإلختصاص
السنوات مستقبل واعد في ّ املقبلة وذلك أل ّن العديد من الدول العربية كقطر ،اإلمارات العربية ،البحرين ...،تسعى لفتح متاحف أثر ّية فيها. وهذه املتاحف ال ميكن أن تنشأ إلاّ بعد دراسات عديدة يقيمها األثري بالتعاون مع الفن خبراء ّ ّ املعماري». الفن مهندسي ّ ّ ما هي آخر أعمالك اآلن؟ « اآلن أعمل على إنهاء جتهيز األثري الذي متحف رينه معوض ّ يتألف عموما ً من آثار عثمانية عريقة ،كما أنني أعمل على إنهاء كتابي اجلديد».
كاتب من هذا الزمن :سعيد عقل -رندلى
نهاد غازي عواد كاتبة صحفية
رندلى اسم ملئات البنات اللواتي س ّموا ولدن أواخر اخلمسيناتُ . تيمنًا بديوان رندلى للشاعر ّ اللبناني سعيد عقل .ديوان حبكه بغزل يغني العذرية والبراءة .كلمات عبادة لتلك املرأة التي لم تلمس اال بعد زواجها .فهي من تستحق ان يصلى لها بنظر الشاعر عقل. كتاب اعاد صياغة مفهومي الغزل والعفة حيث انهما متفقان متالزمان يكتمالن ببعضهماّ . عدة دواوين وللشاعر ّ وقصائد أخرى معظمها مغنّاة ومنها :سائليني (قصيدة)، نشيد جمعية العروة الوثقى - للنسور ولنا امللعب ،بنت يفتاح (مسرح ّية) – ،1935اجملدل ّية (ملحمة) 1937 -قدموس (مسرح ّية) – ،1944رندلى – ،1950مشكلة النخبة – ،1954 أجمل منك ...؟ ال! – ،1960 لبنان إن حكى (تاريخ وأساطير)
معرفة .والثالث انه أبو لبنان. والرابع انه صاحب حركة قائمة علي تسريع الزمن بواسطة ثورتي اللغة واحلرف .واخلامس ّ انه خالق قيم .خمسة أشياء متاهت في روح واحدة أمست رمزا للبنان .لبنان الذي يحاول الشاعر اعادة صياغته وتعريفه واظهاره كما يراه هو .نظرة فيه شي من العصبية.تغنّى كثيرا بلبنان وأشعاره ال تعتمد لونا واحدا فتراه يتأرجح بني التيارات واملتجددة.كالسيكي التقليد ّية ّ يتمسك ببحور الفراهيدي ّ غال ًبا ويخالف القاعدة أحيانا. ويحق إلله الغزل -كما نعت نفسه في اخلماس ّيات -جتاوز القواعد« :ذات ضحى من أزل/ ّ وكفه لم تزل /تنحت بعض اجلباه /كنت فكان الغزل /وكان الشاعر اللبناني سعيد عقل شعر إله» .نرجس ّية نراها عند كثير من الشعراء ويبقى األمل ّ تضمحل فكرة شاعر األنا أن ويغدو التواضع سيد املوقف.
أ وتلو ك
مظهر جديد يأتيكم قريبا ً...
اجلامعة األميركية في بيروت
املنشورة الطالبية املستقلة منذ عام | ١٩٤٩
الثالثاء 15اذار 2011
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جزء ٬٤٣عدد 20
الشاعر سعيد عقل
14
إنتهاء عصر «طب األعشاب»
حرب كيميائ ّية في ساحة التغيير
مصطفى فضل اهلل كاتب صحفي
تستم ّر حركة الثورة في اليمن في كثير من املناطق وفي مختلف احملافظات مبشاركة ّ الشعب فئات واسعة من واجلمعيات والنقابات واملنظمات احلقوقية واملدنية .وشهدت األيام األخيرة تط ّورات ميدان ّية خطيرة أظهرت وحش ّية كبيرة من قبل النظام احلاكم جتاه املتظاهرين .فلقد بدا جل ًيا أن أساليب القمع والتخويف للمتظاهرين تتط ّور في اتجّ اهات منافية حلقوق اإلنسان فبالرغم من كون مساء االثنني املاضي هادئا ًعلى غرار األيام القليلة التي سبقته .ورغم احلشد اإلضافي الذي ظهر جليا ً عند مداخل «ساحة التغيير» ،بعد نزول مجهزة بأسلحة قوات إضافية ّ وعصي كهربائية ،لم فردية ّ احملتجون يقلق الشباب الكثر ّ أيضا ً عند املداخل نفسها ،حيث شكلت أجسادهم ثالثة حواجز متتالية لتفتيش الداخلني
بد ّقة خشية تسلل دخالء قد محملني باألسلحة أو يكونون ّ املتفجرات. ّ ويبدو أن الشباب املتواجدين هناك اطمأنوا إلى فكرة أن هذه القوات ،واحلشد اإلضافي، لن تفعل جديدا ً بعد النتائج الكارثية التي انتهت إليها هجماتها األولى .لكن مع اقتراب منتصف الليل ،بدأ هجوم جديد بالرصاص احلي وقنابل الغاز املس ّيل للدموع .هجوم كان شبيها ً بالهجمات السابقة، قاده جنود برفقة بلطجية، عمدوا إلى اختيار حلظات الهدوء واستغاللها كي يستفيدوا من عامل املفاجأة. انتهى الهجوم بسقوط قتيل ووقوع عدة إصابات ،ال تزال حاالت بعضهم في دائرة اخلطر الشديد حتى اليوم. لكن هناك ما لفت انتباه األطباء في املستشفى امليداني ومستشفى العلوم ،اللذين استقبال احلاالت احلرجة ،وهو حدوث حاالت اختناق شديدة، وضيق في اجلهاز التنفسي، و«ته ّيج» في اجلهاز العصبي،
وإفرازات مخاطية غريبة من الفم ،وتشنج ك ّلي في اجلسم، وارتعاش األطراف ،واحتقان وتوسع في شرايني في الوجه، ّ الرقبة مع صعوبة شديدة في التنفس ،وشعور بألم شديد في القفص الصدري ،إضافة إلى حاالت اختالل في الوعي. أعراض واجهها األطباء للمرة ٌ األولى ،وهي ليست ناجتة من استخدام الغاز املس ّيل للدموع. تركزت هذه األعراض في نحو 17حالة لم تستجب للعالج. ونقلت صحيفة األخبار عن الطبيب محمد الصرمي أنه يرى مثل هذه احلاالت للمرة األولى ،ما اضطره إلى عقد مؤمتر صحافي أعلن فيه أن «الغازات التي استُخدمت في مهاجمة الشباب في الساحة هي غازات كيميائية غير متعارف عليها»، مؤكدا ً أن «الغريب في األمر هو عودة بعض احلاالت التي ص ّرحنا لها باخلروج بعد شفائها ،إذ عادت إليها األعراض األولى نفسها».
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انفلونزا ال ّثورة تصل إلى لبنان نورا أنور سوبره مساهمة صحف ّية
ّ احلكام قاضية على يعتبرها ّ الشعب فيراها أما بالدهمّ ، ضد ّ الظلم والفساد. تلقيحا ّ ً إنّها ال ّثورة ا ّلتي جتتاح البالد العرب ّية وا ّلتي وصلت إلى لبنان بعد شهرين من اندالعها في تونس .إلاّ أ ّن الوضع في لبنان ّ فالشعب ال يطالب مختلف، بإسقاط ال ّرئيس وال باستقالة ّ «الشعب يريد احلكومة بل إ ّن ّ الط إسقاط النّظام ائفي». ّ ّ الشرارة األولى يوم انطلقت األحد 27شباط حني ّ نظم ّ الشباب تظاهرة من كنيسة مار مخايل مرورًا مبستديرة الطيونة وصولاً إلى قصر العدل ،ملا لهذه املناطق من رمزية في تشكيل خط متاس طوال 17سنة من احلرب األهلية ،وتقسيم أهالي بيروت إلى مسلمني ومسيحيني. لم يكن العدد كبيرًا في امل ّرة األولى فلم يتجاوز األلفني ،إلاّ أنّه ازداد بشكل ملحوظ يوم األحد 6
آذار ،إذ وصل إلى عشرة آالف في التّظاهرة ال ّثانية ا ّلتي انطلقت الدورة إلى من مستديرة جسر ّ مصنع الكهرباء وا ّلتي حملت رمزية مختلفة هذه امل ّرة ،إذ إنّها ّ تدل على سيطرة النظام السياسي الطائفي بشكل مينع التوصل إلى «اتفاق على إصالح القطاع الكهربائي». إضافة إلى هذه التّظاهراتّ ، نفذ ّ الشباب اعتصامات مفتوحة في مختلف املناطق ال ّلبنان ّية. فقد متّ نصب عدد من اخليم الصنائع قرب وزارة في منطقة ّ الداخل ّية وفي ساحة الشهداء ّ في صيدا ،إضافة إلى ساحة بحمدون في قضاء عاليه .كما منددة بالنّظام ع ّلقوا شعارات ّ الطائفي في تلك املناطق وعلى كورنيش البحر في عني املريسة. ولم يغب دور الـ»فيس بوك» في هذه التّحركات ،بل إنّه ساهم في نشرها وفي طرح جميع اآلراء اخملتلفة ،إضافة إلى إبقاء املشتركني على اطالع بآخر
تطورات ونتائج االجتماعات الصفحة واملظاهرات .فعلى ّ ّ ّ بناني يريد ل «الشعب ال اخلاصة ّ ّ ّ ائفي» متّ الط ّظام ن ال إسقاط ّ التّعريف بهذا التّحرك والهدف منه ،كما نشر الق ّيمون عليها مطالب ّ الشباب وا ّلتي تدعو، بشكل عا ّم ،إلى إلغاء ّ الطائفية السياسية وإرساء العدالة ّ االجتماع ّية .وقد متّ االتفاق على هذه املطالب في اجتماع عقده الشباب في األونيسكو في السادس من آذار. ّ مشوشا ً حتّى لكن الوضع ما زال اآلن ،فالعديد من ّ الشباب ّ شكك بإمكان ّية حتقيق هذه املطالب، كما تساءل آخرون عن معنى إلغاء ّ السياسية وما الطائف ّية ّ إذا كان سيؤدي إلى إنشاء دولة الدين ّية علمان ّية متنع املظاهر ّ العامة .وقد في األماكن ّ طالب البعض مبقاطعة جميع القنوات اإلخبار ّية ال ّلبنان ّية ّ حد ا ّلتي السموم» على ّ «تبث ّ خاصة تعبيرهم وبإنشاء إذاعة ّ بهم.
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امتدت باإلضافة إلى ذلك فقد ّ هذه املسيرات واالعتصامات إلى خارج العاصمة لتصل إلى اجلنوب .فقد ّ نظمت مسيرة في احلكومي راي الس النّبطية أمام ّ ّ وأخرى في صور حول املستديرة،
ورفعت شعارات تنادي بإسقاط النّظام ّ ائفي .ولم يقف الط ّ حدد احلد ،فقد ّ األمر عند هذا ّ املتظاهرون موع ًدا جدي ًدا للقاء في بيروت في العشرين من ّ الشهر اجلاري الستكمال املشوار وحتقيق مطالبهم.