Issue 13

September 26, 2012 Vol. XLV, No. 13 December 18, 2012

A visually impaired view of AUB campus

Students split over new campus webcam streaming

AUB is said to be a beautiful campus that is known for its profusion of foreign, ancient trees, exotic birds and lush wildlife. But is the campus practical for students with physical and sensory disabilities?

With an almost equal ratio of stairs to trees, it clearly is a difficult campus in terms of accessibility. But a further pressing question is how the University provides accessibility for students who are impaired, and what plans are currently underway.

Rima Kaddoura, an 18-yearold freshman who hopes to study mathematics, is a visually impaired student hailing from Calgary, a city in the province of Alberta in Canada.

Raised in Canada, it seems peculiar that she chose to come to AUB, considering that Canadian universities provide more supplementary services for visually impaired students.

She confirmed that all

Frederic Abou Jaoude Staff Writer

Yara Zeitoun Staff Writer

universities in Canada have a special needs office that helps disabled students and staff.

For the blind, they’d provide services, such as campus orientations and translating

tests to braille.

“Because ultimately, what all of us want is independence.

In the real world, no one is going to hold my hand,” Rima

Continued on page 4

Rima Kaddoura

Photo credit: Mada Subaiti

Some AUB students were surprised last week to learn that their campus is under webcam surveillance. The University has put in place a system of webcams that record the movements of students, faculty and staff, especially in the upper campus.

Some people believe that such webcams are a necessity to maintain security on campus, especially in light of last week’s massacre at a Connecticut elementary school.

“It’s a great idea. It’s creative actually,” said Masah Qutami, a business sophomore. “It doesn’t make a difference if people can see me online or face-to-face on campus.”

Qutami’s friend, Sirine Baassiri, a business junior also agreed. “It’s good for the safety of students on campus,” stressed Baassiri.

Other people, argued that

such webcam installations are a clear violation of personal privacy for students and others on campus, and may be considered to be an act of spying. Lara Al Amine, a political studies junior, shed light on this issue. She was surprised to know that such cameras were present on campus. “My friend can see me going to class or eating a bite on main gate. It’s annoying and invading my privacy,” Al Amine said.

Captain Saadallah Shalak of the Protection Department explained that the aim of putting such cameras is to “enhance the management of personnel and AUB property,” which is a need for academic and nonacademic University units.

Whether the cameras threaten privacy in some way, Shalak said the cameras are pointed to record public areas on campus, and do not zoom in on specific individuals. The

Continued on page 6

Early registration scandal brings discussion of other registration software Deedee El Jilani Staff Writer While new details in the investigation into faculty and staff responsible for unauthorized early course registration are sparse, administrators are taking a second look at computer programs that allow students to register for their entire course loads at the click of a button while others are left scrambling to find open seats.

“Internal investigations and measures are not discussed, but we are confident that faculty will in the future work together to make sure this doesn't happen again,” Dean of Students Affairs Talal Nizameddin said.

Vice President of the USFC, Mohamed Homayed, reiterated that the issue is still being investigated. Still, he reassured that the USFC would take the necessary steps.

“Be sure that we will follow this issue until the very end,” he said. “The administration is handling the issue very seriously.”

When asked whether the USFC knows the names of the faculty involved, Homayed said that while he does not know the specifics of who was involved, he does not need to, and neither does the student body.

“What is important is that this accident should not happen again and should be the last

alert in order to move towards ameliorating, improving and working on our registration system.”

While instances of the unauthorized early registration were not numerous, Nizameddin said, “even the few cases are deemed contrary to the spirit of fairness, which AUB tries to uphold without compromise.”

He also said the complaints were mainly specific to FAS and FEA and that faculty and staff members who provided unauthorized early access would be punished for this breach of equal opportunity.

At the same time, students have taken a number of views of the programs that are being used to register a student’s

entire course load at the push of a button. The students interviewed for this story all wished to remain anonymous.

“This program is simply a faster way of typing Course Registration Numbers,” said one student who uses a program. “It isn’t illegal, I’m registering with everyone else. I just reduce the delay time of five seconds to type one CRN to one second to have all the CRNs.” He said that this is ethical because he has to press the hot key for the system to register the courses. However, he said that “it isn’t ethically fair because everyone should have access to it.”

“I do it because I can and know how. It’s a very gray

area,” he said.

He also said that he thinks AUBsis isn’t fundamentally flawed.

“The code I used can be used for anything. AUBsis’s flaw is that it cannot handle that many students [it always crashes],” he said. “Also, they [the administration] should break the bureaucratic system of opening courses to lessen the competition to get courses.”

He also mentioned that this program is very basic and he learned it in one of his computer science courses.

Another program user justified using the program as a means to an end, even if it might not be ethical.

Continued on page 2

2 · Campus News September 26, 2012

December 18, 2012

Women’s powerlifting and men’s bench-press competition at CHSC Frederic Abou Jaoude Staff Writer The AUB University Sports department recently organized a powerlifting competition in the free weight room at the Charles Hostler Student Center. The competition was open to all AUB students, both men and women.

Coach Raji Varna, who was responsible for the event, said that the main goal behind organizing such an event was to increase awareness among AUB students and encourage them to use fitness center instead of paying for memberships outside the University.

Varna pointed out the fact that increasing student participation and involvement in such activities would not only benefit these students themselves, but also would also benefit the University.

“Hopefully with a greater demand for using the weight room area, AUB will be able to expand the premises, as it is currently too small,” Varna

said.

According to the rules of the competition, lifters were classified by weight, sex and age. There are three standard types of lifts: the squat, the bench press and the deadlift. Each student in the competition was allowed a maximum of three attempts at each of these lifting exercises.

The highest weight of the three lifts will count as the competitor’s score in the game.

Some students expressed their uneasiness regarding the policy of having to attend a weigh-in two hours before the competition started, while other AUB students appreciated how simple it was to register for the competition online.

“In the past, three similar events have already been prepared since the CHSC was opened in 2008,” Varna said.

As for future events, Varna emphasized that more competitions would be prepared if only “more people show [more] interest

to compete and train.”

However, this competition, even though it was not new to AUB, was noteworthy.

In the past, Varna said, only men participated in weightlifting competitions in the Middle East, but this year, women were included in the competition as well.

In the men’s category,

Peter Nemr won first place and Jonathan Pechette second place for the 70-80 kg category. In the 80-90 kg category, Ahmad Korfali won first place while Noor Rajab won second place. In the 90plus kg category, the gold medal-winner was Maher Jallad and the silver medalwinner was Ali Ibrahim.

For women, the final winners were as follows: Leah Heyman with 212 points for the 60-67.5 kg category, and Fadia Saber with 181 points and Genevieve Heckel with 150 points for the 67.5-plus kg category.

Photo courtesy of CHSC AUB

Early registration scandal brings discussion of other registration software Continued from page 1 “If I wait two seconds I lose all my courses,” he said. “I know ethically it isn’t exactly correct. But if I don’t use it then I end up with no courses, which isn’t fair to me. But what is ethically wrong is the programs that register for you at 8 a.m. Here AUBsis has a problem; it isn’t ‘botproof.’”

Another student who uses the programs that register automatically when your time slot opens, said “there are certain courses that are high in demand. Any bit of advantage is a nice advantage.”

Unlike what some other users said, he did not think it was wrong to get an edge.

“These programs are available,” he said. “It’s not cheating the system, either.

It’s just a little faster than humans.”

He explained that programming isn’t hacking because it doesn’t touch the AUB network, but rather “only exploits the fact that the

current AUB system means people race against each other and the time.”

Some of the users said they have heard of people who sell the programs, but that most program users either make their own, or just give it to others for the sake of helping.

Users of the software interviewed for this story agreed that the biggest problem is not having enough capacity in classes, and that AUB should increase server capacity, at least during registration.

They also had suggestions for students to not use programs.

They said that either the system to register could be more complicated, or have all students guaranteed that they will be getting their courses.

Another solution mentioned was a “delay” time restriction, meaning that students would have the ability to enter all of their CRNs without being able to click the registration button until their time slot opens.

However, this may cause the system to crash from the overload. One user added that the authorities for opening capacity must be understanding to student situations, and, in regard to FAHS, Medicine and FEA majors, they should have class restrictions to avoid “reserving” courses for younger students.

University Registrar Moueen Salameh said, “This is an old issue. The Computing and Networking Services provided a solution, they detect the number of hits per second that exceeds known human speed, so access is disabled.”

However, they will be meeting on Monday with Joseph Hage, associate chief information officer, to further discuss the issue, and prevent this from happening again.

“We know of Script,” Salameh said, referring to a certain program that students use. “We stop it from accessing the system, but the

others are still an issue.”

Salameh also stated that the banner can have the possibility of blocking this interference for registration.

These programs are still being used because students want to have a specific schedule, or want a course with a specific teacher. Even if more sections are opened, Salameh said, students will still want to have a class with certain professors at certain times.

Some spoke of creating a policy where students can only register for courses set by their advisors.

The wait list is a solution created to deal with capacity problems. On average, there are 15 students per waitlist.

Mohammad Nassif, assistant registrar, elaborated.

“The reason there are only 25 spaces for classes is because of physical class space, and also that there are the extra five spaces for the waitlist students,” he said. “Only the ones with the highest priorities

have the chance to get the last five spaces.”

Both Salameh and Nassif agreed that the problem is the limited capacity. They said that providing enough capacity in classes will solve the problem.

“It won’t solve the problem, but it will reduce the use of programs.” Nassif said that they could have students only be able to register in their own time slots and then open registration to all on the third day, but this could cause other problems.

Salameh spoke about a new attempt at having more equality in registration for the new students by having them all register at the same time, instead of national students registring in June/July, then international students in September. These attempts to solve this breach in equality for registering and abusing of rights may come through for registration in the fall of 2013-14.

Campus News · 3

December 18, 2012

September 26, 2012

Fundraiser aims to give engineering stairs much-needed update Frederic Abou Jaoude Staff Writer The last time the engineering stairs were newly structured was during the summer of 1959 by the class of ‘61.

Since then, they have not been renovated or improved in any way, despite the fact that half a century has passed.

Nowadays, the stairs seem outdated. The number of students at AUB in general and the faculty of engineering and architecture, specifically, has skyrocketed, leading for a need to accommodate more students.

Also, the material of which the stairs were initially built with has eroded, making it easy for students to slip on the stairs, especially during rainy weather.

For these reasons, the FEA as well as the OSB SRC members organized an “RnBuild” fundraising party on Dec. 7 in Monot to renovate the stairs in front of the Bechtel by adding a potential roof over the stairs.

Lynn Bourji, an SRC member, said she, like many other students, slipped on the engineering stairs in her first semester at AUB, which is why the stairs should be renovated to make them safer.

Bourji also pointed out that the staircase seems crowded at many times during the day because of its low capacity to accommodate all students.

She said that about $2,000 was collected from the RnBuild party, and that other similar events will be prepared in the future for the same purpose, like the annual rally paper event.

“I hope that this year, students will see that the SRC members are working,” she said, “[because] we want to make a change that would last a long time.”

Lynn Farran, a secondyear civil engineering student, complained about the inexpediency of how students have to pay from their own money in order to rebuild University-owned structures instead of the University

funding it.

“I think it should be the University’s responsibility,” she said, “because paying for academic fees is enough.”

Other engineering students like Jawad Chukrallah, on the other hand, expressed their happiness towards such an idea and said that it is a step forward.

Issam Chmaitilly, also one of the engineering SRC members, said that they presented a proposal to the dean in an effort to gain university administrative support in renovations.

Chmaitilly indicated that the RnBuild party raised approximately 15 percent to 20 percent of the total money needed to build the roof.

Further, Chamitilly said that the next step in collecting the necessary money is the organization of a Christmas dinner and a ski trip.

If enough is fundraised, the memorial stone on the stairs reading “built in summer 1959” may have a new stone for the year 2013.

Photo credit: Frederic Abou Jaoude

Construction disturbance at FAS Elena Grissom Staff Writer It’s no secret the sound of drilling, hammering or clanking from the new Issam Fares building, located next to the Green Oval, is a problem students and teachers alike are finding difficult to cope with.

“The noise is absolutely unbearable for all of us,” said Waddah Nasr of the English department. “I teach morning classes in Nicely, and the construction noise gets progressively louder until I realize I’m shouting at the top of my lungs. I know it’s been a challenge for the workers and for those in charge of the construction, but it’s been like this for two years. Something has to be done; it is disrupting the learning process in this university.”

The problem of the noise is present in buildings other than Nicely, as computer science student Zina Kaabachi pointed out.

“During morning classes in Bliss, we really can’t hear anything the professor

is saying,” Kaabachi said.

“Sometimes, he just stops talking because there is nothing he can do.”

It’s evident that students and professors find the construction noise a huge inconvenience although they understand the challenges the construction team face.

“The problem is that we need construction due to the apparent lack of classrooms,” said Waddah Nasr of the philosophy department. “But with construction comes noise.”

Nasr believes nothing can be done to alleviate the noise for now. Nevertheless, he thinks lessons can be learned for future projects.

“Next time there is a construction project,” he said, “classes could be moved to the International College elementary building that AUB will soon acquire.”

Some students and professors, however, proposed practical solutions that could be instituted now, such as requesting that construction workers work only on

weekends or during vacation periods.

Political science student Samia Khatib suggested the work be halted until after class hours. “That might require more spending on electricity,” she explained, “but it will be worth it in the long run.”

Moreover, several professors could not understand why the work could not be delayed until the summer semester when there would be less students and pressure.

Alain Eid, the coordinator of the project in the Facilities Planning and Design Unit, highlighted that he can halt construction only upon receiving a formal request due to an important exam.

“We cannot stop construction for any other reason,” he commented. “The project is a continuous process.

We cannot change anything unless we receive formal complaints that affect a large group of people. So far, we have received infrequent complaints of that sort.”

To file a complaint, he instructs students to talk to

their department head, who will then pass it on to the dean of students, who will in turn inform the Facilities Planning and Design Unit.

Eid also stated that the

Photo credit: Salim Kaddoura

project is expected to be completed by August 2013.

Students and professors, it seems, will have to be patient one more semester.

4 · Campus News September 26, 2012

December 18, 2012

A visually impaired view of AUB campus Continued from page 1 says.

AUB has no such office yet, and there is no place for students, staff or alumni with learning or physical disabilities to ask for assistance. They are left on their own with the help of friends to find classrooms, take exams and find their way around campus.

“I’m a pretty independent person, but there are times

“They promote modernity, and they should work harder to enforce modern practices.

Also, AUB is much better than many or all universities in the Middle East, so they’re supposed to be adding to that image.”

Provost Ahmad Dallal seemed hopeful that there are many people and organizations willing to help AUB in this project, but also stressed the problems of the

Office of Student Affairs. “I emailed someone in charge from the office, and asked her who deals with people with special needs,” he said.

“I told her my case, and that I need help with orientation, textbooks and other various things, and she never got back to me. I emailed her two or three times and got no answer.”

Later, when she called the university and told them that

society.

“In the West, there are legal frameworks that compel universities to have such facilities, but in our case there is no legal framework,” Dallal said. “In the U.S., they are asked to deliver this, but, on the other hand, they are provided with the support they need.”

When asked about AUB’s lack of facilities for the visually impaired, Helou positively argued that the “RVC [Room for the Visually Challenged] does a great job.”

He noted that the RVC may actually be one of the reasons why there is no special needs office. “The departments depend on the RVC and Red Cross,” he said.

Kaddoura’s first experience with AUB was through the

she needed a guide, they provided her with a Red Cross member to help her around.

She also got introduced to the RVC. Kaddoura was surprised since upper management had told her that AUB is not equipped to help people with impairments.

At the RVC, they currently scan and edit some of her textbooks, an enhancement she did not expect. In the end, she did face communication issues, but she would have been completely on her own without the RVC. “[At Canadian universities], they translate tests into braille,” she said. “At Carleton, my friend gets all her exams transcribed to braille. The professor just needs to send them to the

Photo credit: Mada Subaiti that I need help. Denying it would be lying,” Kaddoura highlighted. “There are times that I should ask for help, and I don’t because I hate it, but other times I do ask. I am realistic, and I have to be honest with myself.”

A visually impaired AUB alumni and current Ph.D. student abroad, Joe Helou, finds that “this is an issue that has to do with both the society and AUB in specific.”

Helou highlights how Lebanon generally lacks laws that promote inclusive environments for people who are impaired.

“AUB is not supposed to reflect or mirror society, although it does at times. It is supposed to have more facilities and aim to be better than society,” Helou said.

special needs office.”

At AUB, one of her professors is actually taking the initiative to transcribe her tests into braille. For her other exams, professors merely give it to her as a word document.

Additionally, they have to be accommodating to some degree.

But all professors are different, and some are more accommodating than others.

Martin Bright, her mathematics professor, has been one of the more accommodating professors.

“This is the first time for me teaching anyone with any sort of impairment,” Bright said.

He argued that a problem he faced was the lack of guidance from the University itself. “Even just having some sort of guidelines for what we should do is helpful,” he underscored.

Kaddoura told him that she would need extra time for her exam, but AUB does not give guidelines as to how much, so Bright looked at the U.K. exam board, and based his decision off of theirs.

Bright commented that preparing exams has been interesting. He has been translating his exams into braille through a program that he found and putting it on a memory stick, so that Kaddoura can read it via her small braille computer.

Bright said that it would be ideal to print exams into braille, but also said that approaching the issue at hand in his rather different way is also intriguing.

What’s more is that Bright also personally produced math graphs for his impaired student using string and cardboard.

Alternatively, talking about accessibility on campus, Kaddoura faces an issue with the unevenness of stairs, specifically the chemistry stairs, since they have poles on the inside of the railing.

“So I have to continuously take off my hand when I’m holding onto the railing,” she said. She commented that it’s bad engineering and not fit for everyone.

As most students can testify to, elevators are lacking in many campus buildings, such as Nicely, Post, Fisk and

others.

“Of the few buildings with elevators, some are horrible, especially in the physics building,” Kaddoura highlighted on the issue of elevators. “It’s frightening.”

Still, it is clear that AUB is trying to change this factor as seen in the newer developments. The museum and OSB have large and new elevators, with OSB boasting three elevators.

How can the problems that disabled students face be solved?

Bright believes that “there needs to be some sort of coordination across departments about what [they] should actually do,” and agrees that a special needs office would be proven to be beneficial.

Both blind student Rima Kaddoura and alumnus Joe Helou voice their solutions to this issue.

One first step would be for professors to work more closely with their students.

Some have called for an appointed person at the library to assist the blind. A library resource should be there, working in parallel with the RVC. For instance, they should have specialists to assist them with their research assignments.

Likewise, AUB lacks a special needs office and could benefit from enhanced coordination with experts in this field who would work with the RVC and professors.

“They are responsible to ensure a proper learning environment for all students, not just ones without impairments,” Kaddoura emphasized.

Dallal hopes to initiate a university-wide task force to think of special needs issues on multiple levels, such as thinking about whether they should have special programs that cater to students with special needs.

“We need to work on this, and this is a major challenge, but we are willing to do it.”

The intention is definitely there, but at present they lack the resources needed.

“I’m dealing with it, and we all do,” Kaddoura said.

Campus News · 5

December 18, 2012

September 26, 2012

Faculty profile of the week: Healthy Heart Fair: Salt intake reduction Mohamad Medawar There were true-or-false and experience more enriching.

Hilal Khashan Contributing Writer “fact or myth”-type questions More specifically, after Elena Grissom Staff Writer Many sat glued to their TVs when it was thought the situation in Lebanon could erupt into chaos after the Ashrafieh bombing. Those watching the CNN coverage of the event would find a familiar face on the scene— one of AUB’s political science professors, Hilal Khashan.

Khashan is a common guest on many international news stations and is frequently quoted in the press on Middle Eastern politics.

1. What did you study in university and why?

I majored in comparative politics and minored in quantitative research methods and in public organizations at the University of Florida.

I studied political science because it was, and remains, my favorite topic.

2. What is your favorite part of teaching political science?

Teaching my students to think impartially and to rise above petty differences. I also believe that, as an educator, I have a duty to instill in my students values of punctuality, self-discipline, responsibility, courtesy and respect for others.

3. You once told us how, after high school, you landed in America with only $250 in your pocket. How did that story end?

My mother bought me a one-way ticket to Florida and gave me $250, which I returned upon arrival to the U.S. in March 1972. I paid

Source: previous.presstv.ir

my way through the B.A. and M.S. Once I got the M.S., my supervisor gave me teaching assistantship, which covered my expenses until I received the Ph.D. in 1980.

4. It seems that you can live or teach in several different countries around the world.

Why do you choose to stay in Lebanon?

I was born and raised in Beirut, and I prefer to die in Lebanon. Therefore, the country must mean something special to me. My research is also focused on Middle Eastern issues, so Lebanon gives me an ideal opportunity to have first-hand access to and interaction with my subject matter. In addition, AUB is a good employer, and clearly the best in Lebanon.

5. What has been the most exciting or interesting part of your career so far?

Waking up at 4 a.m. to ready myself to meet my students at 8 a.m.

6. What is your favorite hobby?

Gourmet cooking. My favorite dishes to prepare are fusilli with shrimp, herbed chicken parmesan, shrimp etouffee and mango salad.

“The first step in preventing a heart attack? Attending this health fair” read the poster of the Healthy Heart Fair that was held on Dec. 9 at Issam Fares Hall.

The fair was planned and organized by the AUB Wellness Program and the AUBMC patient education.

Many booths were set up to welcome the attendees and hand out information about heart attack symptoms, medical advice and healthy diets for prevention of cardiovascular disease, such as the restricted-sodium diet and low-fat diet.

Information about blood pressure measurements, glucose and cholesterol levels, and body mass index was also shared.

The most notable booth was run by the Lebanese Action on Salt and Health (LASH) group. They had set up a salt reduction booth to raise awareness on the dangers of elevated salt intake on the heart and coronary vessels.

In addition to distributing information leaflets, this activity included trivia questions and games to deliver intended messages to participants in an interactive way.

on health conditions caused by elevated salt intake, the WHO designated salt intake level per day, the difference between salt and sodium, and general questions about the salt intake in our population.

The Salt Level Game was another activity that challenged the participants to sort the food items present on the table in order of increasing or decreasing salt/sodium content.

Moreover, the information leaflets that were disseminated included the low salt shopping guide, which is a tool to be used by anyone who would like to shop for low salt containing items and avoid high salt ones.

A sheet containing a list of the amount of sodium in mg per 100 g of most commonly consumed foods by the Lebanese population was disseminated as well. This list was based on research and laboratory testing conducted by members of the LASH group in the faculty of agriculture and food sciences at AUB. More importantly, the group made sure that it complemented the activities offered by other booths at the fair to make the participants’

participants obtained their blood pressure measurement and cholesterol levels from the corresponding booths, the group inserted the data in the HeartScore program, designed by the European Society of Cardiology.

The program calculated the 10-year CVD risk, which is a measure of 10-year mortality risk based on age, gender, blood pressure, total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol and smoking status of the participants.

The generated results in the report gave the percent risk, along with personalized advice to control the risk factors composing the calculated risk.

The participants were also given a printout of the report to learn more about their risk and to potentially inform their physicians for further followup and treatment.

Irish peacekeeping in Lebanon

Lujain Rabat Staff Writer

The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon has been monitoring the country’s struggle with Israel since March 19, 1978. Located in South Lebanon on the borders with Occupied Palestine, the forces monitor Israel’s withdrawal from Lebanese lands as proposed in the Chapter 6 United Nations Resolution 425.

Since their deployment in 1978 until their withdrawal in 2001, almost 30,000 Irish troops served as part of the U.N. mandate force UNIFIL. Rita Sakr, Research Associate on a Global Uncertainties Leadership Fellowship at the University of Kent, U.K., explained the Irish involvement in the

UNIFIL from a historical, political and socio-cultural perspective in a lecture Friday.

Although the Irish troops were known for their neutrality and professionalism, many of the soldiers sympathized with the Lebanese on a personal level. According to Robert Fisk’s book “Pity the Nation,” they saw them as “sons of the soil, just like themselves, only uprooted from their land by Israel.”

The Irish’s dedication to peacekeeping and human rights issues through the U.N. is very noticeable, and the Irish have served in several peacekeeping missions in many countries other than Lebanon. A U.N.training school in Ireland that prepares battalions for their missions was established in order to ensure that they

perform their duties properly.

Moreover, during the 23 years that the Irish served as part of the U.N.’s peacekeeping forces, the Irish lost 47 men who were either killed or kidnapped and never to be seen again.

The Irish troops contributed to the inhabitants of South Lebanon not only on a political level, but on a humanitarian level as well. They helped establish orphanages and playgrounds, and they helped the people who had to leave their lands because of the intensity of the guerillafighting happening in the area.

Sakr explained that the soldiers developed good social and personal relationships with the inhabitants and the “moukhtars” in the area.

6 · Campus News September 26, 2012

December 18, 2012

Students split over new webcam streaming of AUB campus Continued from page 1 cameras “do not intrude the privacy of any person,” Shalak emphasized.

Other students had a mixed view of the surveillance. Mohamad Melhem, a civil engineering senior, expressed that the cameras have their pros and cons.

“Yes, people would freak out since the cameras are a breach of their privacy, but they could also be beneficial, especially during elections,” he said. “They should also

put cameras in exam rooms to monitor students.”

One alumnus, Kareem El Zein, said that he doesn’t know if the cameras are breaching students’ privacy.

He said that people usually self-censor in public.

“If there’s audio recording, I’d be concerned,” he said. “I also don’t think it’s effective in monitoring people.”

With the increasing number of robbery incidents and possible threats of violence, these cameras, according to Shal-

ak, are very helpful to trace

such occurrences on campus,

especially cases of thefts.

New webcams that stream images of campus online have raised privacy concerns.

Students participate in Community Day with Migrant Workers Task Force Rasha Abou Dargham Special to Outlook December 16, the last day of the Human Right’s Week, brought a group of activ-

Photo credit: Heather Jaber

ists together to stand against the exploitation and abuse of migrant workers in Lebanon. Among these activists were AUB students who had worked as teachers in MWTF

in order to help the migrants get their voices heard with the aid of computer and language skills.

Two out of ninety-five migrant workers are murdered

every year, and five are physically and verbally abused.

MWTF is the NGO, which took action regarding this matter by gathering a team of Lebanese and non-Lebanese in order to deal with abuse cases of all forms.

With the help of AUB students, a workshop took place every Sunday in order to teach those migrants English and Arabic as well as basic computer skills. The migrants were asked to take pictures of their daily lives with captions.

Students were able to take those pictures and produce photo essays to get the migrants’ stories out in the open.

The exhibition of “Lens on Life” took place and sought

out great success.

“We are here to let them know that the do have rights, and we will fight for them no matter what it takes” said Sarah, an AUB student who took part in organizing the event.

Not only did the event include a multicultural lunch, certificates were given out to the migrant students as a token of appreciation for working with MWTF. Community Day witnessed a turnover of over a hundred migrants with their families and supporters. The event ended with dancing whereby the NGO has fulfilled its aim of “encouraging and facilitating joyful interaction between diverse communities.”

Editorial · 7

December 18, 2012

September 26, 2012

Is there humanity in a world of cat videos? Staff List Outlook Editorial Board In the past week, the Israeli foreign minister resigned and Egyptians voted on a constitution they fought a revolution for the chance to write. Yet the most viral video in Beirut is of Myriam Klink singing a love song to her cat.

Despite the obvious backwardness of the situation, one must wonder why we prefer to watch videos of cliched singers and adorable animals.

Every day governments fall, presidents are re-elected, history happens and we hold ourselves up in our rooms and choose the company of television and the Internet in lieu of reality.

The consequence? Time passes without us so much as making a mark on the world.

Paths lie untrodden and books left unread. Obesity rates skyrocket and newspaper revenue is reduced to a trickle.

Today, what exists is slowly declining in terms of its hu-

manity—if that term can be quantified—and the horizon seems more gloomy than ever before. Does that mean we should not work for change?

Clearly we must continue.

There’s no need to reach back through the whole year to find reasons our world needs to change. We can find examples within the past week, most obviously in the Connecticut elementary school massacre that left 27 dead—20 of them young children.

More death, more trauma and more trouble.

Pressing questions that we ask in such situations are: What’s going on? What have we come to? Is there no reason to have faith in humanity?

We are always prepared to punish the criminal or to blame someone. We must not only be concerned or draw attention to the murderers, but also their consequences and the systems that created the murderers.

There are depressingly few

Letter to the Editor While reading Outlook, Issue 12, Volume 45, I came across the Health column entitled “The Cholesterol Con: Think before you buy into conventional wisdom,” written by Salim Kaddoura. It discussed the misconceptions held by patients and medical doctors on “the dangers of dietary cholesterol.” Although the author had some reasonable points, one can’t go around saying “The fact is that many doctors today do not have the time to thoroughly study scientific journals, and receive much of their information directly from pharmaceutical companies” when addressing the public in general and AUBites in specific.

This is a very deleterious statement to throw around and cause chaos among patients and physicians, primarily because it would raise doubt amongst the patients on their physicians’ treatment, and even more importantly, it is simply false. Consequently, this will lead to much less

adherence of the patients to medication and treatment plans, which only means more disease and death. Why is it false? Simply because doctors consult pharmaceutical companies to treat hyperlipidemic patients. On the contrary, most physicians follow strict guidelines set by the same studies mentioned by Kaddoura and by hospital set guidelines to ensure patients meet their target level and avoid cardiovascular problems.

Moreover, as Kaddoura explained, Cholesterol is needed in the body to synthesize numerous hormones and steroids. That’s why when physicians prescribe lipid lowering medication, or statins, they give dosage specific for each patient to reach a target level which reduces the risk of heart disease and at the same time maintains cholesterol levels needed by the body to synthesize its hormones.

Moreover, Kaddoura mentioned the need to encourage patients to avoid “smoking, a

articles that focus on the victims. The media has been unintentionally stoking the flames for yet another murder spree by immortalizing the actions of one killer in Connecticut.

The opposite is also true, and distance creates apathy.

On the same day the of U.S. elementary school shooting, a man in China stabbed 22 schoolchildren with almost no attention from the media.

(Tellingly, no victims were killed in the attack in China, which has very strict gun ownership laws.) Or consider the world’s reaction on the too-frequent occasions that schoolchildren are killed in drone strikes in rural Yemen.

The indifference is overwhelming.

With the present reality, it is not what exists that matters. What matters is how we approach it, and how we deal with it.

sedentary lifestyle, a diet rich in processed foods, and large amount of stress.” However, it shouldn’t be “instead of (…) recommending a cholesterol lowering diet and drug regimen,” it should be coupled with the diet and drug for optimal results. Last but not least, Kaddoura’s claim that the real culprit is inflammation, is true, however cholesterol doesn’t work as a “Band-Aid” or try to “cover the inflammation.” In fact, the true scientific explanation of this process, namely atherosclerosis, can be found on medical websites such as webmd.com or any recent medical textbook.

Finally, when addressing the public on specific medical matters, try to think what the reader will do after reading that column. Will he/she stop listening to the doctor, eat unhealthy food and skip his medication? If yes, then don’t publish that article, please.

Mohamad Al Medawar

Chairsperson

Talal Nizameddin Editor-in-Chief

Heather Jaber Associate Editor

Kanzi Kamel Arabic Editor

Mada Dibs Arabic Associate Editor

Alaa Kayali Proofreader

Ian Larson News Executives

Sarah Khalil

Hrag Vosgerichian

Rayane Zahreddine

Ferial Fakih

Nizar Awwad Ombudsman

Ali Kassem Photography Editor

Mada Subaiti Layout Editor

Antoine Ayoub Business Manager

Luma Itani Business Executive

Sarah Harfouch Webmaster

Jad Shamseddine Photographers

Mohammad Azzam

Pia Chaib

Karen Sertin

Hayder Al Shakeri

Salim Kaddoura Cartoonists

Deedee Jilani

Maya Ayache

Jad Jari

Staff Writers

Frederic Abou Jaoude

Elena Grissom

Farah Beaini

Noura Hamzi

Diala Ahwash

Sara Sobh

Hashem Osserian

Karen Sertin

Carla Sertin

Yara Zeitoun

Nerses Arslenian

Richard Le Vay

Al-Zahraa Majed

Sarah Dirani

Rana Harbi

Nour Shurbaji

Haya Attassi

Ghida Ismail

Nadeem Bilani

Thurayya Zreik

Lujain Rabat

Poliana Geha

Tala Mukaddam

Nour Turkmani

Zaynab Jaber

Meer Ako Ali

Sany Farajalla

Mohammad Sibai

Varak Ketsemanian

Meer Ako Ali

Yasser Al Zayyat

Salim Kaddoura Layout Team

Mohammad Yaghi

Tania Rayes

Suheil Yazji

Sahar Khairabani

Disclaimer 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 are asked to please include their 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.

Erratum: In issue 12, the film review titled “‘Flight’: film review” was mistakenly uncredited. It was written by staff writer Salim Kaddoura.

8 . Viewpoints

December 18, 2012

September 26, 2012

Protest like a proper Arab 101: How to burn your tires Kanzi Kamel Associate Editor So your government’s passed a new law that your party doesn’t agree with. Your best friend’s dad’s second-cousin’s twice-removed grand nephew was “accidentally” killed in a car crash, but everyone knows it was really an assassination attempt. Or maybe you’re just Arab, and you’re really in the mood to cause some ruckus.

The problem: You just don’t know where to start. You see the beautiful smoke on TV, billowing up to the heavens with everyone watching in awe.

The perfectly stacked rounds of rubber, never swaying, never falling. How could you, a simple pedestrian, ever

match the expertise of such rebellious mastery?

My friends, fear no more.

I have, for your convenience, drawn up a game plan for how to find tires, light them on fire (with the utmost safety precautions), and achieve the ultimate level of protesting ever to be held in the Middle East.

Step 1: Find your tire.

Those of you with vehicles know just how expensive tires can be. Now thankfully, you don’t need to be shopping for the best grip or toughest brand.

Most all rubbers are highly flammable, so bothering about quality is also unnecessary.

Still, to get a proper fire going, you’ll need a number of tires, and that can get costly. My advice to you is to never pay for your tires.

Much like a university

The lie about the new year Nadeem Bilani Staff Writer

In honor of this being the last Outlook issue of the year, I decided to write an article about New Year’s resolutions—specifically why they’re doomed to fail from the moment they’re conceived.

It’s not that I’m intentionally being a pessimist. I’m actually a firm believer that people can change if they really want to. I just generally think that people shouldn’t be trusted on certain days of the year, like on their birthdays or on

Christmas.

New Year’s Eve is another example of a time when people are simply way too drunk on the hopeful promise of a clean slate to be held accountable for anything they might say.

One of the worst things to do when setting resolutions is to be vague about them. Exhibit No. 1: “I’m going to get in shape this year.” The problem with being so general is that it becomes way too easy to delude ourselves later on into thinking that we’ve actually accomplished something.

I could force myself to go to

degree, you can always get funding for your needs. If you aren’t already, hook yourself up with some party or sponsor, and you can have a virtually 100 percent free protest. Talk to mechanics or tire store owners, and they might even be willing to donate to your cause.

Step 2: Stack your tires.

Bakers should have this step down pat. Choose your designated protest spot (this will depend on the area you live in—I recommend you avoid hills), and stack your tires.

The largest tire will obviously be on the bottom, smallest on the top. For a wider range, make smaller stacks and spread them across a highway. Bonus points for doing so during rush hour.

Step 3: Light ‘em up.

We all know safety is of

Cartoon credit: Maya Ayash uppermost priority, so be sure to be dressed in the proper gear when lighting your tires.

No stray strings, no scarves, strings, or ties.

As for starting the fire, matches and hand held lighters can get a little tricky, so try to find yourself a longnecked lighter. You know, the kind your grandmother uses to light a gas oven or her latest homemade pipe bomb.

Step back and admire the fiery embers and billowing

the gym for a couple of weeks, and from that point onwards, claim I’ve achieved my goal.

Resolutions need to be measurable, leaving very little space for wiggle room.

Otherwise you might as well have your cake, eat it too … and then have another one.

The second pitfall comes with the decision to involve other people in one’s resolutions.

For example: “I’m going to get along with my brother this year.”

While the sentiment is heartwarming, the cold, hard truth about reality is that maybe your brother doesn’t

like you very much. And maybe there’s no way you’ll be getting along with him the way you think you might in your head.

Resolutions should be about setting personal goals for improvement. Focus on how you want to change.

Finally, it’s really important that you know yourself. Many people make resolutions with the idea in their heads that in the new year (a.k.a. in the few hours between the eve and the following day), they’ll be a completely new person.

Unfortunately, it’s highly likely that you’ll be stuck with

the same time, money, energy and resources that you had the night before.

So if you resolved to go skydiving next year, neglecting the fact that great heights make you want to pee your pants, I’m telling you now that you’re setting yourself up for failure.

Don’t waste this New Year!

Think carefully about the person you want to be, and about what it’ll take for you to realistically get there.

Happy holidays!

through the proliferation of singers like Haifa Wehbe.

In the sarcastic way Lebanese journalist Joumana Haddad put it, “we are liberal, I say.

Open minded and modern.

Therefore, our revolution cannot be conducted by common civil demonstrations, sit-ins and popular demands.

Too unsexy.”

And you, fundamentalists, I have not forgotten about you in my momentarily rant about the other extremists.

Fundamentalists, men that preach peace, are the main cause of corruption today. The world does not need another

group like the Taliban, thank you very much.

In countries where crimes of honor are acceptable and rapists are not imprisoned if they marry their victims, how dare we speak of an Arab Spring? Before revolting against our so-called systems, we should revolt against our very own beings and our very own societies.

This is where I conclude and hope for a better future, right?

With hopes of not sounding too pessimistic, however, there are no motivational or inspirational words in me.

Let’s just not end this with

mere hopes for a better future, but rather by working together to produce countries we can be proud of. At the end of the day this is our home and our identity, and nothing is worse than watching it fall apart in front of our very own eyes.

smoke of your creation.

You have officially been initiated into the highest of Arab elites. Hear the loud cries of “shu 3m ta3ml, ya hamar?” of the passerby’s, watch the sky be polluted a glorious black, and soak up your victory.

DISCLAIMER: Do not try this in non-third world countries. You will likely be arrested, flogged, and convicted with a class three felony. You have been warned.

Just another rant Nour Turkmani Staff Writer My fellow Arabs, let me tell you what’s wrong with us. We are blatantly unable to have a middle ground. We are either busy beheading our women in the name of honor, or busy showing our boobs and preaching secularism.

Yes, Miriam Klink and you socalled Arab fundamentalists, I want to thank you both for temporarily overloading me with enough hatred to reflect and write about my long held anger at Arabs.

In Lebanon, we proudly

flaunt our freedom. Sadly, there is an obscure wall of hypocrisy rising in the country we’re so proud of.

We exhibit modernization and compare ourselves to the West. Unless I have misunderstood the concept of liberty throughout my life, however, I’m sure this modernized “freedom” is not implemented properly.

No, freedom isn’t about partying all night, or dressing up provocatively, not that I’m criticizing anyone who does that. I’m merely stating that if we want to achieve equality and end sectarianism, it isn’t

December 18, 2012

Outloud · 9 September 26, 2012

Question: Do you think it’s politically incorrect to put Christmas decorations around campus?

Hayder Al Shakeri Photographer Ghassan Amro Business senior “No, it's not politically incorrect to do so. It's actually a good thing. We are in the spirit of all holidays. Even in Ramadan they did decorate the university.”

Seema Kareemi Graduate “I don't think it's a problem to put Christmas decorations because I think it's a cultural thing. It's not like saying you have to be Christian.”

Zainab Al Dabbagh Sociology senior “Yes, I think it's politically incorrect because there are Christmas trees and decorations in every faculty and building. While in Ramadan decorations were only in one smoking area. Christmas here is very extravagant. If you want to be politically correct about your holiday decorations, you need to do it for every sect and for every religion because we are in a university that has a diverse population.”

Tara Baban Public administration junior “I think it's politically correct, but I also think what's incorrect is that they don't celebrate other holidays. For example Eid or the Armenian holidays, so I feel it's unjust that they are just celebrating Christmas.”

Deema Dabbagh Environmental health senior “Yes, I do. I also think that equivalency needs to be given to other holidays that pass throughout the year. Coming from the fact that AUB claims that it is a very diverse campus, they should celebrate this diversity and take action to promote that through different religions.”

Ali AlKasake Biology sophomore “It is not really a problem because most of the AUB students are not putting it for religious reasons.

It is the most famous holiday.

Even me and my family put Christmas decorations not for what it religiously represents, but for what it represents as a holiday.

Plus, it's the longest vacation we get as AUB students.”

Lojine Kamel Alumnus “I think that political is not the terminology we should be using in the first place because politics and religion are totally different things, and they shouldn't be associated with each other in this context. So in that case, I think it's totally ridiculous to think that it's inappropriate in any way because it is an expression of celebration regardless of its religious affiliation.”

Ahmed Kansoun Environmental health senior “No, because Christmas has become a non-religious event in a way that it wouldn't hurt anyone even if they were from a different religion.”

10 . Spotlight

December 18, 2012

September 26, 2012

Students using their phones in Jafet

Student setting up for Palestinian Cultural Club event, photo credit- Heather Jaber

A tree falls by Main Gate, injuring a security guard, photo courtesy- Office of Security

The AUB Choir Choral Society performs Monday night in Assembly Hall, photo credit Mada Subaiti

Iraqi Cultural Club and Biology Student Society event -Throw of Dice,- and Hadi Mourad's new book signing, photo credit- Mohammad Azzam

Columns . 11

December 18, 2012

September 26, 2012

Health Column: Burning Christmas calories Frederic Abou Jaoude Staff Writer Christmas always brings with it the challenge to keep caloric intake at normal levels, but one can still enjoy all the festivities and keep the calories in check.

The “dk garcia ” blog posted a list of tips, which could lead to an easy loss of calories during December.

The following are just a few of these tips.

Knowing that the holidays are usually accompanied by snow, 165 calories from a Christmas lunch could be burned by ice skating for an hour.

Christmas desserts and delights are very high in

calories. However, cooking these treats in the kitchen could burn 70 calories every half an hour standing.

Traditional Christmas dinners include lots of calories, which could easily be alleviated by employing healthy alternatives.

Christmas trimmings such as bacon, sausage and sauce total more than 500 calories.

To decrease this by half, apply gravy acts as an alternative in dinners.

Christmas puddings like brandy butter and double cream are delicious, however they are high in calories.

Yogurts or creme fraiche are alternatives that would not only cut down on the calories, but also preserve the delicious

taste.

“Rocking around the Christmas Tree” is not just a song worth singing; it is also an exercise worth giving a try.

Research shows that dancing around the Christmas tree for about half an hour could burn up to 195 calories.

Given that Santa does not visit to put gifts under the tree, sleeping the whole night expecting Santa to come down the chimney burns 700 calories for children.

Decorating the house may have been a tedious task to accomplish by getting up into the dusty attic and carrying many boxes of ornaments.

However, carrying these boxes filled with baubles from the attic to the Christmas tree

for an hour would burn 350 calories. So deck the halls!

Finally, who said wrapping presents is a waste of time?

Wrapping gifts for an hour could burn 120 calories.

Source: 4.bp.blogspot.com

Environmental column: Society’s lack of water consciousness Yara Zeitoun Staff Writer Water is an essential resource, but essential is an understatement for what it represents.

The importance of water seems simple to grasp. However, Arab society, along with others, has failed to register that. Any environmentalist or geologist will agree that Arab nations generally lack water consciousness.

In our countries, this precious resource is taken for granted.

How many of us turn off the tap while brushing our teeth?

How many of us turn off the

shower while shampooing and scrubbing our bodies?

How many of us make sure we don’t leave behind half or almost full water bottles in classrooms?

Even the Lebanese water infrastructure is, at times, tilted against saving water. In the Olayan School of Business bathrooms, for example, water continuously shoots and splatters out of the automatic taps, long after people are done drying their hands. This enormous waste of water is appalling.

In developed countries, water consciousness has been embedded into people’s skulls,

just like politics have been embedded into ours. To further extend this point, a famous children's show, Barney the Dinosaur, features a song that says, “Oh, when I’m brushing my teeth I’m having so much fun, but I never let the water run.” Western societies begin teaching these simple habits to children at young ages in a fun way and reward them for their water consciousness.

Another popular practice in foreign countries is the conscious act of decreasing toilet flushes. A saying came out of this, “When it’s yellow let it mellow, when it’s brown flush it down.”

Although people might not be willing to leave their toilets unflushed, at the very least they shouldn’t leave water bottles behind or let kitchen and bathroom taps run for longer than they need to.

These small things do make a difference and save large amounts of water.

Every AUB student should leave the University as a better person, embracing modernity and intellectual revolution, and being water-conscious is a step in that direction.

Source: culturepressreleases.com

Sports column: Bizarre sports and how to play them Nour Turkmani Staff Writer We have grown bored of watching or playing football, basketball and the remaining common sports. Not only that, but sports have literally become a do-or-die matter to hardcore fans out there.

With the growing popularity of sports today, it is hard to believe that some unfamiliar ones remain out there. Thankfully, these unpopular sports are more concomitant with the notion of fun than that of

competition.

To start off, there is the peculiar chess boxing invented by the Dutch artist Lepe Rubingh. It basically conglomerates the most strenuous physical and mental sports which can lead to using your head one minute and probably losing it the next.

The rules of the game are self-evident: players alternate between rounds of chess and boxing. A match involves eleven rounds; six four-minute rounds of chess and five three-minute rounds of box-

ing.

The winner is determined when a knockout or a checkmate occurs, the opponent’s time is up in the chess round or they resign. If the game ends with a tied score, then the winner with the black piece wins.

An even more intriguing sport is bossaball, otherwise known as the all-round sport.

Conceived in Spain by Filip Eyckmans, it is very akin to the concept of volleyball -- but on a trampoline -- and combines elements of football

and gymnastics too.

Each team consists of three to five players. The attacker stands on the trampoline while the others surrounding him or her on the inflatable court. The server from the other team attempts to hit the ball in order for it to reach the opposing team’s court.

In contrast to volleyball which allows only three hits on one side of the court per team, the bossaball teams can have up to six contacts with the ball before returning it to the other side of the net. Con-

tacts with any part of the body are allowed, but they are limited to only one contact with the hands or two consecutive contacts with the feet or head per side.

We all know the benefits of sports, whether they are physical, mental or social. It is always a thrill to participate in new sports, especially ones as inventive and creative as those mentioned in this article. We should therefore look forward to playing or watching these games in Lebanon!

12 . Arts and Culture

December 18, 2012

September 26, 2012

Movie review: Bagginses? What is a Bagginses?

Elena Grissom & Sany Farajalla Staff Writers The authors herein believe an entire Outlook issue should be dedicated to the review of “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.”

However, with only 450 words, we’ll do our best to make it as concise as possible, sour-faces notwithstanding.

The film’s plot revolves around a troupe of twelve dwarves setting off on a journey riddled with danger, festering evil powers, wargs and goblins as they try to reclaim their stolen homeland. They are accompanied by an unlikely hobbit, Bilbo Baggins, and the well-known wizard-withthe-pointy-hat, Gandalf.

Anyone going in the theater expecting “The Lord of the Rings” will not make it through the film without some disappointment. On the other hand, those going in expecting the more childrenfocused and action-oriented book will be met with a superbly crafted three-hour

ride of excitement, special effects and, unfortunately, no dragon.

While the criticism of filming at 48 frames per second is valid, we still recommend seeing the movie at that frame rate at the Premiere Theater in City Mall. The new technology does take an hour for your eyes to adjust to, but when they do, the animation almost makes Blu-ray look like a grainy VCR. If you can’t make it to a 48 fps feature, however, the standard 3D is an adequate compensation, complete with rather stunning 3D effects.

In “The Hobbit,” Peter Jackson once again proves himself the master of Middle Earth with a superb casting choice. Martin Freeman in particular perfectly portrays Bilbo’s blend of a comfortloving Baggins and a mischievous Took.

Thorin Okenshield, played

by Richard Armitage, was a slightly one-dimensional character, but we will see how the rest of the series develop him. Though three or four of the dwarves were

static, most had memorable and distinct qualities.

The film’s greatest strength, however, is the way Bilbo’s journey intertwines with the wider history of Middle Earth. Without spoiling too much, the movie is a proper prelude to “The Lord of the Rings,” as it adds a muchappreciated level of depth to the entire franchise—even if it introduces a few unbookish elements.

One such element is the theme of home woven

throughout the plot. A desire for belonging, which is absent in the book, becomes the main push behind the troupe’s mission.

Despite the good cast, character development was found somewhat lacking as the action-packed scenes often whizzed by too quickly.

A slower pace would have been ideal, with more room for the depth present in “The Lord of the Rings.”

As mentioned, however, “The Hobbit” should not be

too strongly compared to “The Lord of the Rings.” As fans will tell you: The books are different, and so are the movies.

Whatever faults there are in “The Hobbit,” remember this is still act one of a much larger movie. While we will have to wait until the third one to pass final judgment, “An Unexpected Journey” makes for a solid introduction.

Now go watch it.

Source: onlyhdwalls.blogspot.com

Sitting down with Oak’s Allen Seif Heather Jaber Editor-in-Chief If you look up Oak, or Allen Seif, on the Internet, you’ll find an acoustic session featuring the guitarist and singer walking through Little Manila off of Hamra street, singing to the community of migrant workers from the Philippines.

In the video for “There Must Be A Reason (Be Your Lover),” the singer walks through the market where the workers, on their day off from their regular jobs, are selling goods. Some shy away from the camera while others join in on the rhythm and start dancing and laughing.

“We’re in a very racist country here,” said Seif, who grew up in Lebanon. “Me being there, singing to these people…I loved it.”

His sound is a mix between the Wallflowers’ Jakob Dylan, Travis and the Beatles, with a hint of Glen Hansard (it may

be the slight accent). He is an addition to the expanding folk/ acoustic genre in Lebanon, which seems to be catching up with the West.

The musician has travelled to places like Sydney, Wellington, and Paris to perform his music. He was planning on moving to London to follow his lifelong dream, but sensed something buzzing in the Beirut music scene.

“It seems like there’s something emerging in Beirut and I want to surf on that wave,” he said.

Seif hopes to follow in the footsteps of Pink Floyd’s David Gilmore or Leonard Cohen in terms of achieving the sense of serenity on stage that they are famous for.

“Pink Floyd would take you somewhere, Leonard Cohen would make you dream,” he said. “Every day when I’m doing music, this is what I pray, to get this kind of thing.”

The Oak front man says he

plays best in the deep night, when the world has gone to sleep and the traffic has taken a break for the night. The sound of the guitar in this silence, he says, is different.

This is what he hopes for on stage, and what is most difficult to achieve in a country like Lebanon, with a rowdier, harder-to-please crowd than some places.

Still, no matter what the crowd reaction, Seif chooses to remain cool.

“I don’t like grumpy artists,” said Seif. “I think if the crowd is not happy, it’s fine. Just leave it to be and next time it will be better.”

Seif will be performing at Solea V on December 23, opening for the Wanton Bishops. As they are more of a blues/rock band than Oak, the singer and guitarist said he doesn’t know what to expect from the crowd.

“Its funny because the more you care, the more you have it, and the less you care, the

less you have it. And it should be the opposite way around.”

When asked about breaking away from the working class

Photo credit: Allen Seif

in pursuit of a musical career, Seif laughs.

“You don’t break away -I’m still working class, no?”

Arts and Culture . 13

December 18, 2012

September 26, 2012

Hamra personality of the week: Garo “Eat like a king and drink like a village”

Album review: Bruno Mars’ Unorthodox Jukebox

Varak Ketsemanian Staff Writer

Nadeem Bilani Staff Writer

Have you ever had a bite of Garo’s spicy but tasty soujouk? Have you had a taste of Garo’s special sauce?

These are the expressions I have been hearing from my friends since the beginning of semester.

When you get the chance to visit Snack Garo, the first thing you’ll find on the menu is “Eat like a king and drink like a village.” Snack Garo is this sparkling and oriental place filled with joy and decorated with pictures of smiling patrons, where soft music creates a comfortable Lebanese-Armenian atmosphere.

You’re greeted there by a cheerfully bandana-ed man in his late fifties. His impressive embonpoint is reminiscent of Deep Purple’s keyboard player, Jon Lord. He also wears a remarkable Chinese necklace and welcomes customers with an “ahla bel shabeb” in a rich and multilayered voice.

He is, of course, the proprietor and the mastermind behind fine homemade Armenian dishes, chef Garo.

His snack shop is located just off Hamra, not far from AUB,

and presents the perfect place where students can relieve their stress and exhaustion after a long and tedious day at the University.

His super-spicy soujouk, for example, which is sometimes referred to as Garo’s specialty, is a heroic challenge that every client undertakes.

Although Garo stated that he started this business five or six years ago, the walls of his snack shop are covered with

photos of actors, celebrities and basketball players, who have been visiting his place ever since.

Garo cunningly characterized his food’s taste and services, saying, “Neither the service nor the flavors are subtle, but that’s just fine with us.”

If you love the sweet taste of Lebanese-Armenian cuisine, you definitely know where to go now.

Photo credit: Varak Ketsemanian

Bruno Mars first entered the music scene without warning in 2010 when he sang the chorus of B.O.B’s hit song “Nothin’ on You.” Since then, Mars has released his first studio album “Doo-Wops & Hooligans” and has enjoyed massive success in the pop industry.

Mars released his sophomore album, “Unorthodox Jukebox,” on Dec. 11. The album pays homage to music legends like Michael Jackson and Prince.

This highly anticipated extended play succeeds in mixing Mars’s safer stylistic choices with new and relatively daring ideas. This can be seen with the album’s first single, “Locked Out of Heaven.” Mars continues to produce incredibly catchy pop music while adding a fresh twist to the song, which sports an eighties-sounding instrumental.

On the piano ballad “When I Was Your Man,” Mars chronicles a pre-fame romance that went awry. Not unlike Adele’s “Someone Like You,” the song is sure to be a hit in live venues—a certain arm-waving moment—but at the same time, may be too emotional to really capture listeners on radio. If anything,

the song displays the sheer vocal brilliance Mars is capable of.

Mars explodes on the groove “Treasure,” recalling the Phoenix single "If I Ever Feel Better." On this track, Mars delivers the resurrection of disco in a hurricane of pop melodies.

“Treasure” soars with its grand harmonies as well as its reticently sexual undertones.

It is one of the highlights of the album and definitely does not sound like anything else on the radio right now.

Overall, “Unorthodox Jukebox” is the perfect follow-up for Bruno Mars.

It allows him to take some artistic freedoms, but also ensures that he won’t be fading from the music scene any time soon.

Source: media.wmg-is.com

Movie review: Rust and Bone Kameel Kassab Special to Outlook Rust and Bone is a FrenchBelgian film produced and directed by Jacques Audiard, the producer of renowned works such as “A Prophet” and “Read My Lips.”

It’s based on a short story collection by the Canadian writer Craig Davidson. It narrates the story of a single father, Ali, who, bounded by his social circumstances and destitution, is forced to move to his sister’s place in southern France.

During his quest to find meaning in the total mess of his life, he starts working as

a bouncer,always keeping his passion for kick boxing in mind. He meets Stephanie, a whale trainer, who is injured in an accident that leaves her without her legs.

In desperation, she reaches out for Ali who had just started getting involved in street fights. He begins pulling her back into the daylight showing very little pity, yet an enormous love of the little of life he had.

His character reflects paradoxical traits that keep him and his son going. For instance, he is a loving but careless father. He is a supportive yet inconsiderate friend and lover. He is

ferocious during fights, yet weak when it comes to making the right decisions.

He succeeds in insulting everyone around him, but he captures their love at the same time. The viewer would want him to succeed, yet he is very hard to admire.

The fact that they both stand at the low end of the social spectrum provides him with enough rage to break his way through, and at the same time pull her through the darkness of her own world, filling her with the will to go on through their shared transcendental moments.

The characters interact in different ways, trying

to exert each others’ views upon themselves, but their relationship is shattered by his frankness and meaningless sexual relations with other women.

His recklessness leaves his sister without a job, and his son with no one to rely on. Torn between his duties and his will to become a professional fighter, he flees into oblivion, leaving everyone behind. His final redemption is about to come when he is forced to crush his bones on a thick ice of selfishness to make things right again and save what is still valuable.

The film’s ability to capture a wide range of

themes, including honesty and its slipperiness, the choice between duty and passion, rage against social frustrations, and providing priceless and precious support with no reward, grants it a remarkable hue.

The absence of overflowing soundtracks, unneeded visual effects, and stereotypical scenes and dialogues, thrilling prolonged mute cuts and the proper capture of natural entities give a genuine sensation of realism and a captivation by the physically disabled woman and emotionally disabled man.

14 . Entertainment

December 18, 2012

September 26, 2012

Riddles

Dedication to a friend

Source: trickyriddles.com

Sera Chamseddine Contributing Writer

When you walk by it you wouldn’t buy it. But when you do buy it you wouldn’t use it. When you do use it, you wouldn’t know that you’re using it. What Is It?

Yes I have a vulnerable heart I think we’ve established that from the start but I have grown stronger than u’ll ever know

Answer: A Coffin.

Tony has been married for ten years and his wife says, “My anniversary present better be on the driveway tomorrow and it better go from 0-100 in 2 seconds.” A small package shows up for her the next morning.

What is it?

and soon enough, you shall reap what you sowed the times you left me waiting on the cruel crowded street as I gullibly waited hours, until we would meet. and you ask what is wrong, like you dont have a clue. well here’s a hint, you and I are so through.

I wasted so much time dwelling in tears thinking it was my fault you didnt want me near.

But you are nothing to me, at least not anymore.

Source: websudoku.com

Answer: A scale.

Sudoku

I lift my held high now, I used to look at the floor.

I am better than this, and I know you are not.

Go break another heart, go make some more knots. and I will stay here, surrounded by friends who actually care, and on whom I’ll depend. they’ll help me go far, and move on and succeed for I am independent, no longer in need.

Cry of the outcast Frederic Abou Jaoude Staff Writer

I may not have fame I may not have money I may not be perfect With myself to blame But I am happy Despite my defect Myself I want to tame Inhumanity I just want respect Is that too much to claim?

I just want to be – My heart to dissect Will show you the shame That you put on me?

This will not affect Us to stop the aim Our destiny It will not direct.

‫‪September 26, 2012‬‬

‫‪ . 15‬حين يغنّي الياسمين‬ ‫رمية نرد‬ ‫هادي مراد‬ ‫أُري ُد لهذا املساء يطول‪ .....‬وقلبي حنيني وقلبي خجول‬ ‫وأنت الرّسول‬ ‫وأنت‬ ‫ُ‬ ‫املسيح َ‬ ‫إلي‪َ ......‬‬ ‫َ‬ ‫وأنت الل ُ‬ ‫ّقاء يعودُ ّ‬ ‫هواك نطول‬ ‫درب‬ ‫ِ‬ ‫على قدرِ ُح ّبي لربّي أقول‪ ...‬بأني و ُ‬ ‫إليك وبعضي حنني‪.....‬و صبري نفاذٌ وشوقي عجول‪.‬‬ ‫أتيت‬ ‫ِ‬ ‫ُ‬ ‫الطلول‬ ‫تغيب‬ ‫ك شمساً‪ ...‬وشمسي‬ ‫وإنّي‬ ‫ومنك ّ‬ ‫ِ‬ ‫رجعت حل ّب ِ‬ ‫ُ‬ ‫ُ‬ ‫ك ليلي و جنمي يزول‬ ‫دت‬ ‫إليك فبع َد املغيبِ‪ .....‬يُح ّب ِ‬ ‫ِ‬ ‫وعُ ُ‬ ‫الضليل‬ ‫وليلي املُسافر ُ ضلّ الطريق‪...‬عسا َ‬ ‫ك تعودُ وتُهدي ّ‬ ‫املساء بشعري اجلميل‪.‬‬ ‫عساني أعودُ “برمي ِة نرد”‪ .....‬وأحيي‬ ‫َ‬ ‫والصديق‬ ‫الصديقة سيرينا الشوفي‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫هذه القصيدة غنّتها ّ‬ ‫هاشم عبدالقادر‪.‬‬ ‫في أمسية “رمية نرد”‪...‬‬

‫�أنت عيدي‬

‫الزهراء ماجد‬

‫أنت عيدي‪..‬‬ ‫وفي عيدي‪َ ،‬‬ ‫يقول‪ :‬لكي تبتسمني‪،‬‬ ‫وبي الصمت يقتلني‬ ‫أقول ّ‬ ‫أحبك‪،‬‬ ‫وال أكثر‪.‬‬ ‫سأخبر أبي‪ ،‬بتغيير كانوني‬ ‫عن عشرين وواحد‬ ‫بدون واحد‬ ‫لم أبلغ العمر‪،‬‬ ‫إن لم أقل‪ ،‬أح ّبك‪..‬‬ ‫أريدك معي‪،‬‬ ‫أقيدك‪ ،‬لكي ال تنجرف‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫عندما يصير املساء‪،‬‬ ‫وأرجع إلى البيت‪ ..‬وحيدة‪ ،‬في‬ ‫املساء‪،‬‬ ‫كنت قمر‬ ‫والقمر نائم‪ ،‬إن ما‬ ‫َ‬ ‫ليلي‬

‫وصورتي‪ ،‬خرساء‪..‬‬ ‫أعاتب نفسي‪،‬‬ ‫كيف ميضي العمر‪،‬‬ ‫ولم تكن في العمر‬ ‫أمي‪ ،‬عن رغبتي‬ ‫سأخبر ّ‬ ‫بتغيير يوم إحيائي‬ ‫أموات نحن‪ ،‬كنّا‬ ‫قبل أيّار‬ ‫ولدنا من ّ‬ ‫قشة الصمت‬ ‫واحلياء‬ ‫واالنهيار‬ ‫أمام عرش الشوق‬ ‫والصمت‪..‬‬ ‫وفي عيدي‪ ،‬أنت عيدي‬ ‫حتية وبعد‪،‬‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫لقلبك الصامت‪ ،‬في‬ ‫تنهداتي‬ ‫عندما جتيء‪ ،‬وال جتيء‬ ‫وإنّي أحبك فقل لي‪،‬‬

‫كيف نحب وملّا نبلغ أكثر من‬ ‫النصف في السنني‬ ‫وقلبك عرشي‬ ‫وقلبي عيناك وقلبي أمني‬ ‫احلب‬ ‫على ّ‬ ‫صباحنا كانون في النصف‬ ‫من دون يوم‬ ‫صباحي شوق دائم‬ ‫وفي عيدي‪ ،‬ال عيد عيدي‬ ‫إن لم تكن عيدي‪..‬‬ ‫أحبك‪.‬‬

‫‪ 18‬كانون األول‪2012 ،‬‬

‫‪26‬ترشين األ ّول‪2012 ،‬‬

‫‪ 18‬كانون األول‪2012 ،‬‬

‫التنجيم والفلك‪...‬وقل أعوذ برب الفلق احلد الأدنى‬

‫فريال فقيه‬

‫إذا وصفتك باجلريء حلد التهور قد‬ ‫“تتهور” في الرد‪ .‬لكن إن قلت لك‬ ‫أنك “حمال ً” ترضى‪ .‬أنت عنيد وحتب‬ ‫التملك‪ .‬متاما ً كالثور! عالقاتك تتميز‬ ‫باملرح والديبلوماسية فلم تلد وحيدا ً‬ ‫بل جوزا ًء‪ .‬وانت مرض مزمن في‬ ‫الطموح والغموض أيها السرطان‪.‬‬ ‫ولم أعد أخاف منك يا أسد‪ ،‬يا ملك‬ ‫الغابات العدوانية‪ ،‬ألن غرورك سر‬ ‫جناحك‪ .‬وللعذراء معاناة مع الشك‬ ‫والقلق على عكس امليزان احملب للحق‬ ‫والعدل‪ .‬وانتبهوا من لسعة العقرب‬ ‫اجلارحة كنقده وسخريته‪ .‬االستقامة‬ ‫قوس في قلب اجلدي‬ ‫وعزة النفس ٌ‬ ‫الصبور واخمللص‪ .‬وأخيرا ً ‪،‬مترد الدلو‬ ‫في الفلسفة العميقة وفي محيط‬ ‫األسرار‪ ،‬ملجأ لكل حوت يستغرق في‬ ‫اخليال‪.‬‬ ‫وأنتم تقرأون هذه السطور‪ ،‬قد‬ ‫صفات من‬ ‫“وجدمت” أنفسكم أو‬ ‫ً‬ ‫شخصياتكم‪ .‬ففرحتم إن كانت‬ ‫صفات جيدة وإنزعجتم إن لم ت ِلق‬ ‫تطلعاتكم‪ .‬وكأن الذي قيل واقع ال‬ ‫مفر منه !من أي كوكب أتيتم وأي‬ ‫برج تسلقتم؟ قولوا لي كيف ترون‬ ‫مضحك‬ ‫الفضاء من موقعكم؟‬ ‫ٌ‬ ‫مبكي‪...‬هذا هو رأيي‪.‬‬ ‫ندعي الفهم واإلميان وننفي كل‬ ‫عقيدة تستند إلى علم التنجيم‬ ‫والتنبؤ‪ ،‬إال في ليلة رأس السنة‬ ‫اجلديدة وليلة نهاية السنة القدمية‪.‬‬

‫وكأننا كل ما وجدنا أنفسنا في‬ ‫مفصلي نضعف‪ ،‬أو نسمح‬ ‫موقف‬ ‫ٍ‬ ‫ٍ‬ ‫لنفسنا “باخلطيئة”‪ .‬كل مرة نقترب‬ ‫من هذا التاريخ أسأل نفسي ملاذا‬ ‫يهتم اجلميع باألبراج والتنبؤات ؟ هل‬ ‫ألننا نريد أن نلوم أحدا ً أو شيئا ً ما‬ ‫لعدم حصولنا على ما اردناه ومتنيناه؟‬ ‫إنتاج‬ ‫ليس لالحالم واألمنيات تاريخ‬ ‫ٍ‬ ‫وصالحية‪ .‬فإن لم حتصل بعد‪ ،‬هو‬ ‫ألن الوقت لم يحن ‪ .‬إرحموا الوقت‬ ‫والسنني كما هي ترحمنا‪ .‬ال تتقيدوا‬ ‫خ ليس هو بقاتل أحالمنا وال‬ ‫بتاري ٍ‬ ‫بخالق أيامنا‪.‬‬

‫لن أطول في تعريف علم التنجيم‬ ‫وال علم الفلك‪ ،‬وإن كان كثيرون‬ ‫ال يعلمون أن الفلك هو حقا ً علم‬ ‫األجرام السماوية والظواهر التي‬ ‫حتصل في الفضاء اخلارجي مرتبطا ً‬ ‫بالفيزياء والكيمياء واألرصاد اجلوية‪.‬و‬ ‫هو العلم الذي يُستخدم في رؤية‬ ‫هالل األشهر و منها هالل شهر‬ ‫رمضان‪ .‬بينما التنجيم يتشبه‬ ‫بال”علم” فيعرف نفسه على أنه‬ ‫دراسة لألجرام السماوية التي قد تؤثر‬ ‫على الشخصية اإلنسانية واألمور‬ ‫الدنيوية‪ .‬إذاً‪ ،‬فالتنجم هو ذلك “النور”‬ ‫املطمئن في ليلة الواحد والثالثني‬ ‫من كانون األول‪ .‬ويا ليتنا نظل نعيش‬ ‫في الظلمة إن كان هذا هو النور الذي‬ ‫يوقظنا‪.‬‬ ‫األحالم والطموح واألمنيات مرتبطة‬ ‫بالدرجة األولى بنا وبشخصيتنا‬ ‫وتصرفاتنا وأيضا ً بالظروف التي حتيط‬

‫ع�شرون و واحد من الوداع‬ ‫الزهراء ماجد‬ ‫في األمس‪ 13 ،‬كانون األول‪ ،‬ليل‬ ‫ميالدي‪ ،‬كنت أمشي في حرم‬ ‫اجلامعة‪ ،‬أغادر املكتبة صعودا ً‬ ‫لكي أستقل سرفيسا ً من‬ ‫“املاين غايت”‪“ ،‬في الغد سأصبح‬ ‫عشرينا ً وواحداً!”‪...‬‬ ‫لم أكن يوما ً من اللواتي يخشني‬ ‫النضوج‪ ،‬فأنا أنظر إليه من باب‬ ‫مرور الوقت‪ ،‬واالستفادة منه‪ ،‬من‬ ‫كلّ يوم فيه‪ ..‬إال أ ّن الالفت مبرور‬ ‫هذا الوقت هو نظرتي للعالم‬ ‫املتغيرة‪ ...‬الزهراء التي متشي اآلن‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫على درج “املاين غايت” مرتدية‬ ‫سيدة‬ ‫فستانا ً أسود‪ ،‬تبدو كأن ّها ّ‬ ‫من اجملتمع‪ ،‬تنظر لصيدقاتها‬ ‫الصغيرات في اجلامعة اللواتي‬ ‫ما برحن يكملن سنتهن األولى‪،‬‬

‫بنا وبالقدر املكتوب لنا‪ .‬ليست إذا ً‬ ‫خلطة سحرية حتت تأثير التنجيم‪،‬‬ ‫فال داعي بأن منضي ليلة رأس ألسنة‬ ‫مهمومني مبستقبلنا‪ .‬مراجعة‬ ‫أنفسنا واجنازاتنا و فشلنا وما نطمح‬ ‫إليه من أهداف أمر ٌ ضروري لكننا قد‬ ‫ننجزه في أي يوم من ألسنة دون أن‬ ‫نتأثر مبنبئ أو منجم‪ .‬كونوا مؤمنني‬ ‫باملنطق ومنطقيني باإلميان‪.‬‬ ‫للسنة اجلديدة‪ ،‬امتنى النجاح لكل‬ ‫مجاهد في سبيل العمل‪ ،‬إن كان‬ ‫العمل مهنيا ً أم علمياً‪.‬‬

‫امتنى السعادة لكل شخص حط‬ ‫في مطار قلبه احلزن ولم يسافر‬ ‫بعد‪ .‬امتنى لكل فرد احلب واحملبة‪...‬‬ ‫فال فرق بينهما‪ .‬ألن ال حب يولد دون‬ ‫محبة وكل محبة تكبر حباً‪ .‬امتنى‬ ‫إنسان‬ ‫الطمأنينة النفسية لكل‬ ‫ٍ‬ ‫عرقلته الشكوك‪ .‬وللعالم امتنى أن‬ ‫يصبح العدل قاعدة لسالمه‪ ،‬فأي‬ ‫سالم نعيشه اليوم وهناك من ميوت‬ ‫ٍ‬ ‫جوعا ومن يفرش بيته ذهباً؟‬ ‫امتنى كل ذلك وأكثر وأكثر‪...‬بعيدا ً عن‬ ‫ب قد يكسف برجكم أو أي‬ ‫أي كوك ٍ‬ ‫جنم ٍة قد تلمع في فضائكم أو أي شر‬ ‫قد يأتيكم أو أي سح ٍر قد يؤذيكم‬ ‫أو أي حس ٍد قد يصيبكم ‪ ...‬امتنى أن‬ ‫يبتعد عنكم كل قلق وقل أعوذ برب‬ ‫الفلق!‬

‫آراء حرة ‪16 .‬‬

‫رائف بيضاوي‬

‫معاش مواطن عادي بتتراوح وظيفتو‬ ‫بني قطاع عام وقطاع خاص‪..‬تزامنا ً مع‬ ‫إنو معاشات هل مواطنني تتراوح بني‬ ‫الـ‪ ٥٠٠‬ألف وملليون ‪ ٥٠٠‬ألف ‪...‬والفرق‬ ‫بسيط هوي بس مليون! بس طبعا ً‬ ‫مليون مشكله للمواطن “كحد أدنى” !‬ ‫إذا هل مواطن بدو يجيب حلمة و دجاج‬ ‫لبيتو (بس طبعا ً فاسدين) بدو بحدود‬ ‫ال ‪ ٣٥٠‬ألف وهيدا إستعمال مرة كل‬ ‫أسبوع ويدبر راسو شو ياكل بقية‬ ‫األيام!‬ ‫إذا هل مواطن بدو يجيب دوا إلو أو‬ ‫لعيلتو (بس طبعا ً فاسد) بدو ‪ ٢٠٠‬ألف‬ ‫ليرة إذا ما في مرض مزمن عم نحكي!‬ ‫إذا هل مواطن أو حدا من عيلتو بدو‬ ‫عملية جراحية وأكيد ما في تأمني‬ ‫خاص ألنو صعب يتأمن حقو‪،‬بس يلي‬ ‫أكيد إنو في ضمان من ورا شغلو‬ ‫الفظيع (بس طبعا ً ضمان فاسد)‬ ‫وبيضطر ياخد مصاري من حدا حلتى‬ ‫يقدر يفوت ويتعالج !‬ ‫إذا هل مواطن َحب يعلّم والدو مبدرسة‬ ‫خاصة وخلينا نعتبر عندو ولد أو ولدين‬ ‫‪ ،‬بدو ‪ ٥٠٠‬الف ليرة إذا مقصنت بالشهر(‬ ‫بس طبعا ً علمنا فاسد )!‬ ‫إذا هل مواطن حب يشتري غراض أو‬ ‫يضهر عيلتو الزم يدفع ضريبة على كل‬ ‫شي بقيمة ‪ ١٠‬باملئة(طبعا ً ألنو هيك‬ ‫قرارات فاسده ومنا مدروسة)وكحد‬ ‫أدنى بيطلع دافع شي ‪ ٢٨٠‬ألف ليرة‬ ‫بالشهر !‬ ‫إذا هل مواطن بدو يعبي بنزين طبعا ً يا‬ ‫قبل االربعاء أو بعدو ألنو بورصة نهار‬

‫املقبلة؟ ال أحد‪.‬‬ ‫كأن ّهن أخواتها الصغيرات‪..‬‬ ‫إلى الزمالء‪ ،‬من دون التسمية‬ ‫هذه الفتاة الواحد والعشرينية‬ ‫أقصر بنسيان أحد‪،‬‬ ‫لكي ال ّ‬ ‫التي متشي على درج املاين غايت أستطيع أيضا ً أن أنظر ملا “كنزنه” والعتب على الذاكرة‪:‬‬ ‫في هذه السنوات الثالث في‬ ‫ليست الزهراء التي دخلت‬ ‫اغتنموا الوقت‪ ،‬عدوّنا جميعا‪ً،‬‬ ‫اجلامعة‪:‬‬ ‫اجلامعة األميريكية في بيروت‬ ‫منذ ثالث سنوات في ربيع ‪- .2010‬علوم ال تنتهي‬ ‫واجعلوا للزمن شهادة عليكم إن‬ ‫تعزيز للنفس‬‫أستطيع أن أنظر إلى عمري‬ ‫رحلتم يوما ً عن أ ّي مكان‪.‬‬ ‫كأن ّه حلظة متنقّ لة من التجارب ‪-‬أصدقاء ال يق ّدرون بالكالم‬ ‫إلى الصديقات املقرّبات‪ ،‬واألح ّبة‬ ‫االجتماعية والدراسية والنفسية وإلى أسرة األوتلوك‪ ،‬لست أمتنّى‬ ‫األح ّبة‪،‬‬ ‫في هذه اللحظة‪ ،‬يوم ميالدي‬ ‫إلى نادين‪ ،‬نور‪ ،‬رنيم‪ ،‬سيرين‪ ،‬هبة‪،‬‬ ‫والشخصية والعاطفية‪ .‬ثالث‬ ‫(وهل لألمنيات من وقت غير‬ ‫سنوات مضني على اثمرار‬ ‫روال‪ ،‬مروة‪ ،‬حوراء وغيره ّن‪...‬‬ ‫يوم امليالد للتحقق؟) سوى أن‬ ‫الشجرة املزروعة في القلب‪،‬‬ ‫إلى أمني‪.‬‬ ‫أستطيع إكمال دراستي لكي ال‬ ‫لكي تصبح جنّة من ذكريات‬ ‫أستغني عنكم‪.‬‬ ‫عزيزة‪ .‬وبعد شه ٍر من اآلن‪ ،‬أودّع‬ ‫لم أكن يوما من احملبني للقدر‬ ‫هذه املرحلة مكملة اختصاصي إلى العزيزتني مدى وفريال‪،‬‬ ‫ومفاجآته ح ّتى فاجأني بك ّن‪-‬‬ ‫شهادتي صامتة عندما أريد‬ ‫بكم‪ ...‬والقدر الكفيل بجمعي‬ ‫بالعلوم اخملبرية‪ ،‬وتفرّعي باألدب‬ ‫أدري‬ ‫ولست‬ ‫إليكما‪،‬‬ ‫الكتابة‬ ‫العامة‪ .‬أودّع‬ ‫العربي والصحة‬ ‫علي نعم‬ ‫هلل‬ ‫يغدر‪.‬‬ ‫لن‬ ‫بالغوالي‪،‬‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫هل أشكر االوتلوك أم أشكر‬ ‫هذه الصفحة وال أعرف إلى أيّة‬ ‫كثيرة‪ ،‬شكري قصير عليها‪،‬‬ ‫صفحة سأنتقل‪ ،‬ومن منّا يعرف القدر الذي جمعي بنجمتني من‬ ‫أهمها‪ ،‬نعمة األمان‪ ،‬وطني‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫السماء على أرض قلبي؟‬ ‫مخبوء له في الدقيقة‬ ‫ما هو‬ ‫فيك ّن‪-‬فيكم‪.‬‬ ‫ٌ‬

‫االربعاء البنزين(بس طبعا ً حتى بعض‬ ‫من بنزينا فاسد ومخلوط للزعبرة)‬ ‫وكحد أدنى إذا بدنا نساير منقول ‪٢٠٠‬‬ ‫الف ليرة بنزين بالشهر‬ ‫إذا هل مواطن حب ميد خط إشتراك”‬ ‫إحتياط في حال قطعت الكهربا” بدو‬ ‫يدفع ‪ ٤٠٠‬الف ليرة ل ‪ ١٠‬أمبير(طبعا ً‬ ‫ألنو أصحاب املوتورات فاسدين وحرامية‬ ‫ومش متبعني التسعيرة)!‬ ‫إذا هل مواطن حب يتكل عل‬ ‫كهربا(أكيد حتفسدلو البراد والغسالة‬ ‫والتلفاز)وكحد أدنى بني تصليح أو‬ ‫تغيير قطع بدو ‪١٥٠‬لف ليرة)!‬ ‫فإذا ً في خالصة‪ ،‬املواطن “كحد أدنى”‬ ‫هو محروم من معظم األشياء وبذات‬ ‫الوقت هو مكسور ماديا ً و يتفسد‬ ‫يوما ً بعد يوم! فلشو عملوا حد أدنى‬ ‫وانت أصال ً احلد األدنى من األشياء مش‬ ‫َ‬ ‫متوفرتلك وال حتى فيك توصال! مش‬ ‫متأكدين من املواطن إذا قادر ميشي‬ ‫هيك ‪ ،‬بس يلي متأكدين منو إنو احلد‬ ‫األكبر من املواطنني يعيشون حتت‬ ‫احلد األدنى ‪ ،‬وبح ٍد أدنى من املعيشة ‪،‬‬ ‫وبفساد يفوق احلد !‬ ‫هوي زيتو هل مواطن ما عم يتحرك‪،‬‬ ‫ما عم بدافع عن حقوقو‪ ،‬راضي باحلد‬ ‫األدنى‪ ،‬ماشي بنفس الروتني إنو مقتنع‬ ‫هيدا لبنان الفاسد يلي ما بيتغير وإنو‬ ‫تعودنا نعيش هيك!‬ ‫بهنيكن عهيك لبنان فاسد طامحني‬ ‫في للمستقبل‪ ،‬بس هيدا رأيكن وهيدي‬ ‫أفعالكن!‬ ‫بس بالنسبة إلي‪ ،‬بدي امشي على هوى‬ ‫الشاعر‪ :‬لكم لبنانكم ولي لبناني ‪...‬‬

‫أستطيع اليوم أن أكمل‪ ،‬بكلّ ما‬ ‫ت‪ ،‬بواحد وعشرين‬ ‫أوتيته من ذا ٍ‬ ‫القوة‪ ،‬من النفس‪ ،‬من نفسي‪:‬‬ ‫من ّ‬ ‫الزهراء‪.‬‬ ‫ماذا في الغد؟‬ ‫لست أدري‪.‬‬ ‫“على قدر حلمك تتسع األرض”‬ ‫قال درويش‬ ‫واحللم ال تسعه األرض‪ ،‬إن لم‬ ‫يسعه القلب‪.‬‬ ‫عشرون وواحد من الوداع‪ ،‬لكي‬ ‫ال يكون للوداع نصيب أكثر‪ .‬أل ّن‬ ‫الوداع سقيم‪.‬‬ ‫أودّع ما مضى‪ ،‬أتنفّ س‪ ،‬بعمق‪14 ..‬‬ ‫كانون األول‪ ،‬يوم جديد‪...‬‬

‫‪26‬ترشين األ ّول‪2012 ،‬‬

‫‪ 18‬كانون األول‪2012 ،‬‬

‫‪ . 17‬آراء حرة‬

‫بني ال�سنتني ثانيتني و بعد‪...‬‬

‫دياال أحوش‬

‫“لم أنت ِه منه بعد‪ ،‬ال ميكنه أن يرحل” قالت‬ ‫إحدى التلميذات متوجهة للعام احلالي‪.‬‬ ‫أخذت تتحدث مع العام و كأنه كيا ٌن‪ ،‬جس ٌد‬ ‫له حواسه‪ ،‬له إرادته و يأخذ قراراته اخلاصة‬ ‫متحكما ً بحياة اجلميع‪ .‬تلك الفتاة أرادت‬ ‫أكثر مما أعطاها هذا العام‪ ،‬و ذاك الفتى‬ ‫يستعجل العام الرحيل‪ ،‬فعلى حد قوله‬ ‫“زوّدا‪ ،‬بعد ما راح و صار آخذ كل شي معه”‪.‬‬ ‫بعد سؤال عدد من التالميذ عن أول ما‬ ‫يخطر ببالهم عندما يفكرون بالعام احلالي‪،‬‬ ‫تنوعت األجوبة‪.‬جاءت تعابير الوجه س ّباقة‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫للكالم‪ .‬ترى اإلبتسامة اخلجولة‪ ،‬النظرة‬ ‫املليئة بالعشق و األمل على وجه تلك‬ ‫التي عاشت في هذه السنة بداي ًة لقصة‬ ‫حب وصفتها باخليالية‪ .‬أما السؤال نفسه‬ ‫له وقع الفاجعة ملن استحضر إثره فراق‬ ‫حبيب‪ ،‬صديق‪ ،‬أو حتى فرد من العائلة‪.‬‬ ‫بني من عاش” خسارة كبيرة” و من عاشت‬ ‫“أول سكرة من ميل‪ ،‬و أول قصة حب من‬ ‫تاني ميل” قاسم مشترك‪ .‬اإلثنني تبرمجوا‬ ‫ليعتبروا العام من حمل األفراح و األتراح‪.‬‬ ‫اإلثنني متنّوا أن يحمل العام القادم كل اخلير‪،‬‬ ‫آملني “إنو نعيش و ناخذ عمر هالسنة”‪،‬‬

‫معتبرين السنة القادمة بداية جديدة‬ ‫ملرحلة جديدة‪.‬‬ ‫في بداية كل عام‪ ،‬يعقد اجلميع جلسة‬ ‫تشاور مع النفس تكون حصيلتها‬ ‫تشكيلة العام القادم من األماني و القرارات‬ ‫املصيرية‪ .‬فتصبح الساعة الثانية عشر‬ ‫مساءا ً من صباح األول من كانون الثاني‬ ‫نقطة التحول املرتقبة من اجلميع‪“ .‬أنا‬ ‫نظم وقتي”‪.‬‬ ‫قررت أعمل رجيم”‪ ،‬و “أنا قررت ّ‬ ‫“و اهلل أنا بدي حب‪ ،‬ممنوع تخلص السنة‬ ‫بال حب” و يبقى الرد الواقعي الوحيد “كل‬ ‫بغير‬ ‫سنة بقول بدي و بدي و باآلخر ما ّ‬ ‫شي”‪ .‬بعد استقبال العام اجلديد و إدراك‬ ‫أن العام لن يأتي و معه بعض القوى اخلارقة‬ ‫ستغير مسيرة حياتنا و تبدل طريقة‬ ‫التي‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫تعاملنا مع األمور‪ ،‬نفيق من سكرة سهرتنا‬ ‫و “بعد السكرة بتوعا الفكرة”‪ .‬نؤ ّجل قرارات‬ ‫العام إلستحقاق آخر فآخر و جند أنفسنا‬ ‫مع أمنيات العام القادم نفسها‪.‬‬ ‫يبقى احلديث عن كيفية إمضاء ليلة رأس‬ ‫السنة و رمزيتها‪ .‬فماغي فرح و أخواتها‬ ‫ميضني ليلتهن بإخبارنا عن مسيرة حياتنا‬ ‫و عن مستقبل بالدنا في العام القادم‪ .‬من‬ ‫ساعده احلظ و اع ُتبر برجه من احملظوظني‬ ‫بدأ سنته بإيجابية و “املعتر الي سنته‬

‫بشعة”‪ ،‬صدق أن عامه مقيط وراح يجذب‬ ‫السيئة‪ .‬يصبح عامه‬ ‫بسلبيته األحداث‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫يتوج ماغي‬ ‫و‬ ‫النبوءة‬ ‫تتحقق‬ ‫فعال ً سيئ‪،‬‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫و أخواتها آلهة التن ّبؤ‪ .‬بعيدا ً عن قراءة‬ ‫املستقبل‪ ،‬تتنوع املشاريع ليلة رأس السنة‪.‬‬ ‫رأس السنة ألحدهم كانت ببساطة عبارة‬ ‫عن “قنينة فودكا كبيرة كتير” و آلخر فرصة‬ ‫أخرى النتقاد الشعب اللبناني فبنظره‬ ‫ليقوس‬ ‫“اللبناني ينتظهر راس السنة‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫إبتهاجاً” و طبعا ً بعضهم يسهر مع األهل‬ ‫بعض‬ ‫و البعض اآلخر مع األصدقاء‪ .‬و‬ ‫ٌ‬ ‫منسي يسهر بخدمة األهل و األصدقاء في‬ ‫سهراتهم باملقاهي و املطاعم و املالهي‬ ‫الليلية‪.‬‬ ‫مع أن احلد الفاصل بني السنتني ثانيتني‪.‬‬ ‫لكن لهاتني الثانيتني بعدا ً آخر‪ .‬الثانية‬ ‫األخيرة من العام املنقضي مسؤولة عن‬ ‫كل أفعال ذلك العام‪ ،‬أما الثانية األولى من‬ ‫العام اجلديد فتحمل أحالمنا جميعاً‪ .‬في‬ ‫النهاية‪ ،‬و من دون أن نفكر بعمق األمور‬ ‫نستقبل السنة مبتهجني‪ ،‬لعلنا ندرك دون‬ ‫أن نعي ذلك‪ ،‬أن نعمة احلياة بحد ذاتها أكبر‬ ‫من كل خيبة أمل ميكن ألي سنة أن حتملها‪،‬‬ ‫فنحتفل و ببساطة باحلياة مرة كل عام‪.‬‬

‫�أنا م�ش كافر‪...‬‬ ‫فرح البعيني‬

‫نصنع فيدرالية طائفية داخل اجلامعة فكل‬

‫منا يقسم اجلامعة حسب طائفته فنحصل‬ ‫في كل يوم تطأ قدمي أرض هذه اجلامعة أشكر‬

‫نحن على منطقة جافت و أنتم حتصلون على‬

‫ربي ‪ .‬ألن في هذا املكان كل ما يستحق الشكر‬

‫نقسم الصفوف و األساتذة‬ ‫وست ‪ ،‬أو تعالوا ّ‬ ‫على هذا املنهاج! هذه النبتة الطائفية التي‬ ‫زرعوها فينا عندما كنا صغارا ً يجب أن نقتلعها‬

‫أن تفطر مع صديقك املسلم خالل شهر رمضان‬

‫‪ ،‬صديقي عليك أن تأخذ هذا الصف لكي تفهم‬

‫املبارك و أن تصلي مع صديقك اآلخر املسيحي‬

‫من هو اآلخر و أن تعرف أن هذا اآلخر يشاركك‬

‫في الكنيسة خالل امليالد‪ ،‬هذه النعمة التي‬

‫في الكثير من أفكارك‪ ،‬ال بل علينا جميعا ً أن‬

‫من أصغر املعالم إلى النّاس التي جتوب هذا‬

‫العالم ‪ .‬إنه هذا املكان الرحب الذي ميكنك فيه‬

‫قلما يفقهها تلميذ األميركية ‪ ،‬هي نعمة ال‬

‫نبدأ بفهم اآلخر و هذا الفهم يبدأ عندما نقرر‬

‫جندها بكثرة في لبنان ‪ .‬ففي هذا الزمن الذي‬ ‫تعلو من خالله املنابر محفزة على املذهبية و‬

‫أن نفهم أنفسنا أكثر‪ .‬ال أقدر أن أتخيل أننا في‬ ‫القرن احلادي و العشرين شخصا ً يعيش على‬

‫التقوقع و التخلف‪ ،‬ق ُ ّدر على هذا املكان أن يقرّب‬ ‫املسافات التي ولدت من رحم الطائفية ‪ ،‬لقد‬

‫سطح الكرة األرضية و يتفاعل مع العالم من‬ ‫حوله بشكل طبيعي فيما عقله يبقى نائما ً‬

‫ق ُ ّدر لهذا املكان أن يعلمك أن تعرف اآلخر و حتبه‬

‫في كهف العصور احلجرية فيعتبر أن التزود‬

‫فتحترم وجوده و بالتالي حتترم رأيه‪ ،‬ألننا اليوم‬

‫بالعلوم السماوية االخرى هو جزء من املسببات‬ ‫التي تؤدي إلى الكفر! غدا ً سأذهب إلى اجلامعة‬

‫نحتاج إلى هذه العقلية ‪ .‬لكن مهال ً إن األمر‬ ‫ليس دقيقا ً ! ففي إحدى املرات السابقة التي‬

‫لكن في نظري أن بقعة من البقاع حتتاج إلى‬

‫كنت أجالس فيها أصدقائي في اجلامعة ع ّبر‬

‫إعادة صياغة ملفهوم العيش املشترك ملفهوم‬

‫أحدهم عن رفضه التسجيل في صفوف ت ّدرس‬ ‫مبادئ دين يناقض دينه‪ ،‬على ح ّد قوله ‪.‬إذا ً تعالوا‬

‫التق ّبل للرأي اآلخر‪ ،‬فكيف لهذه البقاع أن حتلّق‬

‫نسترجع أننا بالد احلروب األهلية و بالد العقلية‬

‫هو عدونا ألنه إختار أن يفكر بطريقة أخرى‪ ،‬ألنه‬

‫الرجعية املنقولة باجلينات الوراثية و بالعصبية‬

‫إختار أن يعيش على طريقته‪ ،‬نعم خطيئة اآلخر‬

‫الطائفية‪ ،‬تعالوا لننسى للحظة أننا نعيش‬

‫مخير أما نحن فمسيرون!‬ ‫أنه‬ ‫ّ‬

‫منحي كل ما خطه القلم في األعلى‪ ...‬تعالوا‬

‫في نعمة التنوع هذه ‪ ،‬زد على ذلك تعالوا‬

‫خارج السرب و هي ال تعرف أن لآلخر يد ممدودة‬ ‫للسير سويا ً نحو املستقبل‪ ،‬بل بنظره هذا اآلخر‬

‫اللعب يف زمن احلرب‬

‫أرنست خوري‬ ‫في احلدث من جهة‪ ،‬وفي منزل‬ ‫اجل ّد واجل ّدة وحديقته الكبيرة في‬ ‫حرب ظننّا ونحن أطفال كفرشيما من جهة ثانية‪ .‬زم َنني‬ ‫كان زمن ٍ‬ ‫بأنها بطبيعتها ال تنتهي‪ .‬هكذا ال ثالث لهما‪ ،‬فبينهما لم يكن‬ ‫اقتنعنا من دون أن يزعجنا األمر‬ ‫هناك وجود للشارع‪ .‬كان الشارع‬ ‫كثيراً‪ ،‬كون ألعاب امللجأ كثيرة‪،‬‬ ‫كنت‬ ‫أنني‬ ‫لدرجة‬ ‫ي‬ ‫ألم‬ ‫ا‬ ‫و‬ ‫عد‬ ‫ّ ّ‬ ‫ُ‬ ‫وحياة امللجأ مليئة بألعاب‬ ‫ألقي كرتي من الشباك لكي‬ ‫ومغامراتهم‬ ‫الكبار وقصصهم‬ ‫بحجة‬ ‫الشارع‬ ‫إلى‬ ‫النزول‬ ‫ر‬ ‫أبر‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫التي ميكننا املشاركة فيها ولو‬ ‫استعادة الكرة‪ .‬كانت الطريق‬ ‫ا‬ ‫ن‬ ‫ك‬ ‫ألمي خطر املوت‬ ‫بالنسبة‬ ‫توازي‬ ‫باملشاهدة واالستماع حصراً‪ّ .‬‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫محظوظني ألننا وُلدنا في احلرب‬ ‫بقذيفة هاون أو رصاصة قنص‬ ‫وكبرنا معها‪ ،‬على عكس الذين‬ ‫مثلما حصل مع أبناء عائلة‬ ‫حينا‪ .‬مفهوم‬ ‫كانت أعمارهم ‪ 6‬أعوام أو ‪ 7‬أو ‪ 10‬من آل حبيقة في ّ‬ ‫عندما انطلقت رحلة االقتتال‪.‬‬ ‫املوت لم يكن واضحا ً بالنسبة‬ ‫ً‬ ‫تغيرت األمور عليهم كثيرا لطفولتنا‪ ،‬لذلك كان على أمي‬ ‫هؤالء ّ‬ ‫محاولة شرح أسباب املنع‪ ،‬حينا ً‬ ‫بني “ما قبل وما بعد”‪ ،‬بعكس‬ ‫بأ ّن الشارع “للزعران”‪ ،‬وأحيانا ً‬ ‫جيلنا الذي لم يطرأ تغيير كبير‬ ‫على طفولته وعلى ألعابه بسبب بأ ّن السيارات عمياء تدهس‬ ‫احلرب‪ .‬هكذا‪ ،‬كانت طبيعة‬ ‫األطفال‪ .‬أما البديل‪ ،‬فكان حتويل‬ ‫كلها‬ ‫ألعابنا‬ ‫األمور حت ّتم أن تكون‬ ‫برمته إلى ملعب حقيقي‪.‬‬ ‫املنزل‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫مستوحاة من احلرب وأجوائها‪.‬‬ ‫أمي أطفال البناية‪،‬‬ ‫تستدعي ّ‬ ‫وتغير يوميا ً‬ ‫كانت ألعابنا مضبوطة في‬ ‫ألعابنا‪،‬‬ ‫كل‬ ‫لنا‬ ‫وتفرد‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫زم َنني اث َنني‪ :‬داخل املنزل وامللجأ‬ ‫ديكور املنزل لي ّتسع لشيطناتنا‬

‫وأغراضنا وجنودنا البالستيكية‬ ‫وصراخنا‪ .‬كان األمر متفَ قا ً عليه‬ ‫مع جيران الطابق‪ ،‬لذلك كانت‬ ‫أبواب املنازل الثالث التي يتألف‬ ‫منها طابقنا مشرَّعة دوما ً أيام‬ ‫يتحول الطابق‬ ‫الصيف‪ ،‬لكي‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫كلّه ملعبا ً واحدا ً مفتوحاً‪،‬‬ ‫خصوصا ً أللعاب الصبيان من‬ ‫“غميضة” و”حرب”‪ ،‬تلك التي‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫تتطلّب إيجاد مخابئ و”متاريس”‬ ‫وتقاذُف رصاصات من كبسون‬ ‫وكرات بالستيكية‪ .‬كان ذلك قبل‬ ‫وصول “الثورة االلكترونية” في‬ ‫تسعينات القرن املاضي‪ ،‬ومعها‬ ‫الـ”أتاري” والـ”سيغا”‪ ،‬على األقل‬ ‫إلى منزلنا‪.‬‬ ‫غريب أمر األهل‪ ..‬أو أهلي أنا‬ ‫حتديداً‪ .‬كأ ّن فوبيا احلرب كان‬ ‫تزول من رؤوسهم عندما‬ ‫يتركوننا “نفلت” على هوانا في‬ ‫كفرشيما أيام كانت “قرية”‪،‬‬ ‫رغم أن ّها كانت جبهة حامية‬ ‫في جميع الفصول تقريباً‪ .‬كأ ّن‬ ‫أهلنا أقنعوا أنفسهم بأن املوت‬ ‫ال يطال األطفال في احلدائق‬ ‫واحلقول وعلى رؤوس األشجار‪.‬‬ ‫هناك حتديداً‪ ،‬كانت حربا ً مؤ َّجلة‬ ‫تدور رحاها على شكل لعبة‪ ،‬في‬ ‫حديقتنا على طريق الساقية‬ ‫ملَن يعرف املنطقة‪ ،‬بني “قومنا”‬ ‫من جهة‪ ،‬وأوالد مدرسة كنّا‬

‫نسميها “مدرسة املتني”‪ ،‬التي‬ ‫أسماء‪ .‬ال أظنني استطيع أن‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫كان يقطنها “غرباء”‬ ‫مهجرين من اصفها لك كلها فإن قوانينها‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫اجلنوب والبقاع من جهة ثانية‪.‬‬ ‫وشروطها تفاصيلها ال حتضرني‬ ‫نحضر أنفسنا‬ ‫سنوات ظللنا‬ ‫اآلن‪ .‬لم يبقى في قاع دماغي‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫للمعركة الفاصلة‪ .‬تخزين‬ ‫منها سوى ذكريات مبهمة‪ ،‬وصور‬ ‫احلجارة حتت أشجار الزيتون‬ ‫متقطعة ال استطيع أن أعيد‬ ‫كان يجري بإشراف “كبارنا”‪ ،‬أي‬ ‫حبكها اآلن‪ .‬إمنا أذكر جيدا ً أنها‬ ‫املراهقني من ذوي الـ‪ 13‬والـ‪14‬‬ ‫كانت ألعابا ً منبثقة من طبيعة‬ ‫عاماً‪ .‬كذلك كان حتضير “املقالع” اجلبل والوادي‪ .‬كانت ألعاب قوة‬ ‫مهمة‬ ‫و”النقيفات” اخلشبية‬ ‫وعنف وصالبة‪ .‬كانت ألعاب‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫تتطلب خبرة األكبر سنّاً‪ .‬كانت‬ ‫األوالد األقوياء الذين أبقت عليهم‬ ‫التحضيرات لساعة الصفر مع‬ ‫احلياة في القرية‪ .‬الضعفاء هناك‬ ‫أوالد مدرسة امل َتني (ال أدري ملاذا‬ ‫في القرية ميوتون وال يلعبون!”‬ ‫كان اسمها كذلك) جتري من‬ ‫مقطع من كتاب “إسمع يا رضا”‬ ‫دون علم ذوينا‪ .‬كنّا نعرف من‬ ‫للكاتب أنيس فريحة‪.‬‬ ‫“عمالئنا” أ ّن “األعداء” في املدرسة‬ ‫يتحضرون بدورهم لالنقضاض‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫يتناول ملحق “شباب السفير”‬ ‫وانتهت‬ ‫السنوات‬ ‫ت‬ ‫مر‬ ‫علينا‪.‬‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫هذا األسبوع األلعاب التي‬ ‫الصغيرة‬ ‫وحربنا‬ ‫احلقيقية‪،‬‬ ‫احلرب‬ ‫طبعت طفولة الكثيرين في‬ ‫املؤ َّجلة ماتت بفعل مرور الزمن‪،‬‬ ‫فترات زمنية مختلفة‪ .‬في‬ ‫من دون أن تندلع ولو لساعة‬ ‫هذا امللحق سيعود الزمالء‬ ‫واحدة‪ .‬أما اليوم‪ ،‬فال يزال تنظيف لطفولتهم ليحكوا عن بعض‬ ‫احلديقة من أكوام احلجارة‬ ‫من ذكرياتهم‪ ،‬وكيف تغيرت‬ ‫ِّ‬ ‫املتجمعة حتت أشجاري‪ ،‬يرهقني‪ .‬ألعابهم مع الوقت‪ .‬وسيشارك‬ ‫****‬ ‫استثنائيا ً في هذا امللحق كل‬ ‫“يصعب علي أن أحصي لك عدد من رئيس حترير “السفير” طالل‬ ‫األلعاب التي كنا نلعبها في‬ ‫سلمان‪ ،‬نهلة ّ‬ ‫الشهال‪ ،‬عباس‬ ‫ساحة القرية وفي أزقتها وفي‬ ‫بيضون‪ ،‬نصري الصايغ وعدنان‬ ‫كثيرة‬ ‫حقلها وفي وعرها‪ ،‬فإنها‬ ‫احلاج‪.‬‬ ‫يصعب إحصاؤها‪ .‬لم يبقى في‬ ‫املزيد على املوقع االلكتروني‬ ‫قاع دماغي منها سوى بعض‬ ‫‪http://shabab.assafir.com‬‬

‫‪September 26, 2012‬‬

‫‪ 18‬كانون األول‪2012 ،‬‬

‫اآلراء نصف اخملبوزة (ردّا ً على رد)‬

‫أحمد عثمان‬

‫في عدد ‪ ٢٧‬تشرين الثاني من‬ ‫قرأت مقال ًة عنوانها‬ ‫أوتلوك‪،‬‬ ‫ُ‬ ‫«منطق مقلوب» كتبته آنسة ردًا‬ ‫على مقالتي «الونش والدمية»‬ ‫تهت‬ ‫(عدد ‪ ١٧‬تشرين األول)‪ُ .‬‬ ‫صراح ًة فيما إذا كان من اللياقة‬ ‫أيضا على‬ ‫أن أرد على رد اآلنسة ً‬ ‫صفحات أوتلوك‪ ،‬أم إذا كان‬ ‫من األفضل أن نتابع مناقشتنا‬ ‫وجها لوجه‪.‬‬ ‫الفكرية عبر اإلمييل أو ً‬ ‫وأنا بالفعل أدعو اآلنسة كنج إلى‬ ‫متابعة مناقشتنا ‪ -‬إذا ما رغبت‬ ‫هي بذلك ‪ -‬بالطريقة التي تراها‬ ‫مناسبة‪ ،‬هذا إذا قبلت إدارة أوتلوك‬ ‫الكرمية بنشر ردي هذا أصلاً ‪ ،‬ال‬ ‫لشيء‪ ،‬وإمنا ببساطة ألني أفهم‬ ‫أن املسألة بدأت بتخطي حجمها‬ ‫األصلي‪.‬‬ ‫“احلاصلو”‪ :‬في مقالتي األصلية‬ ‫تناولت شابًا وشابة كانا واقفني‬ ‫ُ‬ ‫أمامي في املكتبة بغرض استعارة‬ ‫جهزت الكتب‬ ‫الكتب‪ ،‬وملا ُ‬ ‫الست‪ ،‬قام الشاب بحمل الكتب‬

‫جميعها‪ ،‬وأغاظني هذا الشيء‬ ‫ألنه جعلني أدرك أننا ال نزال‬ ‫بعيدين عن املساواة في لبنان‬ ‫العظيم‪ .‬ناقدة مقالتي خالفتني‬ ‫الرأي (بل وقالت أني وصفت‬ ‫العادات هذه بأنها «عربية»‪ ،‬فيما‬ ‫أنا لم أستعمل الكلمة هذه‬ ‫أساسا‪ ،‬وال أستعملها)‪ ،‬وقالت أن‬ ‫ً‬ ‫املناداة باملساواة الكاملة بني املرأة‬ ‫والرجل يتجاهل حقيقة االختالف‬ ‫البيولوجي بينهما‪ ،‬وأنهت ردها‬ ‫بتحية لوالدتها وأمهات العالم‬ ‫احلريصات على تربية أبنائهن على‬ ‫األخالق‪.‬‬

‫سوف أحاول أال أفند نقاط اآلنسة‬ ‫كنج نقط ًة نقطة‪ ،‬وسوف أحاول‬ ‫أن أبقي ردي ضمن االهتمام العام‪:‬‬ ‫هناك ست كتب وشاب وشابة‪.‬‬ ‫كيف يكون التوزيع؟ أية مساواة‬ ‫نريد؟‬ ‫شخصيا‪ ،‬أريد أن يتقاسم الشاب‬ ‫ً‬ ‫والشابة الكتب‪ ،‬واملساواة أريدها‬ ‫كاملة‪ .‬الرجال أقوى قليلاً من‬ ‫النساء‪ ،‬وهذه حقيقة كونية‪،‬‬

‫لكننا في لبنان نبالغ في تقدير‬ ‫وعوضا عن محاولة‬ ‫االختالف‪،‬‬ ‫ً‬ ‫تقزميه إنمّ ا نحوله للفكرة‬ ‫الرئيسية في التفاعل االجتماعي‬ ‫ما بني اجلنسني‪ ،‬فيما في الغرب‬ ‫ينطلقون من فكرة املساواة ويبنون‬ ‫عليها اجملتمع‪ ،‬إلى أن يرتطموا‬ ‫بالتباين الطفيف بني اجلنسني‪،‬‬ ‫وتكون هذه حدود املساواة‪ .‬من‬ ‫هنا مثلاً ال تزال الرياضات اخملتلفة‬ ‫منقسمة حسب اجلنس‪ ،‬ألن‬ ‫اجملتمع احلديث يدرك أن املرأة‬ ‫تبقى أضعف من الرجل في اجملال‬ ‫اجلسدي البحت‪ ،‬فيبقون على‬ ‫التباين اجلنسي فقط في هذا‬ ‫اجملال‪ ،‬وال يتركون له أن ينسكب‬ ‫نحو باقي نواحي احلياة‪ .‬من هنا نرى‬ ‫املرأة في أملانيا وهولندا و”إسرائيل”‬ ‫سائقة حافلة وميكانيكية‬ ‫ونقيبة أولى في اجليش‪ ،‬ألنه حتى‬ ‫املؤسسة العسكرية أصبحت‬ ‫على مستوى من التقدم بحيث لم‬ ‫حاسما‪.‬‬ ‫يعد العنصر اجلسدي‬ ‫ً‬

‫آراء حرة ‪18 .‬‬ ‫عقدة الدونية التي نحن فيها‪ ،‬وأن‬ ‫نتبنى الفكرة اجليدة بغض النظر‬ ‫عن حسبها ونسبها)‬ ‫أما في لبنان‪ ،‬فالنساء العامالت‬ ‫في اجملاالت ذات التاريخ الذكوري‬ ‫ال يزلن ظاهرةً نادرة يتحدث عنها‬ ‫تلفزيون «اجلديد»‪ ،‬وخروج املرأة‬ ‫من دائرة األمومة والتربية ال يزال‬ ‫ً‬ ‫نقاشا يتداوله طالب اجلامعات‬ ‫على صفحات جرائدها‪ .‬سبقَ نا‬ ‫العالم إلى املريخ وال نزال نناقش‬ ‫ما إذا كان للمرأة من دور سوى‬ ‫األمومة والتربية‪.‬‬ ‫وانفخوا ما شئتم في األمومة‬ ‫وعظموا ما شئتم من شأنها‪،‬‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫علّكم تس ّدون بها فراغ إنسان‬ ‫شاء سوء حظه أن يكون امرأة‪.‬‬

‫املساواة عندنا جاءت ناقصة‪.‬‬ ‫نزلت املرأة إلى سوق العمل دون‬ ‫أن يصعد الرجل إلى البيت‪ .‬لمُنا‬ ‫املرأة على تفكك األسرة ولم نلم‬ ‫أنفسنا على تبرئة الرجل من‬ ‫(وأنا أقول «الغرب» و«إسرائيل»‬ ‫بالفم املآلن‪ ،‬ألنه آن أوان أن نتخطى مسؤولية األبوة‪ .‬في لبنان األبوة‬

‫هو ما فعله الرجل منذ عشرين‬ ‫عاما‪ ،‬وانتهى‪ .‬أسر ٌ بأكملها ربيت‬ ‫ً‬ ‫على أب يعود من اخلليج مرتني في‬ ‫السنة‪ ،‬ونرى في هؤالء آبا ًء جملرد‬ ‫أن ّهم يضعون اخلبز على الطاولة‪.‬‬ ‫هل يا ترى نغفر المرأ ٍة واحدة تقوم‬ ‫بهذا؟‬ ‫شبعنا آرا ًء نصف مخبوزة‪،‬‬ ‫شبعنا هذه الشوڤينية املريضة‬ ‫من ماركة «أن جنمع بني األصالة‬ ‫واحلداثة»‪ ،‬والتي ما هي إال عذر وا ٍه‬ ‫باسمه حافظنا فعلاً على أصالتنا‪،‬‬ ‫على أن األصالة ما هي إلاّ إسم‬ ‫ملطف لتخلفنا وعنادنا ما قبل‬ ‫احلداثي‪.‬‬ ‫ليست احلداثة حالة من البناء‬ ‫هدم بقدر‬ ‫اجلميل‪ .‬في احلداثة ٌ‬ ‫هدم بال‬ ‫ما فيها من البناء‪ ،‬وال ٌ‬ ‫شجاعة‪ .‬علينا أن نكون شجعانًا‬ ‫مبا فيه الكفاية لنتصارح مع‬ ‫أنفسنا وأن نرى بشاعة عنادنا‪،‬‬ ‫وضرورة تغيير طرقنا القدمية‪.‬‬ ‫هل نعتنق الشجاعة؟‬

‫بال ما ت�شم الهوا‬

‫سارة الديراني‬ ‫كان من املفترض أن يكون القانون‬ ‫رقم ‪ 174‬أحد أجنح القوانني‬ ‫في لبنان ألنه يدل على تق ّدم‬ ‫اللبنانني وعلى إحترامهم حلرية‬ ‫الشخص الفردية‪ ،‬فالذي يريد‬ ‫التدخني ميكنه أن يضر صحته‬ ‫ولكن ينبغي عليه أن ال يضر‬ ‫اآلخرين معه‪ .‬ومن هنا كان مبدأ‬ ‫هذا القانون‪،‬‬ ‫فالذي يريد التدخني في األماكن‬ ‫العامة ميكنه فعل ذلك ولكن‬ ‫في األماكن املفتوحة‪ .‬ومن هنا‬ ‫أتت تسمية هذا القانون “فوت‬ ‫شم الهوا”‪ ،‬أي بعد تطبيق هذا‬ ‫القانون صار باستطاعة أي‬ ‫مكان عام‬ ‫شخص أن يجلس في‬ ‫ٍ‬

‫مغلق دون أن ينزعج من رائحة‬ ‫الدخان املنبعثة من كل مكان‪.‬‬ ‫إال أن “جهل” العديد من‬ ‫اللبنانيني دفعهم للوقوف ضد‬ ‫هذا القانون متذرعني بالعديد‬ ‫من احلجج الواهية التي ال صحة‬ ‫لها من األساس‪ .‬فالبعض طالب‬ ‫رئيس مجلس الوزراء بتعديل هذا‬ ‫القانون حتت شعار “عدلوا قانون‬ ‫منع التدخني يا دولة الرئيس‬ ‫كي ال يقف شبابنا على ابواب‬ ‫السفارات”‪ .‬والدهشة تكمن‬ ‫هنا‪ :‬ما عالقة قانون منع التدخني‬ ‫مبشكلة البطالة وهجرة الشباب‬ ‫اللبناني إلى اخلارج؟ فمشلكلة‬ ‫هجرة الشباب اللبناني إلى اخلارج‬ ‫مشلكة جذورها متتد إلى سنني‬ ‫طوال‪ ،‬فكيف لهم أن ي ّدعوا أن‬

‫هذا القانون سيزيد من حدة‬ ‫البطالة؟ وملاذا لم تزداد نسبة‬ ‫البطالة في الدول الغربية عندما‬ ‫أقروا قوانني مماثلة لهذا القانون؟‬ ‫أما أصحاب املطاعم واملقاهي‬ ‫فقالوا أن هذا القانون سوف‬ ‫يضرب املوسم السياحي في‬ ‫لبنان وسوف يعود بالضرر البالغ‬ ‫على اإلقتصاد اللبناني كافة‪.‬‬ ‫ولألسف أن إدعاءهم ليس له أي‬ ‫صحة وذلك إستنادا ً إلى دراسة‬ ‫قامت بها كلية اإلقتصاد في‬ ‫اجلامعة األمريكية حول تأثير هذا‬ ‫القانون على اإلقتصاد اللبناني‪.‬‬ ‫وتبني معهم أن تطبيق هذا‬ ‫القانون سيعود بالفائدة على‬ ‫الشعب اللبناني وعلى حكومته‪.‬‬ ‫إذ أن املواطن اللبناني يخسر‬ ‫سنويا ً ‪ 16%‬من مدخوله السنوي‬ ‫على التبغ بجميع أنواعه‪.‬‬ ‫وبالتالي بعد تطبيق هذا القانون‬ ‫من املتوقع أن تنخفض نسبة‬ ‫هذه اخلسارة إلى ‪ 13%‬وبالتالي‬ ‫يستطيع املواطن اللبناني‬ ‫وخاصة أصحاب الدخل احملدود أن‬

‫يستخدموا هذه ال‪ 3%‬في أماكن‬ ‫قد تفيدهم أكثر من التدخني‬ ‫الذي ال يعود بأية فائدة عليهم‪،‬‬ ‫بل على العكس يضر صحتهم‬ ‫ويستنزف مالهم‪ .‬أما على صعيد‬ ‫الدولة اللبنانية‪ ،‬قد يتفاجأ‬ ‫البعض من معرفة أن جتارة التبغ‬ ‫تزيد العجز في اإلقتصاد اللبناني‪،‬‬ ‫وبناءا ً على هذه الدراسة تبني أنه‬ ‫ميكن للدولة اللبنانية أن حتد من‬ ‫زيادة العجز في اإلقتصاد بنسبة‬ ‫‪ 2%‬من جراء تطبيق هذا القانون‪.‬‬ ‫وبالتالي إدعاء البعض أن قطاع‬ ‫جتارة التبغ له فائدة جمة على‬ ‫اإلقتصاد اللبناني وأن تطبيق هذا‬ ‫القانون سيزيد من حدة العجز ما‬ ‫إدعاء خاطئٌ‪.‬‬ ‫هو إال‬ ‫ٌ‬ ‫أما مناشدة الدولة إللغاء هذا‬ ‫القانون ألنه سوف يضرب موسم‬ ‫السياحة لهذا العام فهو‬ ‫مغلوط بدوره‪ .‬وذلك بديهي‪ ،‬ألن‬ ‫ٌ‬ ‫السائح عندما يأتي إلى لبنان‬ ‫ال يأتي لهدف التدخني في لبنان‬ ‫بل يأتي لإلستمتاع بطقسه‬ ‫الصيفي املمتع ولكي يتسنى‬

‫له رؤية املناظر الطبيعية اخلالبة‬ ‫واألماكن السياحة واألثرية‬ ‫املميزة‪.‬‬ ‫ولكن لألسف وبالرغم من كثرة‬ ‫حسنات هذا القانون اجلديد‪،‬‬ ‫إستطاعت اإلعتبارات السياسية‬ ‫والضعوطات الشعبية وخاصة‬ ‫من أصحاب املطاعم واملقاهي‬ ‫أن تبطل مفعوله وتدفع وزارة‬ ‫السياحة إلى إيقاف حمالت‬ ‫تطبيق هذا القانون‪ .‬وذلك نزوال ً‬ ‫عند رغبة أصحاب املطاعم‬ ‫واملقاهي الذين إستطاعوا أن‬ ‫يدفعوا السياسيني إلستخدام‬ ‫سلطتهم إليقاف هذا القانون‬ ‫متغاضني عن فوائده اجلمة‪.‬‬ ‫وكاملعتاد هكذا هو لبنان تنتصر‬ ‫فيه السلطة على القانون‬ ‫ليتغير ويصبح “ بال ما تشم‬ ‫الهوا”‪.‬‬

‫‪26‬ترشين األ ّول‪2012 ،‬‬

‫‪ 18‬كانون األول‪2012 ،‬‬

‫جامعية‬ ‫‪ . 19‬نشاطات‬ ‫ّ‬

‫يغ�ص بفي�ض ال ّن�شاطات‬ ‫الأ�سبوع الفائت ّ‬

‫ قام برنامج أنيس مقدسي‬‫بدعوة الشاعرة اللبنانية سورزان‬ ‫عليوان الى أمسية شعرية‬ ‫نهار اجلمعة وقد رافقها بالقاء‬ ‫القصائد الطالبة زهراء ماجد‪.‬‬ ‫ قام قسم العلوم السياسية‬‫واالدارية في اجلامعة االميركية‬ ‫بدعوة رئيس جمهورية‬ ‫“دومينيكن” الى محاضرة‬ ‫بعنوانن “الدميقراطية في أميركا‬ ‫الالتينية” نهار اجلمعة الفائت‪.‬‬

‫ قام نادي “انسايت” مبعرض‬‫كتاب اختتمه نهار االثنني يسلّط‬ ‫الضوء على الطرح االسالمي‬ ‫للمجتمع ومفهومه الديني‬ ‫للدولة واملرأة والزواج‪.‬‬ ‫ حدثت جلسة تصويرية للطالب‬‫املتخرجني هذا الفصل لتوضع‬ ‫صورهم في الكتاب السنوي‬ ‫للطالب في “كومون روم” وست‬ ‫هال‪.‬‬

‫أشرفت جمعية “أيادينا”‬‫باالشتراك مع عدة أندية بحفالت ‪ -‬قام نادي االستثمار بدورات‬ ‫موسيقية ألناشيد امليالد وبيع‬ ‫تدريبية للطالب‬ ‫احللوى على مدار األسبوع الفائت‪.‬‬ ‫نادي حقوق االنسان قام بعرض‬‫ النادي الثقافي األرمني ونادي‬‫فيلمني وبطرح طاولة مستديرة‬ ‫التراث اللبناني وجتمع علوم‬ ‫تتناول حقوق املرأة في العالم‬ ‫التغذية والطعام وجتمع علم‬ ‫العربي‪.‬‬ ‫النفس والنادي االقتصادي ببيع‬ ‫املأكوالت واحللوى في محيط‬ ‫قام نادي الصليب االحمر‬‫“وست هال”‪.‬‬ ‫بحمالت توعية حول مرض نقص‬ ‫املناعة وفيروز األيدز‬ ‫نظم النادي العراقي وجتمع‬‫ّ‬ ‫طالب علوم احلياة بالتنسيق مع‬ ‫قام نادي الدراما للتمثيل بعرض‬ ‫احتاد الكتاب اللبنانيني بنشاط‬ ‫مسرحية نهار ‪ 14‬و‪ 15‬من الشهر‬ ‫حتت عنوان “رمية نرد” تخلّله‬ ‫احلالي‬ ‫توقيع رواية جديدة للطالب هادي‬ ‫مراد وأمسية شعرية وغنائية‪( .‬‬ ‫ نادي “سوشال” قام بدعوة‬‫ال ّتفاصيل في املنت)‬ ‫الطالب الى حضور دورة كرة‬ ‫القدم في “الفيفا”‬

‫قام قسم علوم التمريض‬‫بحملة توعية صحية‪.‬‬

‫استهلّ النادي الثقافي السوري‬‫األسبوع ببيع تذاكر يناصيب‬ ‫على مدار األسبوع باالضافة‬ ‫الى بيع حلوى ليذهب القسم‬ ‫االكبر من األرباح الى جتمع “يد‬ ‫بيد” ملساعدة الالجئني السوريني‪.‬‬ ‫كما ختم النادي أسبوعه نهار‬ ‫اجلمعة باضاءة شجرة امليالد في‬ ‫وست هال واقامة حفل كوكتيل‬ ‫ألعضائه‪.‬‬ ‫ قام النادي الثقافي‬‫الفلسطيني بتوزيع منشورة‬ ‫طالبية باللغتني االنكليزية‬ ‫الطالب‪ .‬كما‬ ‫والعربية على ّ‬ ‫قام النادي نهار االثنني باحتفال‬ ‫ضخم دعى اليه الشاعر غسان‬ ‫مطر وقام مبعرض صور تخص‬ ‫القضية الفلسطينية وكرّم‬ ‫أهمهم كميل‬ ‫عددا ً من الرّسامني ّ‬ ‫بركة‪.‬‬

‫أضواء على نشاطات األسابيع‬ ‫القادمة‪:‬‬ ‫ يقوم النادي الثقافي اجلنوبي‬‫نهار اخلميس مبحاضرة بعنوان‬ ‫“مسيرة العطاء‪ :‬من العذراء إلى‬ ‫احلوراء”الساعة الثالثة في قاعة‬ ‫بطحيش‪ ,‬ويلي احملاضرة معرض‬ ‫للصور واللوحات الفنية التي‬ ‫حتاكي عاشوراء اإلمام احلسني‪. .‬‬ ‫يحضر حلفل يخص‬ ‫ نادي “التينو”‬‫ّ‬ ‫عيد امليالد‬ ‫يحضر لزيارة‬ ‫ نادي “آي سيرف”‬‫ّ‬ ‫دار عجزة ومتضية وقت معهم‪.‬‬ ‫حتمل الرحلة عنوان “العمر‬ ‫املديد”‪.‬‬

‫إصدار ‪ ،45‬عدد ‪13‬‬ ‫‪ 18‬كانون األول‪2012 ،‬‬

‫الزهراء ماجد‬

‫‪26‬ترشين األ ّول‪2012 ،‬‬

‫املنشــــــــــورة الطالبيــــــــة‬ ‫املســـــــتقلة منذ عام ‪1949‬‬

‫للحب ّ‬ ‫والشعر واملوسيقى‬ ‫رمية نرد ‪ :‬أمسية‬ ‫ّ‬

‫صخب في “عصام فارس”‪ ،‬قاعة‬ ‫ٌ‬ ‫االحتفاالت املثمرة التي لطاملا‬ ‫استضافت وخرّجت األط ّباء‬ ‫والسياسيني وغيرهم من‬ ‫الكوميديّن والناشطني في اجملتمع‪.‬‬ ‫قصة أخرى‪،‬‬ ‫ولتاريخ ‪ّ 12-12-12‬‬ ‫ال متر سوى مرّة في كلّ مئة عام‪،‬‬ ‫متناسبة مع هكذا تاريخ‪ ،‬إن ّه حفل‬ ‫“رمية نرد” اجلامع للشعر والنثر‬ ‫والكوميديا‪.‬‬ ‫نظم النادي الثّقافي العراقي‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫ومجتمع طالب علوم احلياة‪،‬‬ ‫بالتنسيق مع مكتب شؤون الطالب‬ ‫ومكتب االعالم والتسويق في‬ ‫اجلامعة األميركية في بيروت‪،‬وحتت‬ ‫رعاية احتاد الكتاب اللبنانيني‪،‬‬ ‫وبحضور الفنان الكبير‬ ‫جورج خ ّباز حفل “رمية نرد”‪ ،‬ضوء‬ ‫الشعر واملوسيقى‪.‬رافق احلدث‬ ‫توقيع ثالث كتاب للزميل الشاعر‬ ‫هادي مراد‪ ،‬حتت عنوان “اجلرّاح” والذي‬ ‫خوله أن يصبح أصغر عضو في احتاد‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫الكتاب اللبنانينّ ‪.‬‬ ‫افتتح احلفل بالنشيدين اللبناني‬ ‫والعراقي وكان في التقدمي‪”:‬تسأل‬ ‫شواف “ ما فائدةُ الكالم؟‬ ‫شانتال ّ‬ ‫وما نف ُع الكتابة؟ لو لم يكن‬ ‫احلب‬ ‫املصغي هو ّ‬ ‫احلب‪ ،‬ما لم يكن ُّ‬ ‫هو الذي يقرأ؟””‬ ‫فكانت رمية نرد‪ ،‬الفكرة التي‬ ‫تبادلها جنما احلفل هادي ومهدي‬ ‫في احدى جلستيهما‪ .‬أمسية‬ ‫للحب والشعر واملوسيقى‪ ،‬هادفة‬ ‫لفعل ما تفعله الكتابة‪ ،‬هز ّ القارئ‬ ‫وإحداث تغيير كياني في نفسه‬ ‫وتفكيره‪،‬‬ ‫فهل كان لرمية نردٍ هذا التأثير في‬ ‫احلاضرين؟‬ ‫في البدء‪ ،‬ال بد من التنويه باحلضور‬ ‫الكثيف الذي شهده هذا احلفل من‬ ‫اعالميني وطالب وأساتذة وأطبة‬ ‫وشعراء من األردن والعراق وسوريا‬ ‫ولبنان وفلسطني‪ .‬ومن باب التنويه‬ ‫للمجهود املضاف جلعله حفال ً‬ ‫الئقا ً باحلضور الكرمي‪ ،‬ال بد من ذكر‬ ‫ثم اإلشارة‬ ‫ما حدث فيه أوّال ً ومن ّ‬ ‫لبعض النقاط والتي‪ ،‬كحاضرة‪،‬‬ ‫حلظتها بانتباه‪.‬‬ ‫ابتدأ احلفل بكلمة احتاد الكتاب‬

‫ملقاة بلسان السيدة أميرة املولى‬ ‫والتي أشارت إلى أ ّن املوسيقى‬ ‫موجودة في السماء كما هي في‬ ‫األرض وهي تربط اإلنسان باإلنسان‬ ‫وتطهر األحاسيس‪ ،‬كما أ ّن اللغة‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫تتف ّتح بالشعر‪ .‬ويجدر التنويه بأ ّن‬ ‫ثقافيا ً‬ ‫هذا االحتاد قد لعب دورا ً رياديّا‪،‬‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫ووطنيا ً ليبقى لبنان بالفعل‪ ،‬ال‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫بالشعار كوكبا ً منيرا ً وموئل إشعاع‪،‬‬ ‫وكما قيل في املق ّدمة” أنه يعاني‬ ‫من ابتعاد بعض الكتاب عنه ومن‬ ‫البعض اآلخر‪ ،‬اال أننا نقول‬ ‫هجوم‬ ‫ِ‬ ‫لهؤالء‪ :‬أضيئوا ولو شمع ًة واحدة‬ ‫ألن ذلك أفضلُ من أن تلعنوا الظالم‪.‬‬ ‫بعد ذلك‪ ،‬زيّن املنبر الفنّان جورج‬ ‫خ ّباز والذي اعتذر من الشعراء‬ ‫احلاضرين على املنبر على قوله‬ ‫الشعر في حضرتهم‪.‬فكان محور‬ ‫العامية التوجيه واالنتقاد‬ ‫قصيدته‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫والتوعية ضد الطائفية التي ال‬ ‫تزال جتر األجيال في لبنان‪ ،‬وكانت‬ ‫القصيدة املعبرة الكوميدية حتت‬ ‫عنوان “ خايف تخلص الديني”‪..‬‬ ‫ويجدر التنويه بأ ّن الفنان جورج خ ّباز‬ ‫اعتذر لالضطراره للمغادرة إلاّ أ ّن‬ ‫حضوره لو طال أكثر لكان أضاف‬ ‫الفكاهة والسالسة أكثر على‬ ‫احلفل‪.‬‬ ‫عندها بدأت لعبة النرد حيث طلب‬ ‫من املشاركني (الشعراء) برمي‬

‫النرد وصاحب الرقم األكبر يكون‬ ‫قد امتلك حق السؤال لصاحب‬ ‫الرقم األصغر‪ .‬وكان لهادي النصيب‬ ‫في أن يسأل الشاعر الفلسطيني‬ ‫األردني أحمد أبو سليم أوّل سؤال‬ ‫عن جتربته في برنامج أمير الشعراء‪،‬‬ ‫حيث كان ردّ الشاعر أبو سليم‬ ‫بأ ّن البرنامج كان وسيلة ماديّة‬ ‫للمؤسسني له بالدرجة األولى‪،‬‬ ‫وبالدرجة الثانية كان قد أضاف له‬ ‫اخلبرة في حياته الشعرية‪.‬‬ ‫بعد ذلك ق ُ ّدم الشاعر األردني أحمد‬ ‫أبو سليم‪ ،‬وشاهدنا له قصيدة‬ ‫“صباح اخلير”إسرائيل”” املقروءة في‬ ‫برنامج أمير الشعراء‪ ،‬كما كان قد‬ ‫اعتلى املنبر تاليا قصائد أخرى‪ .‬بعد‬ ‫ذلك‪ ،‬قام الشاعر مهدي منصور في‬ ‫اعتالئه للمنبر وق ُ ّدم كذلك نبذة عن‬ ‫حياته الشعرية وكان في التقدمي‬ ‫له‪ ”:‬مهدي أدرك أهمية الشباب في‬ ‫فشجع‬ ‫املستمرة‪.‬‬ ‫حركة اجملتمع‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫املواهب ّ‬ ‫الشابة ح ّتى أصبح قدوةً‬ ‫لهم ولنجاح مسيرتهم‪ .‬مهدي يرى‬ ‫القصيدة أبقى من كلّ شيء آخر‪،‬‬ ‫فيضع ّ‬ ‫الشعر احلقيقي في مرتبة‬ ‫اخللود وكلّ ما عداه للزوّال‪ .‬مهدي‬ ‫يزرع القصائد في احلضور وفي‬ ‫الصفوف‪.‬‬ ‫الغياب‪ .‬في املقاهي وفي ّ‬ ‫السالم وفي احلروب‪ .‬يتنفّ س‬ ‫في ّ‬ ‫البحر ّ‬ ‫الشعري شهيقا ً وزفيراً‪”.‬‬

‫كان ملهدي ثالث قصائد‪ ،‬أجملها‬ ‫بالعامية حتت عنوان “ يا‬ ‫قصيدة‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫حب مني دلّك على قلبي مني؟”‪.‬‬ ‫بعد ذلك أتى نصيب هادي‪ ،‬والذي‬ ‫بنظري‪ ،‬لم يأخذ نصيبا من روايته‬ ‫حقّ ا‪ .‬على الرغم من تواجد حدث‬ ‫توقيع كتابه اجلديد والذي أسماه‬ ‫هادي في كلمته للحاضرين‪ ،‬كما‬ ‫قيل له من الروائيينّ ‪ ،‬بأ ّن روايته أو‬ ‫كتابه اجلديد هو “كشكول رواية”‪،‬‬ ‫وممّا قيل في التعريف عن هادي‪”:‬‬ ‫فوجئ بعض األصدقاء عندما اعترف‬ ‫لب روايته‬ ‫لهم هادي أن ّه أنهى ّ‬ ‫اجلديدة “اجلرّاح” في أسبوعني‪ .‬قرّر‬ ‫أن ينتهي من تّفاصيل الرواية‪ ،‬بدل‬ ‫أن تقتله ّشخصياتها في احلقيقة‪.‬‬ ‫وضع ملساته النهائية وقرّر إشراكها‬ ‫معنا اليوم‪ .‬يشهد له معرض بيروت‬ ‫للكتاب العربي ثالثة كتب حقّ قها‬ ‫قبل بلوغ العشرين عاماً‪ .‬ابن البقاع‬ ‫الذي يحمل لقب شاعر اجلامعة‬ ‫السنة‬ ‫األميركية في بيروت ترأّس ّ‬ ‫جتمع طلاّ ب علوم احلياة‪ .‬واملعروف‬ ‫بالطب كمهنة تغذ ّي‬ ‫عنه شغفه‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫شرف االنسانية‪ .‬هادي وليد الئحة‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫الشرف األكادميية صديقي الذي لم‬ ‫ولعلّ‬ ‫أهم قيمتني‬ ‫األلقاب‪.‬‬ ‫في‬ ‫يغرق‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫الوفاء وال ّتواضع‪”.‬‬ ‫يتميز بهما هما‬ ‫ُ‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫قام هادي عندها‪ ،‬بعد شكره‬ ‫للحاضرين وقراءة اهداء كتابه‬

‫بقراءة تسع أبيات‪ ،‬ومن بعدها غنّت‬ ‫الطالبة سيرينا والطالب هاشم‪،‬‬ ‫على أوتار عود سمير نصر‪ ،‬قصيدة‬ ‫رمية نرد املكتوبة بقلم هادي‪ ،‬ولعل‬ ‫هذه من أبرز ما أعجب به احلاضرين‪.‬‬ ‫ختاما‪ ،‬عُ رّف عن الشاعر العراقي‬ ‫عمر عنّاز‪ ،‬كذلك عرضت نبذة عن‬ ‫حياته الشعريّة‪ ،‬وقام باعتالء املنبر‬ ‫قائال قصيدة بالفصحة‪ ،‬وأخرى‬ ‫باللهجة العراقية األصيلة‪.‬‬ ‫أما ما كان مستغربا في استحضار‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫آراء اجلمهور هو الكلمة األخيرة‬ ‫للنادي الثقافي العراقي‪ ،‬معتالة‬ ‫بصوت أحد الطلبة السوريّني‪.‬‬ ‫كحاضرة انتظرت ان أسمع كلمة‬ ‫متثّل النادي الثقافي العراقي‪ ،‬أو‬ ‫العراق ممثال بكلمة النادي الثقافي‬ ‫العراقي‪ ،‬إال أ ّن املستهجن حقا توارد‬ ‫قصيدة‪ ،‬بقلم عالء‪ ،‬حول “الثورات”‬ ‫في العالم العربي عموما‪ ،‬واشارات‬ ‫حول أحداث سوريا خصوصا‪ .‬ومن‬ ‫املرفوض في قوانني اجلامعة أن‬ ‫تُوظف األمسيات واالحتفاالت‬ ‫ألسباب سياسية شخصية أو‬ ‫الترويج جلهات فئوية ‪ .‬فالشعر‬ ‫واملوسيقى والفن واألدب ال مجال‬ ‫فيها لألغراض الشخصية التي من‬ ‫هدفها التشويه ال أكثر‪.‬‬ ‫تقول احدى الشاعرات من املغرب‬ ‫العربي التي حضرت احلفل أ ّن حضور‬ ‫شعراء كبار كعمر عنّاز وأحمد‬ ‫أبو سليم يكفي فخرا ً للجامعة‬ ‫األميركية في بيروت وحاضري احلفل‪،‬‬ ‫تخف أسفها بسبب‬ ‫الاّ ان ّها لم‬ ‫ِ‬ ‫تدن ّي جودة الشعر بكلمة النادي‬ ‫العراقي فتقول ‪ ”:‬كان من األفضل‬ ‫أن يحفظ مسؤولي احلفل موضوعا ً‬ ‫واحدا ً لكلّ املشاركات‪ ،‬باالضافة الى‬ ‫عدم تسمية “محاوالت النثر” شعرا ً‬ ‫عربياً” ‪.‬‬ ‫أما بالنسبة للحفل كشكل‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫عام‪ ،‬وباختصار‪ .‬كان ال بد من‬ ‫تسليط الضوء على كتاب هادي‬ ‫أوّال‪ ،‬وتقسيم الشعر على كلّ‬ ‫منظمة أكثر‪،‬‬ ‫شاعر بطريقة ّ‬ ‫ثانيا‪ ..‬وبشكل عام‪ ،‬على الرغم من‬ ‫االختالالت الشخصية احلاصلة‪،‬‬ ‫فاحلفل كان ناجحا بحضور الشعراء‬ ‫الكرام‪.‬‬