Outlook
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اوﺗﻠﻮك اوﺗﻠﻮك Cyber War waged on the Lebanese Government Mohamad Al Medawar Special-to-Outlook
اوﺗﻠﻮك
In the age of nanotechnology and internet, with uprisings and revolutions causing turmoil throughout the Arab region, the long-lasting struggle for democracy and rights has relocated to the World Wide Web. On Monday April 16 and Tuesday April 17, a group of anonymous activists, who call themselves Raise Your Voice or RYV, seem to have taken lead in Lebanon, waging a vicious cyber war on the careworn government websites, hacking over 16 of them. The hacked websites displayed a message demanding government reformation and guarantee of much needed rights, and promised further escalation if no action was taken by the government to solve the country’s countless deficiencies. The message read: “To our dear beloved Lebanese Government, We are RYV, short for Raise Your Voice, and we are simply a Continued on page 5
Risk Intelligence presentation at OSB Camelia Harb Member-at-Large Overconfidence, over-optimism, and overreactions; only a few of the many signs of what Dr. Dylan Evans ranks under symptoms of risk stupidity. Unfortunately, too many individuals fall into such traps that they very well could have avoided while making decisions. However, with the release of his new book, Risk Intelligence: How to live with uncertainty, Evans hopes to reveal the steps to attaining the rewarding skills of risk intelligence. Coming from a psychology background and with an interest in the topic of risk taking, Evans combined the science of probability and psychology to create a simple doctrine of uncertainty. Presenting the main logic behind his book on April 20 in OSB’s Maamari Auditorium, Evans got the chance to reach out to a diverse audience of business and psychology students, professors,
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AUB Professor Presents Theory of Risk Intelligence
www.aub.edu.lb/outlook
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Metel Ma Chelta: Earth Day Clean-up
and professionals. Risk intelligence is the basic ability to estimate probabilities accurately, or, in other words, to put a number on uncertainty. What was stressed however, was that this uncertainty value was to be placed on every sort of event possible. True that some decisions and plans are more important than others, but, as Evans pointed out jokingly to an audience members, even the probability of having dinner at night deserved a value of uncertainty. To Evans, it is vital to understand the opportunity costs and extra risks that go into fulfilling various goals and to “make predictions about everyday life” in order to learn from the outcomes of those predictions. Evans described several instances where risk Continued on page 5
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Ripples of Happiness: Vote AUB readoutlook@gmail.com
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
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Campus News
Speaker’s corner on secularism Hashem Osseiran Staff Writer Crowds, convictions, commentaries, and counter-arguments sum up last week’s Speaker’s Corner that revolved around the topic of introducing secularism to the current confessional Lebanese state. AUB’s politically affiliated student’s leaned towards the modern practice of secularism with a few exceptions that ignored the trend and acknowledged the perks of the perpetuating system. What was undeniable, however, was the way in which the students mimicked the voices and ideologies of prevailing Lebanese leaders. In spite of common ground on fundamental principles, it was this embodiment of each student’s perception of the “Za3eem” that opened the platform for disagreement. The majority agreed on the value of having a secular state, however, there were many contentions regarding the inadequacy of leaders, the system as a whole, as well as having a history tainted by conflict and civil war. “The only way is to rebel. The change comes from within, we should be the change!” said one speaker with a passion that pursued change and opposed political tradition. “Lebanon Should be the next Arab Spring” said another speaker who also fueled the revolutionary flame that overcame a lot of the participants. However, pragmatism struck back as participants questioned whether
Lebanon could handle a revolution amidst all the instability in the region, and if the country could handle another Civil War. Participants spoke out about the Tabooed Lebanese civil war in an attempt to revive the fears that constrained change, fears that had sprang out of murders and massacres, vengeance and vendetta. The argument of the civil war also brought attention to the point that the leaders then and now are the same. The very leaders that caused the civil war are the same ones that rule now, and soon enough it will be their children after them who will be assuming various political posts. Students argued that the only means of achieving a secular state is through removing all the political families that plague our system and then replacing them with fresh new faces that can bring about the changes people desire. Religion played an essential role in the heated debate as participants recited sayings of famous religious figures supporting the extermination of the confessional system. “Remove the sect from the self before the scripts” recited a student in the words of Cardinal Sfeir as he denounced the confessional practice and the role of the people in preserving it. Many aligned with this ideology as they saw that no political change can be achieved if the people don’t embody the change. If people
remain passive in there rigid religious paradigms and narrow frameworks Lebanon will seldom see any progress or development. Others however, perceived that the problem was in the system as a whole and not only the people. The problem is in the essence of the system. Finally, some students pushed for legislative reform as they called for amending laws concerning elections. One of the participants calling for amendments said that “we should change the voting law. People should vote on the basis of their Lebanese identity and not on the basis of their religion”.
A new Human Resources masters program Karen Sertin Staff Writer & Photographer
On April 19, 2012 Dr. Charlotte Karam presented a brief preview of the new graduate program at AUB in Human Resources. The reason that this program came into being is the “gap” between getting the best practice for HR and what was being provided at AUB. This program is a “career developing, specialist program for those working,or planning to work in the field.” It mainly “caters” to the region in terms of small and medium sized businesses, local or international corporations or even family businesses. It also gives rigorous and in-depth practices, tools and skills required in order for graduates to come out of the program experts at HR. For a graduate to complete this program 15 months and 30 credits are required as a total. This is considering everything goes smoothly and no course are failed. None of the ten courses are electives. Additionally, every three weeks, the students are to attend a three eight-hour full day of work. Some students at the meeting were concerned that their current employers may not support them in undertaking this time
consuming program. The answer to this concern was that the company and the person who want to take this program have to realize it is worthwhile. Either the company, the student or both have to make sacrifices. All of the above is assuming that the student who wants to apply for this program is a business student of some sort. So, what about nonbusiness students who want to apply? They are also encouraged to join this program. The only difference is that they will start three months prior to the 15 months of the program in order to complete foundation programs that consist an overview of finance and accounting as well as of management and marketing (Organizational Value Chain). They will then complete the program with a total of 36 credits, rather than 30 credits, and will finish in 18 months as opposed to the normal 15 months. Lastly, what are the requirements to be admitted into this program? Firstly, the student needs to have a Bachelor’s degree. Secondly, they must have a minimum of an 80 percent average. And
lastly, if not most importantly in raising a student’s chances of getting into the program, they need to have at least one year of work experience in HR or they need to have two or three years of work experience in management. Without the last requirement, a student is permitted to apply, however, the chances of them being accepted are slim especially since this is a new program and, for now, only 15 to 20 students are accepted into the program. If anyone is interested in applying to this program there are two ways of doing so: either online or by hard copy. If it is done online then the deadline is May 1, 2012. If it is by hard copy, then the deadline is May 30, 2012. Anyone who is willing to apply to this brand new program, good luck!
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
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Campus News
How to teleport, but not really Karen Sertin Staff Writer & Photographer Since the dawn of Star Trek, tech-geeks everywhere have been dreaming of the day where teleportation was no longer sci-fi. So when AUB’s Faculty of Engineering announced a lecture on “How to Teleport”, it seemed too good to be true. Needless to say, it was. To the average geek, the word “teleport” automatically brings to mind, “beam me up, Scotty!” though this was most definitely not the case. Bilal Ghalib, a University of Michigan graduate in mathematics and computer science, came to AUB not to talk about teleportation, but the wonders of 3D-printing. 3D-printing, Ghalib believes, is a kind of teleportation itself. The kind that is accessible to the every-day person—not just mad scientists in labs or space cadets in alien planets. So accessible, in fact, that it only costs $1,500. How is this transportation? In theory, it works like this: one sees an object he or she would like to send to someone, or replicate. The object is then scanned, and uploaded to the internet for someone to discover. The discoverer then uses a 3D printer to print the perfect replica of the
object, thus completing the “transportation” cycle. Simple though it may sound, there are more than a few tricks to the trade. The “scanning” process is actually taking pictures of the object. That is sequential, essentially perfect, pictures of every angle of the object. Not only should the camera quality be superb, but the lighting exact, the angles precise, and the surroundings distinguishable from the object itself. All this, though, can be done with a proper camera and a patient photographer. The pictures are then uploaded to a program called “123D Catch” which manipulates the photos into a virtual 3D model of the object. The model is then transferred to yet another program to fine-tune its dimensions before finally being sent to the 3D-printer to create a replica of the object. So what are the implications of this? Why should one be excited about 3D-printing when high-schools all over the world have had access to 3D-printers for years now? The dream of people
like Ghalib and the like, is that one day all sorts of people will have access to 3D-printers. Ghalib explained that in his latest visit to his family in Iraq, he designed his cousin a prosthetic leg, suited to his exact dimensions, to be printed using a 3D-printer. If one was suddenly in need of an iPod case, a bottle, a cup, or any other sort of object, it could be made in a matter of minutes. Eventually, when the technology is more advanced, 3D-printers will have the potential to create not just plastic objects, but woods, metals, or even foods. World hunger could be eradicated. Money-hungry corporations would cease to exist. America’s 99% would rejoice. It’s true that at this point in time, 3D-printing hasn’t much use other than meager things, like plastics and cases. With time, however, it has the potential to do so much more. So, while the title of the lecture was slightly misleading, “teleportation” could arguably be the future of 3D-printing, and one day, our dreams of calling out “beam me up!” might come true.
AUB students celebrate Earth Day Bayan Jabe Contributing Writer A mother is a selfless garden who gives but never asks for anything in return. Her beauty is divine. Her hugs and kisses are like the gentle breeze of Spring. She is the sun comforting us with her warmth and the moon always looking out for us.. Everyone anticipates Spring to show their love and appreciation for their mothers on Mother’s Day. They forget however, the significance of April 22, the day of the greatest mother of all: Mother Earth. Earth day is celebrated by people all around the world in an attempt to show their appreciation for mother earth. Metel ma Shelta and Net Impact honored this special day with a cleanup of Ramlet Al Bayda Beach. Net Impact is a worldwide NGO based in San Francisco that uses business for positive social and environmental impact. On the other hand, Metel ma Shelta is an anti-littering awareness campaign that was designed by AUB graphic design students. The two groups joined forces and decided to celebrate this day cleaning up litter while promoting awareness. On that beautiful sunny Sunday, AUB students from all majors were armed with garbage bags and gloves. The enthusiastic team met at 10:30
am near Grand Café. The beach was alive with tanners, swimmers, and young men playing football on the sandy shore. The sandy, littered shore mind you. If you looked closely though, you would spot a few oddly hunched students holding big black garbage bags while peering into the sand. “Omg did you see what we just found? It’s a syringe!” exclaimed Liya Kreidie, an OSB MBA student and VP of Net Impact. A syringe wouldn’t be the first strange thing she had to dig out though, Amal Dahouk, also an MBA student, said that the team found a big Pepsi bottle buried beneath the sand. “On the façade things look clean but it’s all inside the sand”, she pointed out. About 15 students showed up for the event. Nadine Razzouk, one of the Metel Ma Shilta organizers informed Outlook of her slight disappointment in the turnout: “I’m a bit sad. Although we have many likes on Facebook, not many people came.” However, the team’s small number did create a difference, not only did they leave the beach sparkling clean but they left a message to everyone watching, one that promoted environmental awareness. Razzouk said that many people gave them praise on
what they were doing. A random person who saw the cleanup even joined the team. Dahouk expressed her belief that people want to do the right thing but they just need someone to set an example. “When people see us cleaning they will be embarrassed and stop littering. We would make a greater impact if we did this more often.” The group, which included a professor from the Middle East University, discussed ways in which AUB students could help their environment. They noted that there is a lot for engineering students to consider. As most of the litter in the sand was can lids, something could be done regarding designing cans where the lid doesn’t come off. They also voiced their concerns regarding the government’s role whereby littering should be treated as a crime and people should be fined. Indeed, Lebanon is a beautiful country and it is a shame that people have to go to a beach where sand is decorated with bits of plastic and where sewage water
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
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Campus News
LRCC’s April blood drive Rana El Jarrah Staff Writer
The Lebanese Red Cross Club (LRCC) at the American University of Beirut (AUB) had their monthly blood drive in collaboration with AUBMC blood bank on Tuesday April 17. The campaign was successful and around 50 units of blood were collected. This is a great number considering that the blood drive took place the first day after the vacation. The aim of the monthly blood donation campaigns is to help the people in need of blood at AUBMC and the Children’s Cancer Center. The
patients suffer greatly when there are no available blood units of their blood type in the blood bank. The blood drives help the hospital’s blood bank secure enough blood units of all blood types at all times. A lot of planning goes into the blood donation campaigns. The Red Cross blood donation information center (BDIC) subcommittee coordinates with the blood bank at AUBMC. They make sure that the necessary equipment is available and brought in. In addition, they provide the donors with juice and a snack at the end of their donation to help them from getting dizzy. A gift is also given for every donor at the end of a donation as a thank you gesture. After each campaign the blood information database is updated. As a donor you get the option of being included in the database to be contacted whenever someone is in need of your blood type. The campaigns are always a success because of the positive response of the AUB community. There are many enthusiastic donors waiting for their turn to donate blood every time. The process to donate blood is a little time consuming so everyone’s patience and cooperation is
appreciated. At the beginning the donor has to fill a long detailed form about their medical condition and history. Several questions are personal but they are important in determining whether the person is a suitable blood donor. There should be no risks when taking blood in order not to harm the patient that will be receiving the blood. As a precaution, after the blood is collected it is screened to make sure that it is clean and suitable for donation. The outcome of these campaigns is for a great cause. Remember when you donate blood you are helping the people in need at the AUBMC and at the Children’s Cancer Center. LRCC at AUB would like to thank all the donors for their kindness and hopes to see them again. Stephanie Serhan, who is part of the BDIC subcommittee, described the event when she said, “It was successful but we would like to have more donors next time. This time it was directly after the vacation so there was not as much people as we usually expect.” She added,“Thank you for everyone who donated. For the others, come and try to donate next time.”
AUB’s Ripples of Happiness asks you to ma make a difference for tomorrow by voting today Maya Terro Special to Outlook I think that sometimes, when it comes to making a difference in the world, everyone becomes involved somehow. Theodore Roosevelt once said: “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.” This brings us to AUB Ripples of Happiness. Ripples of Happiness is a regional competition organized by INJAZ and the Coca-Cola Foundation, in which AUB is competing with nine other universities from other Arab countries. This is in an effort to win $50000, a huge step towards building their project in the name of change and a positive impact on their community in the competition. A couple of weeks ago, I heard about the Ripples of Happiness project and signed my name. It seemed like I wasn’t the only one who wanted to try to make a change in this world. A group of 19 other committed students from various disciplines were thinking along the same lines.
Our goal was one— to make a change in our community, one that is sustainably viable. Our project, ‘Mommy Made,’ will target primarily mothers by recruiting, training and employing mothers who suffer from severe financial, social, and physical obstacles and transforming them into self-sufficient persons so that they have better lives for their families towards producing socially responsible products and services. With that said, YOU, as an AUBite, can help us committed AUB team of students seize this opportunity by voting and spreading the word! To this end, we are way behind the other competing universities. But this can all change with one click (or more). Indeed, by one click, you can vote for the AUB team and help us win the prize and implement the project, and be the change! The voting counts for half of the assessment and the deadline for voting is very soon (April 27th, 2012, until midnight). You
can vote on both the competition website (1st link), and the Facebook team page with a “Like” (2nd link), and both votes will (double) count. Apparently, you can also vote more than once from the same account (likely once or more every day), and this is what some of the highscoring teams are doing. VOTE for us here: www.ripplesofhappiness. com/microsite/en/registration.php LIKE us here: www.facebook.com/aub.ROH You can help even more by spreading the word on your social media venues (Facebook, Twitter, etc…) and simply using word of mouth. Let’s make some mommies proud, shall we.
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
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Campus News
Cyber War waged on the Lebanese Government
continued
Mohamad Al Medawar Special-to-Outlook
group of people who could not bear sitting in silence, watching all the crimes and injustice going on in Lebanon. We will not be silenced and brainwashed by your media. We will not stop until the Lebanese people mobilize, demand their rights, and earn them. We will not stop until the standards of living are raised to where they should be in Lebanon. We will not stop until this government’s self-made problems are solved, like the power shortage, water shortage, rise in gas prices and rise in food product prices. We are RYV, expect us to break the silence, whether in the streets or on the Internet. Silence is a crime.” In addition to the message, each website, depending on the ministry, showed either a picture to convey the intended meaning further, or an interactive spotlight shed on the aforementioned message. For example, the Ministry of Justice showed a poor Africanlooking, barely dressed old man tagged “the people” feeding a filthy rich, obese man in
Risk Intelligence
a suit with a wide open mouth tagged as “the government”. Moreover, the heading before the message varied depending on the ministry as well. For example, the Energy and Water Ministry showed the heading “El May Maktoo’a” or “water is out” further stressing the issue at hand. Later on, the group posted a video on Youtube, announcing their linking to the collective Anonymous worldwide community, “to liberate the minds of our people at most and create hope” as the masked individual in the video claimed. The figure was a deliberately distorted video image, and interestingly enough, wore a mask resembling that of V, the freedom fighter from the comic book series and film V for Vendetta, who’s main aim is to destroy the government and its “corrupt” system. The about section in the group’s facebook page conveys the same message of vigilance stating: “It’s time to raise your voice because being silent
about crimes is by itself a crime. Enough with the corruption. Enough with the lies. Enough with the silence.” The group has a twitter account as well, updating their followers and receiving messages of encouragement. It’s probably safe to say that this battle is long from over, and an eminent escalation will probably follow, given the current status quo of the government.
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Camelia Harb Member-at-Large
stupidity had taken the reigns, including the overwhelming trial of going through airport security measures where shoes are taken off, liquids disposed of, and laptops heavily screened. While it is understandable that these measures have been taken as a response to the threat of terrorism, investing so many resources into avoiding the possibility of an attack of whatever nature is bypassing the measures of risk intelligence. He also provided an example closer to home by citing the many unfinished home construction projects that litter the towns of Lebanon. In such cases, there is gross overconfidence in the amount of money that will be possessed by a home builder and as a result he ends up with one large unfinished house where he could have had a perfectly suitable small one. The problem of overconfidence though is one that affects the majority. As part of his study, Evans, creator of the Projection Point company, designed a site where people could test their risk intelligence by answering how true or how false they found a set of fifty statements. The idea was for them to place a value of uncertainty on each
question in relation to how sure they were of their answer. This value of uncertainty then, was compared to the actual correctness of the answer. What was found was that in instances where individuals were only 10% sure that an answer was true, the answer was true 30% of the time. However, where they thought that the answer was 70% true, the answer was only true 30% of the time indicating a gross overestimation in confidence. The implications of Evans’ findings are widespread, affecting many different focuses, occupations, and everyday happenings. This has led to the idea of a risk intelligence as being attainable by anyone and stronger in some as compared to others. This view was shared by one member of the audience who stated that “the concept of risk intelligence is interesting and new and if applied properly, can benefit everyone in all domains.” Of the online test for risk intelligence, Evans stated that “you can score very high even if you know very little as it rewards you for knowing how much you know.” When asked if risk
intelligence went along side evolutionary theory, Evans commented that as probability theory had taken a long time to develop on its own, our ,odds were probably not developed naturally to handle such calculations but, as has been shown, we can build the skills necessary for mastering risk intelligence. On the presentation as a whole, Evans had to say this: “It is great to go beyond the psychology department and get in touch with the business school. No one can come up with all of the applications of risk intelligence so I hope that they can take what they’ve learned and apply it to their own fields.” Test your risk intelligence level at www. projectionpoint.com.
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Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Campus News
Spring concert at Assembly Hall Sarah Khalil Staff Writer The small circle of singers placed behind the audience began rumbling an ethereal hum at ten past eight, engulfing the half-full Assembly Hall in a series of vocal melodies as sweeping as the breeze that crept through the doors as they silently shut. Much like the mild blossom of springtime in Lebanon, the Spring Concert at Assembly Hall by the ACS choir on Saturday, April 21 was short and sweet. The most salient detail of this performance was that this bunch of musical Latin hymns was extremely pleasant. For the choir aficionados reading, the songs included: “Ave Verum Corpus”, “O Magnum Mysterium”, “Quem Vidistis Pastores Dicite”, Videntes Stellam”, “Kyrie”, “Sanctus”, and “Bendictus”. There were exactly four members that sat at the front of the stage who had their own vocal solos and separate songs from the others. One would expect them to stand out the most; however, though they got to take their own bows by the end of the show, it really was the unified group of black-clad, pearls-
for-girls and ties-for-guys singers standing above and beyond who truly stole the show. I’m no music expert – and no, not by a long shot either – but even I could feel the thunder of the sparse basses standing at back center booming through the songs, breathing life into them, supported by the smooth tenors and swinging through the alto and soprano section. The flute, violins, and cello sounded like birdsong accompanying the bombardment of cheerful classical music rising out of the organ. At the end of the show the audience graced the young singers with a standing ovation, which was promptly followed by an encore of “Agnus Dei”, punctuated with a full-stop by an announcement from director Yara Rubb that this would be her last show with the ACS choir. There are many who don’t pay much mind to a choir concert performed by grade-school students on a Saturday evening outside of immediate friends and family, even if the show is free like this one was. But without even having
to like the sound of 19th century music being sung collectively, you could have been swept in just by the soaring sounds of spring if you’d been passing by. And to know what the sounds of spring are, you really should have been there.
AUB Jazz Club provides a deeper appreciation for jazz Dania Machlab Staff Writer
Long fingers tapping the double bass, head nodding, hands searching for a pleasing variety of notes to hit on the guitar, and drum sticks participating with a resonating sound. The AUB jazz club held a guitar workshop on April 18, with local musicians giving a history on jazz as well as its different types and sounds. President of the club, Hashem Ramadan, expressed hopes of popularizing this genre of music which has become under-appreciated, with types such as hip hop and techno captivating the interest of today’s youth. Hashem noted: “We hope to make people more aware of jazz and to get a bit away from the popularized music. I was was introduced to it at the age of 16 after hearing it in a movie and thinking: I want to know more about this.” An overview on jazz music and its types was given by a few local musicians who entertained the audience with a couple of tunes throughout the presentation. With a captivating version of the ‘Cruella de Vil’ song, they started the workshop and went on to give a history on the
origins and progression of jazz, listing some famous individuals who evolved this genre of music. Amongst those are Freddie Green, Charlie Christian, Django Reinhardt and many more. Some came to be legends of jazz despite a few obstacles they faced. Reinhardt for instance could only play with two of his fingers after a burning incident had rendered him incapable of using the others. The musicians expressed uttermost appreciation of this music, showing a variety of ways to manipulate the guitar and tunes in jazz. The workshop was an encompassing introduction to jazz and its subtypes, with live demonstrations accompanying the presentation. One of the musicians expressed a particular passion for the Bossa Nova, which is a Brazilian kind of jazz, followed by the devotion of a few minutes to such a tune on the guitar. At one point in the work shop the three musicians got up to play “Polka dots and moon beams”. The drums, guitar, and double bass released smooth jazzy beats that echoed throughout the walls of
Auditorium C in West hall. The enticement of all fans of jazz showed in the synchrony of head movements along with the playing rhythms. The audience seemed quite drawn whenever there was a performance. Being over a hundred years old, this type of music has gained the attention and interest of the present musicians, who hoped to educate the audience more on what jazz really is. Member of the jazz club, Ibrahim Youssef, noted why this type of music may not have become as fashionable as others: “Jazz is an acquired taste in music. It’s hard to get into it. I’m a musician myself and I’m having some difficulty.” The event gave its audience a good taste of jazz with the hopes of gaining more admirers. Brandon Abdul-Baki, Education junior with emphasis in music and art, commented on why this event was of importance, saying: “The theme of today’s music isn’t as authentic as jazz. So why not give jazz the popularity it deserves?”
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Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Health & Nutrition
Shelf Life Jargon: What are all these numbers on your food? Loulwa Kalache Staff Writer You open your fridge and you find a milk bottle. It’s April 18 and the expiration date reads April 16. You open it to check it. It appears good with no signs of mold and no “vinegar” smell. Is this the proper way of checking its safety? Read the date again. Is the milk actually spoiled, or is the date merely a safety margin? How will you know if the milk really is spoiled? Food safety experts often discuss the shelflife of food, proper storage, and what expiration dates and lot codes mean. “Shelf life” refers to the time the item remains safe for consumption before becoming spoiled. Spoilage is affected by countless factors, mainly air, light, sun, bacteria, heat, humidity, storage temperature, and packaging material. The numbers that are stamp-coded by most companies are of two types: - Lot code: Manufacturing products come in batches, where each batch has a unique series of numbers that allow the manufacturer
to track any problem or defect that occurs later, thus allowing market recalls. - Expiration dates: These are the dates that should concern the consumer and serve as a guideline to when the product is either no longer safe to eat or less tasty than it was when originally produced. Expiration dates have three types: - “Sell by” is what stores use to know how long a product can be displayed for purchase. - The “best before” or “best if used by” date indicates the time by which a certain quality or flavor of food starts to deteriorate. Still, the food remains safe to consume even after this time. - “Use by” is similar to the expiration date of medicines. Thus, consuming the food after this date is not recommended, as they may lose nutrients, potentially harmful bacteria might develop, and the quality may be impaired.
Bits and pieces Cherine Fawaz Special-to-Outlook Staying healthy doesn’t necessarily mean losing weight. Losing weight doesn’t necessarily mean going on a diet. And going on a diet doesn’t have to be utter torture! On the contrary, staying healthy should be a lifestyle and there are small tricks that are used on a daily basis which will have significant effects on your body’s well being: 1-Use the stairs instead of the elevator! Climbing stairs burns calories and tightens your muscles in all the right places! 2-Use applesauce or fat-free plain yogurt in your baked goods instead of oil. This saves you at least a 100 calories per tbsp. of oil. 3-Add cinnamon with your tea. Cinnamon regulates your glucose blood level and turns off these constant cravings that you feel especially after lunch. 4-Clean out your cupboards and refrigerator from all high fat foods (i.e. junk food). As they say, out of sight, out of mind. 5-Limit caffeine intake to a cup or two per day. 6-Always eat while sitting down in a calm and unhurried manner. Eating quickly and taking large bites causes bloating and leads to accumulation of fat around your abdomen (stomach area).
7-Eat a big salad plate before dinner to prevent the consumption of large amounts of food during the evening. 8-Watch your sauces! Most restaurants serve sauces that are loaded with unhealthy fats (saturated and trans-fat) and empty calories. So don’t indulge in too much sauce. The key here is moderation. 9-Try replacing your white bread and processed cereals with breads and cereals made from whole grains. They are loaded with fibers that increase your satiety. 10- Go for the ice and not the cream. If you must have cold dessert in this springy-summery weather, try a sorbet ice-cream (fruit ices) which is a-100 calories per half-cup vs. rich ice cream that is around 200 calories per serving. 11- Finally, set small and realistic goals for yourself. If you have 12 kilos to lose for example, break it down into goals of 4 kilos each. Then work at it one goal at a time!
It is recommended to check for dents, tears or broken seals in a product. Don’t buy an item with these defects because even if the date is still safe, the packaging is supposed to be designed in a way to maintain the food. For example, a bulging shape in a can is an indication of bacterial growth. Foods with short shelf life don’t need numbers. It is advised when purchasing perishable food, such as meat, poultry, dairy products, and some fruits and vegetables, to bring them home quickly and refrigerate. But if you don’t want to cook the meat, poultry, or sea food, store them in the freezer within two days of purchase to avoid their spoilage. Despite the fact that freezing ensures that food remains safe, it can affect its taste after defrosting. In the end, it’s your own mindfulness that will make your food safe to eat. Don’t rely on governmental regulations, whether in Lebanon or the USA, as they are usually diminutive regarding these expiration dates.
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Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Tidbits from all over Kanzi Kamel Staff Writer
Iran to Build Copy of Captured US Drone Iran claimed Sunday that it had recovered data from an American spy drone that went down in Iran last year including that it was used to spy on Osama bin Laden’s house weeks before he was killed by U.S. forces. Iran also said it was building a copy of the surveillance aircraft. This type of drone has been used in Afghanistan for years and was used to keep watch on bin Laden’s compound in Pakistan but U.S. officials have said little about the history of the particular drone now in Iran’s possession. Iran has also been known to exaggerate its military or technological prowess. When the artery constricts, reining in the response to this increased flow, the pain disappears. The dilation, then quick constriction, of this blood vessel may be a type of self-defense for the brain, the researchers suggested. http://news.yahoo.com/iran-says-buildingcopy-captured-us-drone-083944692.html
Don’t Chug Your Slushie – Why We Have Brain Freezes Previous studies have found that migraine sufferers are actually more likely to get brain freeze than people who don’t get migraines. Because of this, the researchers thought the two might share some kind of common mechanism or cause, so they decided to use brain freeze to study migraines. The researchers brought on brain freeze in the lab by having 13 healthy volunteers sip ice water through a straw right up against the roof of their mouth. The volunteers raised their hands when they felt the familiar brain freeze come on, and raised them again once it disappeared. The researchers monitored the blood flow through their brains using an ultrasoundlike process on the skull. They saw that increased blood flow to the brain through a blood vessel called the anterior cerebral artery, which is located in the middle of the brain behind the eyes. This increase in flow and resulting increase in size in this artery brought on the pain associated with brain freeze. When the artery constricts, reining in the
Brazilian Man Appears at Own Funeral A 59-year-old Brazilian man has surprised his family by turning up at his own funeral, local media report. Relatives of Ademir Jorge Goncalves, a bricklayer, had identified him as the victim of a car crash in southern Parana state the previous day. Police told O Globo newspaper that relatives had trouble identifying the corpse because it was badly disfigured. It emerged that Mr Goncalves had spent the night drinking a rum-like liquor called “pinga” with his friends. He did not get word of his funeral until it was already happening on Monday morning, his niece Rosa Sampaio said. She said some family members - including herself and the man’s mother - had doubts, but an aunt and four friends had positively identified the body. “What were we to do? We went ahead with the funeral,” she told O Globo. A police spokesman welcomed the happy ending: “Before long, the http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8343576.stm :walking dead appeared at the funeral. It was a relief,” the unnamed officer told the paper. The body was correctly identified later, he said, and buried in another state.
response to this increased flow, the pain disappears. The dilation, then quick constriction, of this blood vessel may be a type of self-defense for the brain, the researchers suggested.
May the Fold Be With You… Get It? The force is strong but delicate in artist Philip West’s awesome origami Jedi. Folded from a single, uncut square, it’s an impressive display of paper power. West’s piece won itself “Most Awesome Origami” of the year.disappears. The dilation, then quick constriction, of this blood vessel may be a type of self-defense for the brain, the researchers suggested.
Source: http://games.yahoo.com/photos/ coolest-origami-slideshow/origami-gallery-photo-1334960333.html http://news.yahoo.com/cause-brainfreeze-revealed-210201727.html
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Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Arts and Culture
Club Spotlight: Lebanese Armenian Heritage Club Special-to-Outlook On the morning of the Monday April 23, the Lebanese Armenian Heritage Club set up their annual Armenian Genocide commemoration stand at West Hall. Then only to realize, that an hour or so after the stand was up, the big map of the location of the Armenian genocide was vandalized with a pen. The title “Armenian Genocide” scratched out and the words “This is a lie” written on the poster. Kourken Kadehjian, sophomore Environmental Health, president of the LAHC was the first to spot the vandalism. This year marks the 97th anniversary of the travesty of the first genocide of the 20th century, headed by the Young Turk government against the Armenians of the Ottoman Empire. The Armenian student community of AUB pays tribute to the almost 1.5 million lives lost by holding a commemoration week on campus, every year on the anniversary of the occurrence (April 24, 1915). The events bring awareness of the Armenian culture to the community, through a traditional music concert, a debate,
and a screening of the movie “Aghet”. The AUB administration and community has always been supportive of this cause, and all other similar causes. AUB has always been an advocate of freedom of speech, and the presentation of diverse points of view. This act of vandalism goes against all norms and traditions of freedom which AUB stands for. It is a disrespectful and hurtful behavior towards the memory of the horrible genocide and the effort that AUB’s Armenian students put to making this commemoration event a success. No fingers are being pointed at certain individuals or cultural groups; however this is a despicable act on behalf of an “educated” university student. Whether one agrees with what is being said or not, this is not the right way one would express their opposing view and denial. We urge the Student Affairs Office to investigate this occurrence, in order to prevent such behavior to be repeated on campus again.
http://www.tsmu.edu/eng/images/stories/ armenian-flag.gif
Movie Review: A Thousand Words Bayan Jaber Contributing Writer If you only had a thousand words left, what would you say? Jack McCall (Eddie Murphy) is a literary agent whose gift of gab makes him great at his job despite the fact that he never actually reads any books. Jack learns of a new book by a popular spiritual guru called Sinja (Cliff Curtis). Unaware that the book is actually just five pages long Jack pays Sinja a visit to try get the book’s publishing rights. In the process, he cuts himself on a Bodhi tree that later magically sprouts in his backyard. With every word Jack utters, the tree loses a leaf. Sinja observes that Jack and the tree are spiritually linked. When the tree loses all of its leaves Jack will die. With almost a thousand leaves left, Jack begins to use his words carefully while the guru seeks council from other wise men in search for a solution that could reverse the curse. In the meantime, Jack struggles to deal with important work meetings, a marriage in danger, and his dementia-afflicted mother who wants to celebrate her birthday
with Jack’s late estranged father. The Concord movie theatre was filled with laughter during Murphy’s funny comedy scenes. His bizarre facial expressions and wild gesticulations scored many laughs with AUB students who watched the movie. Fatima Hasan, (Computer Engineer Junior) said that she enjoyed the movie because “it was very funny and original”. Maha Ayash (English language Junior) pointed out that: “I liked the dramatic part about the father because it gives the movie more depth”. Jack’s assistant Aaron (Clark Duke) spices up the movie with some hilarious moments especially at the end when he receives a Bodhi tree himself! Despite being very entertaining, A Thousand Words does have a few exasperating moments. Jack wastes words as he curses when he is frustrated but decides to save his words when they are most needed like when his marriage is in trouble or when a blind man is crossing the street and asking for help. The funny
yet illogical decisions seem to contradict the dramatic twist concerning Jack’s relationship with his father. Like Jack, most people talk a lot without actually saying much. After his spiritual enlightenment, Jack learns that a person doesn’t have to speak in order to communicate or make meaning. A Thousand Words highlights the importance of showing instead of saying as actions speak louder than words. It is when Jack learns to do so that he wins back his wife, finds his true talent with writing, and comforts his mother who suffers from Alzheimer’s. The movie also sheds light on the importance of forgiveness as when Jack learns to forgive the father who abandoned him, his spiritual enlightenment is completed and he is finally at peace with his past. A Thousand Words is a fun family movie that leaves its viewers smiling while addressing serious issues concerning love, commitment, and forgiveness.
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Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Viewpoint
Movie Review: Battleship and Titanic 3D Ian M. Gibson Copy Editor It seems this past month has been one of ships and sailors and sorrowful drownings for the box office. April 2012, being both the centennial anniversary of the most infamous cruise liner disaster in history and the hopeful highwater point of Hollywood’s remake/demake production phase, brings to the screen two enormously budgeted and eerily similar films. The re-release of Titanic (in pointless 3D) and the equally unnecessary big-screen adaptation of Hasbro’s classic board game Battleship both unabashedly feature an atrociously popular cinematic trend – money wasted on rehashed clichés that lack creativity, ingenuity, and depth. Titanic, originally released in 1997, was the $200 million darling of director/writer/ underwater-diver-lover James Cameron. Given that a worldwide box office gross of $2 billion is simply not enough money to satisfy a movie studio and that the newly refurbished technology of 3D proves an excellent excuse to milk even more money out of a population of slack-jawed movie-goers, the film was retouched and shoved back into the theatres early this month. Battleship, a naval war film directed by Peter Berg and written by the Hoeber brothers, also wields a $200 million budget like a gilded club. Seeing an opportunity to make a new movie without actually having to create anything new, the movie is based on the popular Hasbro boardgame of the same name and fits squarely within the category of nostalgia marketing. These two films, separate though they may seem, are exactly the same. Both feature a main character who is downtrodden in his own rough-and-tumbleness. He begins the film with nothing in his pockets and no status within the world, his soul free beyond the bounds of societal convention. But love, that ever-present catalyst of every bad movie, makes him desire a girl beyond his reach, both in class and situation. And so he must face countless obstacles, the threat of each heightened by the imposed isolation of the setting, until he saves the girl of his dreams from the combined doom of immense exterior danger and an overbearing male protectorate. It’s a terribly flat storyline filled with clichés, one that is bent and smashed by each of these films until it fits their particular setting. Each of the side characters plays the role of a onedimensional plot device whose individual appearances and quips spoon-feed the plot to the audience. They are composed of ridiculous stereotypes, some of which can even be called racist. Even the main characters, who undergo an immense struggle throughout the film’s events and eventually emerge as changed individuals, are too conspicuously constructed and composited to be real. Add to this an endless
stream of pitiful one-liners and dissonant dialogue and both films simply become too fictional to bear. What the viewer is left with is a cast of cardboard figurines who, over the course of the film, become saturated and waterlogged by their own ridiculousness. But to examine these movies by their narrative, to chastise their writing on the basis of characterization and conversation, is to ignore their main purpose – spectacle. When a movie studio shells-out $200 million for a film, they can only spend so much on catered food and pretty faces. What they expect is a film that looks expensive, one that screams extravagance in every poster, trailer, and promo shot. The sad fact is that what draws in an audience is the promise of over-the-top scenes with preposterous settings and elaborate action. Instead of seeking new stories and narrative forms or creating truly original films that challenge the bounds of cinematic expression, studios and mediocre directors (like Cameron and Berg) simply seek to broaden the spectacle. They dream-up elaborate set pieces and dazzling CGI effects on which to waste obscene amounts of money, ignoring the more important aspects of filmmaking. Story, cinematography, editing, and novelty are all tossed aside in favor of a mad-rush for visual excess. And so their final product, the movie that they hype and parade
and blast all sorts of fanfare for, ends up being nothing more than a spectacle of massive dazzle and little-to-no substance. It is around this point that the only noteworthy difference between Titanic and Battleship arises. For both movies, the draw is in the uniqueness of the spectacle, in the idea that what the movie provides is a show unlike any other. But whereas the latter fully recognizes this and almost revels in its ability to provide one visually ridiculous scene after the other, the former is simply too pompous. Battleship is a film about big navy boats shooting scary alien ships, and it provides that in spades. But Titanic, a film whose sole premise is the historic sinking of an immense passenger ship, dwells too much in all the details it does just as badly as every other film. By the time the big bad iceberg comes to ruin the picture-perfect romance, the movie is too inundated with standard cinematic blandness to be of interest. For two films with unique premises, celebrated directors at their helm, and matching ninefigure budgets, Titanic and Battleship offer the same disappointing experience – depthless spectacle with little else to see. But it’s the fact that the two are separated by 15 years of rejected innovation and novelty that makes the state of modern cinema that much more pitiful.
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Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Editorial: Stress Lojine Kamel Editor-in-Chief “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and I breathe deeper. I close my eyes. I think about look once in awhile, you could miss it.” Ferris butterflies and tigers and stuff. I really like Bueller. tigers, especially Golden ones. Did you know that there are nine subspecies of tigers, except Heart beating, mind racing, fingers typing three of them are extinct? There’s the Bengel, maniacally on a keyboard. I am stressed. Exam Indochinese, Malayan, Sumatran, Siberian and period from now until June; my priorities South China tiger. I feel better already. mounting, one after the other, until I can hardly figure out which one is which. My African Grey I don’t have a witty conclusion today, or a moral stares at me beseechingly, as if to ask why my or piece of advice. Today it’s just me as a person face is contorted into a angry frown. who happens to write occasionally. I hope that those reading this who have days like today feel I am stressed! Papers everyday, chemistry better too. Sometimes it’s good to just stop and every which way, studying, studying, studying! breathe, for even five minutes. Maybe you deI sit and try and remember techniques for stress from counting, or maybe from reading breathing. It’s not working. I count to 100 by about tigers. Any which way, it’s much better on 3’s, and I give up at 27. All I can think about is this side of things. my chemistry exam tomorrow, my unfinished education assignment, and the overwhelming week I have ahead.
One little piece Mohamad Sibai Staff Writer “So great is the effect of cleanliness upon man, that it extends even to his moral character. Virtue never dwelt long with filth; nor do I believe there ever was a person scrupulously: attentive to cleanliness, who was a consummate villain.” Count Benjamin Thompson Rumford. In my life, I have yet to meet an honest individual who doesn’t reek of aromatic perfumes and soap. Generalization would, of course, be inappropriate when discussing human traits in particular. However, one can expect only so much from those who value their morals as much as they value other miniscule aspects of life. Cleanliness was one of the main causes of diseases and ailments from the start of time up until the 19th century. In other words, it isn’t something everyone has gotten used to. Today, people are clean out of integrity, respect, and responsibility. For instance, religious figures in all religions are honest, trustworthy, and above all value both the cleanliness of the soul and the body. In contrast, most soldiers are usually filthy because they are trained to be ruthless. Cleanliness isn’t usually a trait that is to be held dearly as it is a sign of weakness. Today, cleanliness is a law that most countries in the world uphold. In the United States, littering can result in a fine of up to 5000 dollars. In Lebanon, it can earn you a scold from a respectable member of society, but other than that, nothing. Every day, I bear witness to garbage being thrown out of car windows,
cigarette butts being carelessly thrown onto the street, and miniscule wrappers being tossed, as if they won’t be noticed, onto the ground. Well, for all of those who thought that their deeds were insignificant and unnoticeable, I say wake up. We all live on this planet together, so we should all share the responsibility of keeping it clean. Don’t ever litter in the sense that the garbage man will clean it up later. That’s immoral and disrespectful to the human beings who have made it their duty to pick up our (and their) trash. This brings us back to the original theory at hand, that only a villain would take no part in cleanliness. Year by year, our population is growing. This means that the amount of garbage is also increasing and if we don’t give cleanliness the importance it deserves we will be living on what in Lebanon has already started to form: “mountains of trash”. What’s even more dangerous is the diseases that will start to spread because of the landfills that will form along with the contaminated food that will eventually reach our households. Oceans and lakes will no longer be suitable for anything but viewing. We, as humans, must be careful and warn one another of this lethal cause. If we ignore it and keep living the way we currently are, Armageddon may come earlier than expected.
Arts & Culture
Outlook Team Chairperson Editor-in-Chief Associate Editor Arabic Editor Photography Editor Layout Editors Webmaster
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Talal Nizameddin Lojine Kamel Nour Jane Kachicho Nouhad Awwad Mohammad B. Azzam Nadine Razzouk Layla Smaili Jad Shammsseddine
Public Relations Manager
Emile Zankoul
Member at Large
Camelia Harb
Business Manager Business Executives Copy Editor
Timmy Malkoun Amer Farhat Marc Ziade Ian Gibson
News Executives
Dalia Hosn Ali Kassem Mona Ayoub Heather Jaber
Photographers
Tugce Coskun Nadi Nassar
Staff Writers
Cartoonists Deedee El Jilani Ghassan Nassar Jad Jari Assaad Khoury
Rana El-Jarrah Mohamad Alameh Robert Isaf Dania Machlab Mada Dibs Sarah Khalil Heather Jaber Rayane Zahreddine Hadi Mehio Lama Zakharia Kanzi Kamel Zeina Mhaidly Sarah Al-Dirani Karim Zahed Karen Sertin Loulwa Kalache Hrag Vosgerichian Weam Al-Awar Ghida Ismail Edward Abou Jaoude Hashem Osseiran
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صفحة 13
الثالثاء ،اذار 2012 , ٢٤
جرح ينزف...قانا
ح�سني �سليمان ر�سالة اىل املحرر
ال زلت اذكر ذلك اليوم من �شهر ني�سان ...رغم ال�سنوات ال�ستة ع�رش التي م�ضت اال انني اتذكر جيدا كيف كانت عالمات احلزن عيني �أمي ...كانت تر ّتب الغرفة عندما العميق تبدو وا�ضحة يف ّ دخلت ،مع انها كانت مرتبة� .أح�س�ست انها كانت حتاول ان ت�شغل نف�سها ب�أي �شيء .اما انا فكنت طوال النهار ا�شعر باحلما�س الغري االعتيادي ،وكنت احاول ان الفت نظر كل من حويل يف البيت لعله يتذكر احد انه عيد ميالدي ..او يفاجئني احد بالهدية التي كنت احلم بها طوال �أ�سابيع ,دراجة هوائية �رسيعة� ,أباهي بها �صبيان احلي الذين يت�سابقون بدراجاتهم الهوائية كل عطلة ..كنت اتوق يف ذلك اليوم لأطفئ ال�شموع اخلم�سة يف قالب احللوى بال�شوكوالتة الذي اف�ضل والتقط اجمل ال�صور التي تخلد ذكريات الطفولة .بالطبع ,ك�أي طفل يف �سن اخلام�سة كان من الطبيعي جدا ان �أكون يف تلك احلالة .لكن حزن من حويل وقلة اكرتاثهم جعلتني ادخل الغرفة لأ�س�أل امي عن جميء ابي بدون قالب احللوى � .سيما و�أن ذلك اليوم لطاملا كان يوم فرح للعائلة ,كيف ال وقد كنت الطفل املدلل .ف�س�ألتها بلهجة ال تخلو من العتب �« :أمل تت�صلي ب�أبي لتذكريه ب�أن ي�أتي بقالب احللوى ؟ « ف�أ�شاحت وجهها فكررت ال�س�ؤال ب�شيئ من اخليبة ,و�أ�ضفت «�أال يذكر احد انه عيد ميالدي ؟ « ف�أجابت بحزن « :العامل برا عم متوت و�أنت بدك قالب كاتو؟؟ « .مل اعرف ماذا
جرى لكن جلّ ما كنت اعرفه حتى ب�ضع �سنوات بعد تلك احلادثة انني منذ ذلك العام قد قلّ اهتمام من حويل بذكرى عيد ميالدي ...وعندما كنت ا�س�أل عن ال�سبب غالبا ما كانت ت�أتيني اجوبة غري مقنعة ك « :حفلة عيد امليالد ب�س لل�صغار وانت �رصت كبري « .وجاء اليوم الذي كنت ا�شاهد فيه التلفاز وكانت بعد �سنني طويلة يف نف�س اليوم 18 :ني�سان ..فحللت لغزا ظل ي�شغلني طويال كلما ارى طفال يحتفل بعيد مولده ..فقد كانت �صور اال�شالء يف قانا من اق�سى امل�شاهد التي مرت امام نظري ..فتحولت كل م�شاعر احلزن حول عيد ميالدي �سخطا عارما على همجية ال�سفاح اال�رسائيلي وعمالئه .كان الطفولة يف 18ني�سان هي ال�شهيدة وم�شاهد الق�صف على مركز االمم املتحدة املكتظ باملدنيني واالطفال �سكينا ال يزال يجرح , وندوب اجلرح ال تزال تتفتح يف كل عام مع زهرات ني�سان التي روتها دماء �شهداء اطفالنا .وعمق اجلروح يزداد بعد كل جمزرة من فظائع ارتكابات هذا العدو على اطفالنا ون�سائنا ..ادركت حينها ما ح�صل قبل �سنوات يف مثل ذلك اليوم .ف�أطفال قانا قد اطف�أت �شموعهم نريان احلقد اال�رسائيلي التي مل تعطي هيبة ال جترم ا�ستهداف املدنيني . للأمم املتحدة وال للمواثيق الدولية التي ّ ادركت حينها حزن امي العميق وعيناها الغارقتان بالدموع فلم ا�ستطع ان احب�س دموعي .حاولت ان �أوا�سي ولو ب�شيئ ,دموع
االمهات التي ثكلت يف ذلك اليوم .ومل تنتهي الق�صة هنا ,فال تزال امهاتنا تثكل كل يوم على مر�أى �أممنا املت�شتتة ,يف ار�ضنا احلبيبة فل�سطني .
�أين نحن
نهاد غازي عواد حمررة ق�سم اللغة العربية
تطالع ال�صحف فتجد �أخبارا متنوعة .يف �إحدى ال�صحف هناك خرب عن نائب قرب�صي ذهب اىل الربملان على ظهر احلمار �إحتجاجا على �إرتفاع �أ�سعار النفط .بينما نحن ال نائب وال وزير وال �أكادميي وال �صاحب حمل �أو بائع خ�ضار قام ب�شيء للإحتجاج على الواقع .جل ما نفعله هو الإعرتا�ض والإحتجاج اي «الت�أفف والنق» الذي ال طائل منه وال منفعة .فهنيئا لنا �أغلى «تنكة بنزين» يف العامل. تطالع �صحيفة �أخرى فتجد �أنه يوجد يف �شمال فرن�سا جهاز رادار ي�شتم من يتجاوز ال�رسعة املحددة وهي 50كلم .بينما نحن يف لبنان ال يعجبنا �أن ُنطالب بتطبيق قوانني ال�سري. فالبع�ض يقول»ببريوت ما يف عجقة ،م�ش �رضوري حزام الأمان» .و�آخرون يركنون �سياراتهم يف مكان ذوي الإحتياجات اخلا�صة بحجة»�شوي وراجع» .وكثري من ال�سائقني يتحينون
الفر�صة لتجاوز الإ�شارة احلمراء .وعدد ال ي�ستهان به من اللبنانني ح�صلوا على �إجازات ال�سوق من دون �إمتحان. فالإنتهاكات يف هذا املجال تطول الئحتها .هناك قانون لكن لي�س هناك من يطبقه ومن يرعى تطبيقه بجدية. ويف نف�س ال�صحيفة جتد خربا من اململكة املتحدة ،حيث حكم �شخ�ص بال�سجن ل�ستة ع�رش ا�سبوعا ،ومنع من �إقتناء احليوانات الأليفة ملدة � 10سنوات ،لقتله هرة ابنه ب�إلقائها من �رشفة �شقته و�سخت �أريكته .بينما يف الطابق ال�ساد�س ع�رش ،بحجة �أنها ّ البع�ض يف لبنان يده�س الهررة ب�سيارته وال يقيم �أي �إعتبار للحيوانات الأليفة . كما ن�رشت جملة �ساين�س العلمية درا�سة مفادها �أن قردة البابون ميكنها التعرف على ر�سالة من �أربع كلمات على �شا�شة
الكمبيوتر .كما �أنها متكنت من التمييز بني الكلمات احلقيقة وبني جمموعة من احلروف املختلطة التي لي�س لها معنى. ورجح الباحثون �أن هذه القدرة تعزى اىل قدرة قردة البابون على متييز الأ�شياء ولي�ست علي �أي مهارات لغوية� .أما يف لبنان فال نزال نعاين من وجود ع�رشة باملائة من اللبنانيني ال يجيدون القراءة �أو الكتابة .وعدد ال ي�ستهان به من املواطنني ال يقيم وزنا للعلم و�أهميته بحجة �أنه م�رصوف قليل املدخول .وك�أن املال �أ�صبح �أهم من املعرفة. كثرية هي الأخبار من خمتلف مدن العامل وكثرية هي التجاوزات يف لبنان .ويبقى الأمل ب�أن ي�ستفيق ال�شعب من �سكرة الطائفية لأن هناك �أ�شياء كثرية يف احلياة �أهم� .أ�شياء كثرية ما زلنا متخلفني عنها والركب �سائر للأمام ونحنا ال نزال نتطلع للخلف.
صفحة 14
الثالثاء ،اذار 2012 , ٢٤
الإن�سان بني احلرية والطغيان! حممد بزي
جاهدا البحث عن فل�سفة ما للدفاع عن فعله ملا حاول املرء ً و�أحواله ،راح يطاول يف احلديث مثق ً رتا ب�أحجية احلرية! ك�أن الكالم ال الكالم ،مت�س ً عنها قد ُطوي و�صار غريبا ك�أن الفكر قد حتت رماد الأقالم� ،أو بات احلديث عنها ً حاكها ب�إملام... ولكنه لو فكر قلي ً ال لأدرك�أن احلرية لي�ست ن�سيج ًا من ورق الزمان �أثمرتها �آهات الطغيان� ،إمنا هي �أ�صيلة يف نفو�س الأبرار... فما هي احلرية؟ قد اختلف العديد من الفال�سفة واملفكرين حول هذا املفهوم، وعليه انعك�س يف ي�سريا .ولكن �إن عدة ال ي�سعنا التطرق �إليها �إال أفكارا َ الواقع � ً ً ي�سعني التطرق يف �أ�سطر �إىل بع�ض جدليتها ،كان يل �أن �أر�سم حدود الطغيان لأن ذلك نقي�ض احلرية! ولأن احلرية ت�شمل جذوع احلياة بزخرفها املتنوعة وتخت�رص �سلوك الب�رش ب�رضوبهم املختلفة ،مل يكن الأمر للتكلم عن جماالت بروزها يف حياتهم متاحا .فيبدو الكالم ً عن نقي�ض احلرية �أكرث �إتزا ًنا؛ �إذ يكون للمرء التحرك �ضمن هذه احلدود فال يتخطاها. �شا�سع ليمار�س حقه يف احلياة كما تقت�ضيه مت�سع ويكون ٌ ٌ فل�سفة احلرية. � َأما فل�سفتها؛ فاحلرية �أ�صيلة يف النف�س الب�رشية ،بل هي من منبع كونه �إن�سا ًنا ذو حياة يخت�ص بها دون غريه من املوجودات .فاحلرية هي قرينة الوجود الب�رشي ،حتى حر �إذن �أنا موجود»! لأن غياب احلرية ينتج عنه ي�صح القول�« :أنا ٌ غياب الذاتي الأ�صيل على ال�ساحة الفكرية والعملية ،وبالتايل غياب الإن�سانية التي تتميز باحل�ضور العملي امل�سبوق بالوعي الفكري للذات املدركة. ولكن كيف يكون للحرية حدودا �إن قلنا ب�أن الإن�سان حر؟ �أو لي�س احلد يلغي احلرية؟ �إن مبد�أ احلرية ال يلغي من جوفه القوانني الزاجرة ،بل هي الكفيلة للحرية! �إن احلرية هي العمل �ضمن �ضوابط ترعى بكليتها �إن�سانية الإن�سان واملجتمع .وييقى ال�س�ؤال ملاذا الطغيان نقي�ض احلرية؟ �إن من �أركان احلياة الإجتماعية ال�سليمة العقد الإجتماعي الكفيل مبراعاة احلقوق
والواجبات وامل�رشف على �سالمة الكل دون ا�ستثناء .فال يكون للفرد من �ش�أن من دون هذه ال�ضوابط لأن الذئاب من النا�س قد ا�ستعبدتهم �أنيابهم للإنق�ضا�ض على �أخالئهم! فالرادع لي�س هو نقي�ض احلرية؛ �إمنا الطغيان الذي ي�أ�رسها وراء ق�ضبانه! وعليه ،فلي�س نقي�ض احلرية من خارجها� ،إمنا هو عني التوغل فيها من غري نظر �أو ح�سبان .ل ْأن �أقول �إين حر �أفعل ما �أ�شاء من غري �ضابط يردعني، لهو عني نقي�ض احلرية...لهو الطغيان!! و�إن من و�صف الطاغية �أن ي�ستحوذ لنف�سه �صياغة هذه القوانني الراعية للب�رش،فتنقلب عليهم خ�رسا ًنا؛ بد ً ال من اكت�شاف �أ�س�سها و بنيانها وحركتها على
�ضوء العنا�رص املتاحة يف علوم املعرفة .فيكون هو القانون بل الزمان! فهل يحق لرجل �أن يكتم �صوت غريه؟! �أم هل يحق لطاغية �أن ير�سم فكر غريه؟! �أم هل يحق لإمر�ؤ �أن ميحو التاريخ ويزرع �أ�شتات عقله؟! �أم من يكون ل�شعب �صار فيه احلاكم امل�رشع واملراقب والقا�ضي؟! �أم من يكون لدولة �أفقرت لبابها بخفة من ا�ست�أثر بجلباب احلكم دون غريه؟! فما �أحوجنا يف زمن كرثت فيه خمالب اجلهل من ثورة على �أنف�سنا ومن ثم على العامل �أجمع! نحرر �أنف�سنا من �شوائك ما �أرداه الزمن من �ضياع �أو تع�صب �أو عمى..
متفرقات
جاد �شم�س الدين كاتب �صحفي وم�س�ؤول املوقع ال�شبكي
قامت �رشكة «في�س بوك» �صاحبة املوقع االجتماعي االكرب ب�رشاء موقع “ان�ستاغرام” مل�شاركة ال�صور ،مببلغ مليار دوالر �أمريكي تدفع نقداً و�أ�سهم ًا ، وذلك بح�سب �إحدى و�سائل الإعالم العاملية .وتعترب هذه العملية انها ال�صفقة الأوىل من نوعها ل�رشكةال»في�س بوك» منذ �أن ت�أ�س�ست ،من حيث الكلفة وامل�رشوع. كما �أعلن م�ؤ�س�س «في�س بوك» مارك زوكربرغ �أن هذا املوقع يحوي على �أكرث من مليون م�شرتك حول العامل و�أنه �أول م�رشوع �رشاء ل�رشكة ال»في�س بوك» مذ انطالقتها. و�أ�ضاف «نحن ال نخطط لبذل املزيد من اجلهد يف هذه ال�صدد. لكن تقدمي �أف�ضل جتربة مل�شاركة ال�صور هو �أحد الأ�سباب التي جتعل الكثري من النا�س يحبون ال «في�س بوك» ،وكلنا نعرف انه �سيكون من القيم دمج هاتني ال�رشكتني معا».
وت�أ�س�س موقع ان�ستاغرام على يد كيفني �سي�سرتوم ،ومايك كريغر،و قد حقق هذا املوقع زيادة كبرية يف معدل التحميالت بعد �إ�صداره ن�سخة ال �أندرويد بحيث مت حتميل �أكرث من مليون �صورة ب�أقل من � 12ساعة .ومن املعروف �أن ال»في�س بوك» ت�سعى ل�رشاء م�شاريع جديدة متكنها من توزيع منتجاتها. �أما اخلرب الثاين فهو قيام مراهق �صيني من بكني ببيع كليتيه ل�رشاء جهازي �أيفون وايباد .وقد �أعلنت ال�سلطات املحلية عن عمليات �رشاء وبيع للأع�ضاء قام بها �أحد �سكان بكني .وقد قام بذلك عرب ا�ستدراج الأطفال على ال�شبكة العنكبوتية واغراءهم بالألعاب .وكان قد قام بذلك لأنه كان بحاجة �إىل املال بعد �إفال�سه ب�سبب لعبة القمار.ولكن بالطبع مل يكن لوحده فقد كان هناك طبيب يف �إحدى امل�ست�شفيات يقوم ب�إجراء هذه العملية
على �أن يتقا�سما الأموال معا. وبح�سب التحقيقات فقد تبني �أن املراهق ال�ضحية قد ح�صل على حوايل � أربعة االف دوالر بينما الطبيب قد ح�صل على حوايل خم�س وثالثون � ألف دوالر للقيام بهذه العملية. واجلدير بالذكر �أنا هذا املراهق ال يتخطى عمره ال�سبعة ع�رشة عام ًا .وكانت قد علمت �أمه باملو�ضوع بعد �أنا عاد �إىل املنزل ومعه جهاز «�أيفون» .حيث �س�ألته عن م�صدر املال ف�إعرتف ببيع �إحدى كليتيه ،وهو الآن يعاين من تدهور �شديد يف حالته ال�صحية !!
صفحة 15
الثالثاء ،اذار 2012 , ٢٤
لغتي �شخ�صيتي يف خطر رعد القنطار ،ر�سالة اىل املحرر خاطبني يا �صاحبي بلغة بلدي .عرب يل عن �شخ�صيتك بلغتك اال�صيلة .كلمني عن ح�ضارتك العريقة بلغة �أجدادنا. �أين هي ثروتنا؟ �أين هي لغتنا العربية؟ لقد ن�سينا لغتنا العربية. ن�سينا �أننا يف وطننا العربي. �أينما تنقلت يف وطنك العربي ترى اعالنات عن منتجات عربية باللغة االجنبية.تقر�أ �أ�سماء املتاجر باللغة االجنبية.تدخل اىل مطعم عربي لت�أكل لقمة عربية في�أتيك النادل ويكلمك باللغة االجنبية ويقدم لك قائمة الطعام باللغة االجنبية ،ثم ت�أتيك فاتورة احل�ساب باللغة االجنبية .واذا �أردت �أن تركب �سيارة �أجرة ترى على �سطحها كلمة �أجرة باللغة االجنبية�.أينما تتنقل يف وطنك العربي ينتابك �شعور �أنك يف وطن �أجنبي. قلما جتتمع ب�صديق لك عربي اال ويختلط كالمه العربي بلغة �أجنبية وي�صعب عليه بع�ض الكلمات باللغة العربية فيرتجمها باللغة االنكليزية �أو الفرن�سية�.أال ن�شعر باخلجل من انحطاط لغتنا العربية بحيث �أن العرب يف وطنهم العربي يتكلمون ؟؟؟باللغة االجنبية؟ ان هذه الظاهرة اخلطرية تخطت املجتمعات الكبرية ودخلت البيوت وتقاليدها وكيفية تربية اطفالها حتى �أ�ضحى االهل يكلمون �أوالدهم باللغة االجنبية منذ نعومة �أظفارهم غري مبالني بلغتهم العربية ،و هم يف�ضلون �أن يتعلم �أوالدهم يف املدار�س لغتني �أجنبيتني �أو �أكرث وال يكرتثون للغتهم العربية ظنا منهم �أن العوملة تقت�ضي ذلك. انظروا ماذا فعل فينا �سحر العوملة؟
�أين تربيتنا العربية؟ �أين هي ثقافتنا العربية؟�أين هي جذورنا العربية؟ نتقم�ص �شخ�صية أن � االم... لغتنا من نخجل أن � ثقافتنا تقت�ضي �أ ّ �أخرى� ...أن نتعلم لغات �أجنبية على ح�ساب العربية؟؟؟ ن�سينا �أن اللغة العربية هي لغتنا الأم� ...أنها �أعرق و�أغنى لغة على وجه االر�ض ...و �أن لها الف�ضل يف تطور اللغات �أجمع وخا�صة اللغة اال�سبانية وااليطالية. ان لغتنا العربية جزء �أ�سا�سي ومهم من تكوين �شخ�صيتنا و�شخ�صية االجيال ال�صاعدة ،وهذه ال�شخ�صية يف واقعها العربي �شخ�صية م�ستهدفة من جمموعة عوامل �أدت بها اىل ال�ضعف والرتاجع عن القيام بفاعليتها .وامل�شكلة تكمن �أي�ض ًا يف بع�ض اجلامعات التي ال تدر�س اللغة العربية لغري املتخ�ص�صني. والطالب اجلامعي العربي الذي يدر�س التاريخ �أو الفل�سفة �أو احلقوق يهمل لغته االم لأنه ال يدر�س باللغة العربية ومن هنا جند تخرج باحثني وم�ؤرخني ال يتقنون �أن كليات العلوم االن�سانية ّ الكتابة باللغة العربية ال�سليمة ...فتخيلوا باحث ًا �أوفيل�سوف ًا �أومفكراً �أو اقت�صادي ًا عربي ًا ال يتقن احلديث بلغته العربية يف وطنه العربي؟؟!! �ألي�س من املعيب بوطن عربي �أن يحا�رض فيه مثقفوه باللغة االنكليزية �أو الفرن�سية وي�ستخدم مرتجمني اىل اللغة العربية ؟؟ .للأ�سف هذه هي الداللة على انهيار البنية الثقافية للمجتمع العربي. ان املجتمع العربي هو الذي يقذف باللغة العربية اىل امل�صري
املوح�ش .يتوجه اىل اللغات االجنبية ليثبت لأربابها �أنه جمتمع متح�رض ميلك �شجاعة التعاطي مع الآخر وثقافة الآخر حتى غزت تلك اللغات لغته يف موطنها ويف عقر دارها و بات يقول ب�أن العوملة ت�ستدعي ذلك.. كفانا �ضياع ًا .كفانا دوران ًا يف فلك الغري .لنعد اىل ر�شدنا ولن�ضع حدوداً للعوملة يف عاملنا العربي. كفانا ا�ستهتاراً باللغة العربية .لنعد �سوي ًا اىل جذورنا،اىل تراثنا، ولن�ضمد �أو�صال لغتنا العظيمة الغنية مبفرداتها اىل ثروتنا. ّ وقواعدها .ولنعمل مع ًا جاهدين على االعتزاز بلغتنا العربية واتقانها والتكلم بها على الأقل يف وطننا واتقان الكتابة يف اللغة العربية.
الإنرتنت و انتهاك اخل�صو�صية مدى الدب�س ،كاتبة �صحفية
حديث احلرم اجلامعي يدور حول �آخر مثال على انتهاك اخل�صو�صية على االنرتنت .يف ال ّتفا�صيل ا ّنه �أن�شئت �صفحة �إلكرتونية جتمع �صور بنات من مدار�س وجامعات خمتلفة نعد منها على �سبيل املثال اجلامعة الأمريكية يف بريوت ، ّ ، اجلامعة الي�سوعية ،اجلامعة الأنطونية ،و مدر�سة انرتنا�شونال كوليدج. الرئي�سية �صورتني لفتاتني جميلتني ( قد ال�صفحة على ترى ّ ال�صديقات كما حدث يف حالتي) ،و يطلب منك يكونان من ّ ال�صورة الأكرث اثار ًة .بعد الت�صويت ،تنتقل الت�صويت على ّ مر�شحات يف كل جامعة �إىل مرحلة �أخرى ،ثم يتم �أف�ضل ّ 10
ن�ضعها وبال ّتايل ال ميكننا �أن نعرف امل�صدر» .وقد �أثري تعجبي الت�صويت ملتناف�ستني �أخرتني وهكذا ودوليك. من بع�ض الفتيات اللواتي ال يعرن املو�ضوع �أهميةً وك�أ ّنه بات القيمني عليها ال يتمتعون عادي ًا �أن ترى الفتاة �صورتها اخلا�صة يتم الت�صويت عليها من عندما تدخل اىل ال�صفحة ،تالحظ ّ ان ّ ال�صور مبهنية � :أ�سماء الفتيات غري معلنة ،وكذلك امل�س�ؤولني عن ادارة قبل غرباء .ولذلك ن�أمل من اجلميع �أن يدر�سوا فكرة ن�رش ّ زوار اخلا�صة على �صفحات االنرتنت لتجنب ا�ستغاللها ،احرتام ًا ال�صفحة ال يعلنون عن �أ�سمائهم بل يكتفون بت�شجيع ّ للنف�س واخل�صو�صية والقيم. ال�صفحة على «الرثثرة املجهولة امل�صدر». ال�صور اىل ال�صفحة: ٍ يف جواب على �س�ؤالنا عن كيفية و�صول ّ ال�صفحة : على �صورتها و�ضعت التي البنات احدى ت ر ّد ّ «ال�صور تعر�ض على الفي�سبوك ،والت�صميم احلديث ل�صفحة ال�صور التي الفي�سبوك يتيح للجميع �أ�صدقاء كانوا �أم ال �أن يروا ّ
رجال النيدو �أ�سامة خري ،م�ساهمة �صحفية
كنا نراه يف زاوية املعبد يجل�س وحيداً ويراقبنا وك�أ ّنه ع�صفور دوري ال �رش له وال خري منه ،ولكنه عندما كان ي�أتي الكاهن ّ ُ َ مقب ً َ ي�صل اىل ال يده حتى الباب ِ على ه ل من أول � كان ي�ستقبِ ُ ّ مكان جلو�سهِ .يجل�س الكاهن على االر�ض بجواره �صديقنا ِ ال�صغري الذي يبد�أ بالو�شو�شة وال ينتهي حتى ينال كلٌّ من ّ الزمالء ن�صيبه من القدح .بعد ان ينتهي الدر�س يعود كل منا «دوري فكان يعود مع اىل منزله� ،أما �صديقنا ال�صغري املنزوي ً علبة النيدو اىل بيته فخوراً بنف�سه و»ذكائه». .وبعد مرور ال�سنني �إلتحقنا بالكليات واجلامعات كما التحق مقدراً .عاد الينا وجمع الرفاق الدوري الذي تخرج رجال عامل ًا ّ يف دارته وكان خال�صة قوله « انه من ر�ضي عنه كان ب�أمان
ومن كان غري ذلك م�صريه املكوث بني �أربعة جدران خلفه نافذة «دوري» �صغرية و�أمامه باب حديدي« .تبني فيما بعد �أن �صاحبنا ً قد �أ�صبح يف ديارنا وكي ً ال ل�رشكات �أدوية ومقاوالت وتغذية حتى �أ�صبح م�ستورد علب النيدو التي كان يلعب بها. املربعة الزوايا وما زال كربنا ودخلنا اجلامعات ومنها اىل اجل ّنات ّ «دوري يرقبوننا من بعيد ويتحينون الفر�صة «دوري و�أمثال ً ً لتحجيمنا ولكن ما اختلف بني االم�س واليوم ان دوري ما زال يعي�ش طاحم ًا بعلبة النيدو ووكالتها .اما نحن ،نعم نحن ،ما عاد ال «دوري» وال عفاريت الأر�ض وال�سماء حترك خلج ًا فينا .ي�س�أل «دوري» ارتفاع ن�سبة حماقتنا ويت�ساءل البع�ض ملاذا ،وي�ستغرب ً و�رس عدم تغريدنا يف معزوفته. عن �سجاذتنا ّ
� ّأما �أنا ف�أقول� ،أن لي�س للحياة معنى بدون �أن تكون كامل االن�سانية� ،أي اال تكون عبداً وال ببغاء وال دوري ًا بل ان تقف دوم ًا يف وجه االع�صار النك �ستك�رسه. «النيدو وغريها وقد يهددنا بال�سجن ، «دوري قد ميتلك �صديقي ً ً مغردة بالبل نا ن � أ و دوري د جمر أنه � نف�سه قرارة ولكنه يدرك يف ّ ّ ّ و�سنونو تطري!
جزء ،44عدد 20 الثالثاء ،اذار 2012 , ٢٤
� 22سنة
نهاد غازي عواد حمررة ق�سم اللغة العربية
العربية بعداللغة �سنةق�سم حمررة عواد، أهلية� ،أين نحن ؟» احلرب ال وع�رشون غازيإثنان نهاد «� كان مو�ضوع زاوية املتحدثني «�سبيكرز كورنر» هذا الأربعاء والذي �أقيم عند الثانية ع�رش ظهرا قرب «الو�ست هال» .والذي �أقيم حتت �إ�رشاف الدكتور هاين ح�سن� .أول املتحدثني كان نائب رئي�س جلنة الطالب وهيئة التدري�س يف اجلامعة :ماريو �أبو زيد. الذي بر�أيه �أننا ما زلنا يف مكاننا بعد مرور هذا الوقت الطويل. والذي �أكد على حق التالميذ بالتعبري عن �آرائهم بحرية ،حيث قال «نحن يف اجلامعة الأمريكية يف بريوت ول�سنا يف مزرعة». كما حث التالميذ على �إبداء �آراءهم بحرية مع �إحرتام الطرف الآخر .وقد قال �أنه تعر�ض �شخ�صيا للتهديد وطلب من اجلميع عدم اخلوف �أو الرتاجع مهما كانت التهديدات .وقال للمهددين ب�أنه لن يرتاجع عن مواقفه لأنه ممثل للطلبة ولي�س موظف عند �أحد. يف البداية كان هناك بع�ض الفتور ما لبث �أن حتول ل�سل�سلة من املتكلمني امل�صطفني ب�إنتظار الدور .معظم الرتكيز كان على الو�ضع املعي�شي وب�أننا ما زلنا نعي�ش يف نظام طائفي. و�سيلي عر�ض لبع�ض املواقف التي ح�صلت :قال �أحد احلا�رضين �أن امل�شكلة تكمن فينا لأننا نتكلم ونتكلم ثم ال نلب�س �أن ننخرط باجلو العام ال�سائد خارجا .فكثريون منا يتوظفون مبهن ال ترتبط ب�إخت�صا�صهم ويكون الهم هو الفائدة ال�شخ�صية من دون التفكري بالفائدة العامة .وقد ر�أى �أحد املتكلمني �أن لكي نتطور يجب علينا �أن نخو�ض حروبا �أكرث .فخم�سة ع�رش �سنة من احلروب غري كافية لنتطور و�أعطى مثاال حرب املئة عام يف �أوروبا .وقال طوين :ان الرئي�س بري طالب ب�إلغاء الطائفية
منذ زمن ومل يتجاوب معه �أحد .ف�أتبعه ماريو قائال :ان ال�سيد مو�سى ال�صدر هو �أول من طالب ب�إلغاء الطائفية .ف�أردف حممد قائال� :أن لبنان وطن واحد للجميع ،لبنان 10452مرت .فرد عليه ماريو بالقول ب�أن لبنان وطن للجميع دون �إ�ستثناء ولي�س لفريق واحد .ثم تبعهم مايكل بالقول :يجب علينا ان نكون مثاال للخارج ولي�س بتابعني .للأ�سف عندما يحني وقت الإنتخابات تبد�أ الإ�صطفافات حتى �إن النوادي يف اجلامعة �أغلبها حم�سوب على تيارات �سيا�سية� .إحدى احلا�رضات و�ضعت ت�سا�ؤال حموره: ما ال�ضمانة �أنه اذا �ألغينا النظام الطائفي لن ت�ستحوذ طائفة معينة على الدولة؟ عقب ماريو بقول �إحدى عبارات جربان خليل جربان» لكم لبنانكم ويل لبناين ».و�أو�ضح �أنه حتى الآن مل يتم فهم هذه املقولة جيدا والتي تدعوا اىل توحد اللبنانيني. فكانت احلرب التي حتجج جميع الأطراف ب�أنها معركة دفاع عن الوجود .ثم �أردف قائال :كانت هناك �أ�شخا�ص مهم�شة قبل احلرب �أ�صبحت الآن ذات قوة كبرية و�أ�صبح �أفراد �آخرون هم املهم�شني .ثم تكلم طارق وقال :يحب علينا الت�صويت ح�سب الأ�شخا�ص ولي�س ح�سب الطائفة تطرق احد املتكلمني بذكر املظاهرات التي ح�صلت لإلغاء النظام الطائفي والتي توقفت لأن �أرباب النظام نزلوا للتظاهر فلم يعد هناك �أحد لنظاهر �ضده .تقريبا �أجمع الطالب على �أن الو�سيلة الوحيدة لتحقيق دولة علمانية هو من خالل �إزالة كل العائالت ال�سيا�سية التي �إبتلي بها لبنان.كما �أجمعوا على �أننا حتى الآن مل نتقدم بلبنان عن ما كان عليه منذ � 22سنة ،و�أنه علينا �إلغاء النظام الطائفي و�أن التغيري يبد�أ من �صناديق الإقرتاع.
«وظفك ؟»
وما ال ميكن �إنكاره ،هو �أنه �أ�صوات بع�ض الطالب كانت حتاكي �أيديولوجيات بع�ض «الزعماء» اللبنانيني .ويبقى احلل كما قال �أحد املتكلمني» قال الكاردينال مار ن�رصالله بطر�س �صفري �أنه علينا « �إزالة الطائفية من الذات قبل الن�صو�ص». مالحظة� :أ�سماء املتكلمني الواردة �أعاله هي �أ�سماء وهمية ولي�ست �أ�سماء الأ�شخا�ص املتحدثني وذلك حفاظا على حريتهم ال�شخ�صية.
رنا حربي م�ساهمة �صحفية
بعنوان «وظفك؟»، اللغةندوة وال�سالم عواد،لإن�سان غازيحقوق ا نهاد نادي نظم العربية حمررة ق�سم وذلك نهار الأربعاء من ال�ساعة اخلام�سة ع�رصا حتى ال�سابعة منه .حتدث فيها وزير العمل ال�سابق �رشبل نحا�س يف قاعة ع�صام فار�س يف اجلامعة الأمريكية يف بريوت ،حيث قام بت�سليط ال�ضوء على ق�ضايا �أ�سا�سية �أهمها مع�ضلة البطالة التي يواجهها ال�شباب يف لبنان اليوم .ففي �أ�سبوع ذكرى احلرب الأهلية وقبل �أ�سبوعني من عيد العمل ،طرح الوزير نحا�س عدة م�سائل ت�ؤثر على جمرى احلياة ب�شكل عام وعلى م�ستقبل الطالب اجلامعيني ب�شكل خا�ص� .إعترب نحا�س �أن الطالب ميثلون �إحدى الرافعات الأ�سا�سية لبناء �أي عملية تغيري .بد�أ الوزير حديثه عن احلرب الأهلية معتربا ان ال�سبب الرئي�سي للحرب كان الي�أ�س والقلق الدائم وامل�آ�سي التي واجهها ال�شعب اللبناين نتيجة احلالة املعي�شية والإقت�صادية وال�سيا�سية التي كانت �سائدة حينها .ثم انتقل للحديث عن البطالة و�سوق العمل �أو ما تبقى من هذا «ال�سوق» الذي �إعتربه نحا�س بدعة متداولة و�سلعة م�ستهلكة مل�صلحة �أفراد بدل امل�صلحة العامة. �شدد نحا�س على خطورة الإعتماد على اليد العاملة الأجنبية بحيث �أن القيود ال�شكلية املوجودة يف الدولة تعتمد على �آليات ملتب�سة؛ فوزارة الرتبية تقوم بختم �إجازات م�سبقة للعمال الأجانب بحيث �أن اللبناين بالنتيجة يحرم من وظائف هي من
حقه.و اجلامعات يف لبنان ،ومن �ضمنها اجلامعة الأمريكية يف بريوت ،تخرج �سنويا �أطباء ومهند�سني وحماميني وفنانني �أ�ضعاف �أ�ضعاف طلبات التوظيف التي تقدمها امل�ؤ�س�سات لوزارة العمل .فامل�شكلة الأ�سا�سية يف نظرنا هو ا�ستبدال طاقة ال�شباب بيد عاملة رخي�صة ،.فمن كل جيل �صاعد ،يهاجر حوايل %50من املواطنني بني عمر � 40-20سنة للعمل يف اخلارج و يتم ا�سترياد يد عاملة من بلدان فقرية باعداد موازية، وهكذا يتم «نزف دائم للبنانيني « معتربا هذا الأمر «ا�ستثمار غري جمدي» اذ ال تتوازن كلفة هذا الإ�ستثمار مع مردوده لأنه اذا ح�سبنا كلفة التعليم واملردود املرتقب قيا�سيا يف العمل بعد التعليم ،جند �أن العلم �أ�صبح �سلعة ال ت�ساعد املواطن للح�صول على وظيفة يف وطنه بل باحل�صول على وظيفة يف اخلارج. فاجليل الأول يهاجر ثم يقوم بتحويل الأموال من اخلارج وهذه الأموال ت�رصف يف الداخل يف التعلم وهذا الإ�ستهالك� ،أي العلم، من دون مردود .وبالنتيجة ترتفع كلفة املعي�شة في�صبح اجليل الثاين �أكرث جهوزية للعمل يف اخلارج فيقرر �أن يهاجر وبدوره ير�سل الأموال من اخلارج مرة ثانية وهكذا ت�ستمر الدورة يف �ضخ الأموال من اخلارج يف البنوك ومن البنوك �إىل اخلارج ، و الكالم كله لنحا�س .بعد ذلك ،هاجم الوزير �سيا�سة الدولة يف لبنان ،بحيث �أن ال�سيا�سيني مينعون ال�شعب من حقه ب�أن 3193 .ext 000 350 01 :tel 208 Bliss Street, West Hall
يدافع عن كيانه ،و هو اعترب �أن ال مكان لكرامة الإن�سان ودوره كعن�رص �سيا�سي و�أ�سا�سي يف بيئته وجمتمعه .فما هو احلل يف نظر نحا�س؟ يرى الوزير �أن علينا �أوال بلورة البديل وثم جمع القوة الالزمة لفر�ض هذا البديل .تكون هذه البلورة ،بر�أيه ،من خالل رف�ض املواطن ا�ستخدام الدولة للمال العام»لغ�ش النا�س» ب�إجنازات وهمية على ال�شا�شة ال �صلة لها باحلقيقة ،وبعد ت�صور هذا البديل تبد�أ حركة الرف�ض واملقاومة واملمانعة .اعترب نحا�س �أن الوقت قد حان» ليتحول الفرد اىل مواطن» يرف�ض ما يقوم به ال�سيا�سيون يف ت�سخيف م�س�ألة القانون وامل�صلحة العامة والبيئة وامل�سائل الإجتماعية الأ�سا�سية وحتويل م�أ�ساة املواطنني �شدد الوزير امل�ستقيل على �رضورة اىل ملف ثانوي .و�أخرياّ ، م�سائلة وحما�سبة ه�ؤالء الذين ي�ستخدمون تركيبات �سماها نحا�س «بالعوجة» «و�شبه ملي�شاياوية « ت�سعى اىل ا�ستخدام املال العام لك�سب مواقع �سيا�سية ،فالدين العام املرتاكم هو دين جائر وغري حمق وال م�ستحق .يف الندوة ،رف�ض الوزير �رشبل نحا�س الدفاع عن �أي جهة �أو فئة �سيا�سية معينة بل كانت جميع مواقفه هادفة اىل حت�سني احلالة املعي�شية والإقت�صادية لل�شعب الذي جرد عرب ال�سنني من حقه بالعي�ش الكرمي والعمل الكرمي يف موطنه.