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V . XLI, 5. 16, W ednesday vol ol XlIvN,, oM n. ay o 4 2012 VTol . XLIV, No. 23 1, 2011 ueSday , november

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Possible conflict of interest in cafeteria controversy Ziad Dallal & Amani Abou Harb Special-to-Outlook

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Recently, there has been much debate and tension surrounding the cafeteria situation on campus. Members of different clubs and societies enacted calls for sit-ins and urged the student body to boycott the cafeteria as a result of student dissatisfaction towards increased prices and decreased quality. As a catering company serving in AUB, the prices, as well as the quality, should cater for the wide spectrum of students in the university without excluding those who come from underprivileged backgrounds. The sit-ins proved important for student mobilization and awareness; they served as a preliminary stance that has triggered effective action by the USFC on behalf of the student body. In the past issue of Outlook, the series of events related to the cafeteria protests was duly reported, however, Continued on page 4

Sheikh Shafik Jradi astounds seculars Ali Kassem News executive “I apologize to all those that came expecting a man of religion to cuss secularism” were the words of Sheikh Shafik Jradi. The sheikh, director of the Sapiential Knowledge Institute, was speaking at a debate held by the Cultural Club of the South and entitled “Authority and State: Concerns over Religion and Secularism” under the moderation of Mr. Pierre Abou Saab. By the end of the gathering seculars were exclaiming as to how “a sheikh could say such things” and expressing their delight and pride in the desire to dialogue demonstrated.

Sheikh Jradi streesed the nature of the gathering: a dialogue. He stressed the importance of dialogue and refused close-mindedness. Smilarly, the sheikh defined the main concern of the meeting: politics. He stated that authority is defined as “the ability to run” and it is precisely the question of this ability that he aims to address. Authority, for Islam, is strictly that of God. For seculars,

authority is that of man, solely. But the sheikh explained that this could be very misleading.

For Islam, God certainly is the only one that has authority, the only one that can issue laws.

Nevertheless, these laws are not foreign to man.

The sheikh explained that these laws are part of man’s nature, part of his construction. This is because, upon creation, certain traits were engrained within man. More, the sheikh stressed the importance of man. For example, he stated that even if the best law exists but there are no humans to follow it, it will be of no significance.”

Even more, the Sheikh said that without man, without the individual, there is no need for law, no need for religion even. The sheikh went on to explain the importance of man to an Islamic understanding of the world: it is man that needs to take up this law and move with it, and through it, to progress and reach the perfection he is meant to reach.

Continued on page 4

Outdoors Supplement | Pages 5-13 www.aub.edu.lb/outlook

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Page 2

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Campus News

The annual FEA-SRC Rally Paper Ghida Ismail Staff writer It is said that university days are the best. It is certainly not the amount of studying that makes those years the finest, but rather the experiences we live throughout them, for example the annual AUB rally paper that has been described by many students as a “once in a lifetime experience.”

This nationwide event, organized by the FEA-SRC, took place this year on the weekend of May 12 and 13. It was sponsored by Dunkin Donuts, Jamal trust Bank, Radio One, Lebanese swiss Bank, Otv, CCC, ShopinLeb, Sawt El Mada, McVities Taxi, Xtrem PaintBall and Kunhadi. The prizes this year were: $10000 for first place, $5000 for second place, $3000 for third place, $2000 for fourth place and $1000 for fifth place. Ten teams registered, some of which supported causes. For example, the RED Cross Team, were they to win, would donate the money to the Lebanese Red Cross, Beit Mery sector, In fact the team slogan was “Playing gets better when done for a cause.”

Each team had to pay a registration fee of $66 for each car they were going to use.

Most of the teams were divided into three subgroups. There was a subgroup for the

challenges that will be on the road moving from one checkpoint to the other. The checkpoints were scattered all around the country, in Ain Ebel, Jezzine, Ehden, Naqura etc. At each checkpoint, participants had to participate in a special challenge. For example, participants had to swim against the stream and collect as many balls as possible or transport the water using only their mouth. Another subgroup is the base; participants that will answer different questions including: general knowledge questions, logic questions that needed analytical thinking, and riddles. Finally, there is the treasure subgroup that is responsible to acquire the different treasures. Examples of treasures are: an actual ticket of any Elvis Presley concert or a winning lottery ticket prize. Each treasure will earn the team points. In addition to this, different competitions were conducted; for instance the teams were asked to create a commercial video, a crazy video, and a parody video. There was also a facebook competition with the winning team collecting the most number of likes.

A website was setup for the participants to find

all the information needed, the treasures they had to seek, the questions they had to solve, and the checkpoints updates.

For safety issues, many rules and regulations were to be followed: such as no alcoholic drinks while driving, no phone calls while driving, and no speeding; all of these transgressions will lead to point deduction. The cars had to be insured and registered and the driver had to be licensed.

Mayar Akrameh, a Mechanical Engineering student described this event as “The most exciting experience ever, full of work, speed and competition.” Mounir Abou Fadel, an Economics student added “It is very nice, however eventually tiring.” Wissam Bechara, FEA-SRC President and organizer of the rally paper said “It is not everyday that one gets to organize such a huge and awaited event, it was a great experience. We spent more than a month organizing it, preparing the questions and the challenges and trying to come up with the best ideas.”

Red Cross Trivia Night raises awareness of congenital diseases

Assaad Khoury Staff Writer

The AUB Red Cross Club, in collaboration with Sanofi Pasteur, held the 4th Annual Trivia Night Hosted by Nemr Abou Nassar. The event, sponsored by Deek Duke and Buildings R Us, was organized for charity, the beneficiary being the Brave Heart Fund as a method of spreading awareness for Congenital Diseases.

The event was a general knowledge competition between six AUB Faculties, although not all participated. Five faculties signed up for the competition: FAS, FAFS, FEA, FM, and OSB. The competition as a whole consisted of several categories of questions including history and geography, science and technology, music, and film. A preliminary round one day prior to the trivia night was held in order to determine which team, consisting of three members per faculty, would go through to the first round. Two FAS teams ended up being admitted to fill the spot that FHS had left empty, along with four other teams from the other faculties.

The doors of Issam Fares Hall opened at roughly 6:30 PM on Wednesday, May 9 to the 250 audience members and participants alike. The competition kicked off about forty-five minutes later with an introduction by AUB Red Cross Club GA and Trivia Night organizing committee member Malek Teffaha, followed by the comedy stylings of Nemr Abou Nassar. The comedian

then proceeded to announce the teams that qualified and asked that they head down to the stage and take their seats.

The rules of the trivia were few and simple: Listen to the questions read by Nemr. Whoever ‘buzzed’’ first on the computer in front of them had their turn to speak the answer out loud. A wrong answer would automatically mean the turn goes to the other team.

The first round was the elimination round, in which two teams would go head-to-head for ten questions and whoever lost would be eliminated.

Aside from a few technical difficulties, this round went smoothly, with the FAFS, FEA, and FM teams being eliminated. After taking a seat and enjoying the rest of the competition, FAFS contestant and Senior Veterinary Sciences student Ralph Maalouf said: “It was such a fun experience! It brought out the competitive side of some of us. I definitely encourage people to join next year!” The remaining two FAS teams and OSB team qualified for the second round, and would continue until the end.

Round two was not so different from the classic TV Show game Jeopardy. But, of course, Nemr added his own flair to the game, with continuous banter and jokes made at the expense of the contestants. Round three was a modified version of Family Feud, appropriately entitled ‘Faculty

Feud.’ At this point, audience members were as engaged as the contestants, even discussing questions among themselves. “It was fun having Nemr as a host. It made the competition even more exciting,” said Economics senior Johanna El-Hayek.

The final round consisted of questions based on AUB student statistical surveys, asking questions about the most popular AUB hangout spot, coffee shop, or laptop brand. The contestants would write down their top two choices and receive points accordingly.

Finally, the competition was over and the points were added up, revealing that one of the FAS teams had won, the winners being Biology Premed Seniors Alaeddine Al Alayli and Hani Farah and Computer Science Senior Abed Salam. This had been their second consecutive victory, following their win last year. The contestants won a sum of $1200. In second place, the other FAS team received $600, and in third place, the OSB team got $300. The other participants did not go home empty-handed; they were given a consolation prize courtesy of Deek Duke which included a free meal. The contestants were congratulated and the competition was concluded with a group photo with Nemr Abou Nassar.

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Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Campus News

“Prayer Gardian” wins The 2012 ictQatar Innovation Theatre competition Thurayya Tabbara Special to Outlook It all started when I decided to join “The Entrepreneurship Club” at the American University of Beirut. I thought I had some nice ideas I could work on; that eClub could be my space! eClub aims at spreading awareness about entrepreneurship in the region through fun and interactive events. They also object to encourage and empower entrepreneurs to start their own businesses, launch their products, and with the support of third-party companies, provide investment, free mentorship, office spaces, and workshops empowering the entrepreneurial approach of its members. It was definitely interesting for me to join such a club, especially since we could get the chance to meet with successful entrepreneurs and learn more of their experiences.

There, I was given the chance to share my ideas and listen to visions of other entrepreneurs. The cabinet members of eClub promised to help whoever was passionate about his idea and try linking him with special mentors and investors.

I had the idea for a mobile application: “Prayer

Guardian”. It mainly targets youth, motivating them to pray on time through the process of a digital tree.

For the first time, eClub cabinet members decided to send me as “the first female entrepreneur” to participate in an international competition hosted by Potential held in Doha, Qatar: “Qitcom Conference, The Innovation Theater” (5-7 March- 2012) to pitch in my idea in front of several Judges and Investors. Two members of eClub were offered to join the conference and present their ideas : Founder of eClub Abdallah Absi and myself.

“There were 130 contestants; 20 teams selected to pitch their ideas at the Innovation Theater.”

We came from different Arab nationalities with ages ranging between 18 and 29. Some of the contestants were in teams and others were not.

I was the only Lebanese girl coming from AUB, and the youngest. On the first day, we had only 30 to 60 seconds to pitch our ideas. Audience and judges had to choose the best 10 pitches to be shortlisted to the next round. On the second day, we became 10 semi-finalists, having 3 minutes to

pitch more about our prototypes. On the final day, only 5 finalists were left and I was among them! Each one of us was given 5 minutes to elaborate about the financials of our projects and a brief of our business models. After successive judging and voting of the audience, thank God, my mobile application won the 1st prize! The first three prizes involved cash awards to help in the implementation, as well as mentorship and training by ICTQatar. Meeting with more mentors and digital incubators is my next step in order to implement “Prayer Guardian” on the App Store and the Android market.

I would like to thank whoever took part in supporting me and following up with my project, starting with eClub, Potential and of course ICT Qatar.

My biggest pleasure hangs in being able to fulfill the hopes of the eClub’s cabinet members, after they have believed in my potential and were dedicated to empower all those who showed they have passion about their ideas.

The Microsoft Imagine Cup: Young projects for a better future Dania Machlab Staff writer One competition aiming at making a difference in the world through technology brought computer science and engineering students from various universities in Lebanon together.

The two-day event started on the morning of Thursday, May 10 where each team gave its best to impress a panel of four judges during a fifteen minute presentation, aiming to convince them of their project’s inventiveness. Microsoft’s Imagine Cup has been a leading student technology competition for a decade now, bringing various innovative solutions to the table. Solutions coming from eager, dedicated and creative students. Since 2003, over 1.4 million students have participated in the competition worldwide.

This year, the theme was: Imagine a world where technology helps solve the toughest problems.

Keeping some of the millennium goals in mind, the teams came up with ways of addressing some of these problems.

The competition took place in Berytech, which is in proximity to the campus of USJ (Université Saint Josef) in Mansourieh. Only ten teams would make it through to the next round by the end of the day. The hall started filling up with students wearing black T-shirts bearing the Microsoft slogan. A few last minute changes and then all that was left was for each team to convince the judges why their idea was a winning one. The mood lightened up by the afternoon

after all teams had presented their projects and lunch was served. After a long wait the names of the ten teams were announced. They would be coming the next day to present their projects again, but this time to a group of eight judges.

Manager of the competition, Ghassan Chahine, expressed his excitement to be hearing about all the new ideas as well as his appreciation for the participation of all students: “Before announcing who made it to the next round I want to thank everyone for coming out here today. Good luck to all. I’m so proud of everyone!”

The next day, AUB’s team “cake” won first prize with their game called ‘Turn on the light’ (TOTL) which encourages the use of renewable energy sources. It teaches the user about the various renewable energies in different levels. The team described their project saying: “Basically, it’s a 2D plat-form that will focus on having the player use energy sources scattered between dimensions to solve various puzzles throughout the environment. Throughout the game, the player would receive educational facts about renewable energy resources, enriching his knowledge about the subject. At the end of each level, the player uses the skills he acquired to power up several areas around the world. Each level would have several dimensions and each dimension has one specific energy source.”

The winners were rewarded with an all-inclusive

trip to Sydney, Australia. There, the team members of “Cake”, Khaled Abdel Rahman, Amer Alameddine, and Abed Abla, will be taking part of the worldwide final of Imagine Cup between July 6 and 10 of this year. On his experience in the competition Khaled added: “It was amazing! We put so much work in it and it was some of the most fun we’ve ever had.

Competitions like this are important since they show the capabilities of all students around the world. They give all students equal opportunities to show their work.”

The competition was a meeting ground for students coming from different universities and backgrounds. New acquaintances were made and teams were curious to hear about their friends’ ideas and innovations. Ideas ranging from environmental problems we face to combating widespread diseases and reaching for the millennium educational goals were addressed in unique ways by the teams. Participant of the competition Rabeeh Abou Ismail, Computer Science senior in AUB, noted that he was impressed by the participating students and was glad to be part of the event: “It’s great to be here and see what everyone is coming up with.

It’s nice to be so involved in projects that aim at solving real time problems.”

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Page 4

Campus News

Possible conflict of interest in cafeteria controversy Ziad Dallal & Amani Abou Harb Special-to-Outlook coverage is still lacking on the USFC front.

The outrage of the increase in prices has opened the opportunity to re-launch an investigation that started with an Outlook article upon the appointment of Faqra Catering. While most of the attention has been directed towards the increase in prices, the USFC has also taken into account a possible case of conflict of interest upon Faqra Catering’s appointment as USM’s successor (the previous food services company in AUB).

During the USFC meeting on May 3, 2012, USFC member Mark Francis revealed documents and files that shed light upon the alleged conflict of interest. One of the more important facts found in the documents is the name of the major shareholder of Faqra Catering. Holding 97% of Faqra Catering at the time, Nabil Chartouni also served as a member of the Board of Trustees of AUB. AUB’s Conflict of Interest Policy states, “faculty members, officers, administrators, medical staff,

and employees shall be considered affiliated with a person, firm, organization, or corporation if… [t]he individual is an officer, director, partner, trustee, employee, or agent, whether paid or unpaid, of such person, firm, organization, or corporation; or [t]he individual is the actual or beneficial owner of more than 1 percent of the voting stock or controlling interest of such firm, organization, or corporation,” (Section 2, Rule 6, Subsection a, Subsection i & ii). Taking this into consideration, the replacement of USM by Faqra Catering assumes a conflict of interest.

Francis stated, “My main concern is ethical business practices. Faqra Catering was offered their contract while a Board of Trustee member was a majority shareholder of their company.”

Moreover, the documents included interviews with USM which confirm that AUB had, prior to 2009, attempted to make Faqra the caterer for the Charles Hostler Student Centre; however, exclusivity rights for USM prevented the deal

from going through. Ambiguity and suspicion now roam around Faqra’s appointment at AUB. Furthermore, the documents revealed that AUB had prevented USM from raising prices despite USM’s claims of financial losses. Double standards appear to be at play, as AUB has not done the same with Faqra Catering.

As a direct consequence of the presentation of the documents, a hearing session is planned to take place joining a representative from the auxiliary services, a representative from Faqra, the provost or the president, and an ad hoc committee from the USFC. The hearing is meant to tackle the alleged conflict of interest as well as the outstanding increased cafeteria prices.

The documents themselves were leaked and publicly posted on the No Frontiers Twitter account (@NoFrontiersAUB), marking the first account of cybernet activism on campus.

Sheikh Shafik Jradi astounds seculars Ali Kassem News executive For secularism, it is also man that lies at the heart of things. This is hence, according to Sheikh Jradi, a central meeting point between Islam and secularism. This is despite the fact that, for Islam, this is not the whole picture since “wahi” is still lacking.

Defining secularism, the sheikh said that there is no one definition and that one needs to realize the existence of a very large number of different secularisms; some that are “lenient” and others that are more “stringent.” An attempt at a definition would be a “belonging to this world.”

Others have defined it as no-religion. Truly, there is a dilemma in defining secularism, particularly in the Arab world. Another issue would be the fact that this world-view has presented itself as the negation of things, not an affirmation of beliefs. All in all, the sheikh refused to box secularism into an imposed definition and left much room for inquiry.

Seculars have grown to lock themselves up and refuse all those around them. This, according to the sheikh, is a major issue. Locked away from dialogue, the sheikh fears that secularism might turn into an ideological view that breeds into some sort of religion, seeking to overrun all others. Importantly, the sheikh expressed his great fear and warned against all those that seek to turn secularism into a game of power where

different sections of the community fall back into their cocoons. Also, the sheikh cautioned against a shallow view of things and a narrow understanding of the world and asked for “mutual respect.”

Beyond this, things need to be dealt with. Sheikh Jradi asked whether Islam and secularism have understood each other. The sheikh claimed a no, and wondered why. He then pushed to change that fact; to have the two “positively” interact. The misunderstanding has a large number of reasons that the Sheikh went over, most important of which are historical ones. But those need to be overcome. Importantly, a distinction between religion and corrupt religious institutions needs to be advanced.

According to sheikh Jradi, there is still hope.

Seculars and Islam need to meet, converse and dialogue to find those many points where they agree so that they build the world, together.

For example, the sheikh spoke of man’s right and asked “can we agree?” He answered in affirmation and labeled all those that answer otherwise as being “ignorant.” As long as man is not turned into a tool, both views seek to provide for man, to protect man and to help man. Hence, collaboration and a basis of secular-Islamic understanding can be the grounds on which nations can be built. It all starts with dialogue.

A questions and answers session was held after the Sheikh’s speech where serious issues and daunting challenges were posed, to which the sheikh calmly responded, affirming Mr. Pierre’s introduction of the sheikh as “a man that seeks to dialogue with all others.” Further, many did not have questions to ask but simply wished to express their delight in what the sheikh said and their hope that such initiatives can be built on. It was worth noting that many questions addressed the issue of governance in Lebanon. In reply, the sheikh stated that Islamic governance is not even an option but an impossibility that cannot even be discussed.

Overall, the gathering was a huge step in the right direction; that of discourse.

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Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Outdoors supplement

Arabian Night Wednesday May 16, 2012

19th, 20th May

An Interview with "The Woman" Behind it All Who

chose the theme Arabian Nights, and does it have anything to do in the Arab Uprisings?

Originally, the planned theme was the 80’s, and the implementation was completed, and the presentation was ready, but all local suppliers did not have the needed decoration, so the theme was dropped.

The cabinet members did their research and other options were considered, such as Mexico, India, and Gypsy, but the theme “Arabian Nights” was ultimately chosen because of its rich heritage. It is luxurious, glamorous, and there is enough material to make it an Outdoors theme.

Thematic costumes and entertainment are guaranteed. It has nothing to do with the recent Arab Uprisings.

What are the responsibilities of the Outdoors committee?

The Outdoors committee is responsible for everything, from decorating the venue, the construction of the site, marketing the event, arranging for entertainment, and ensuring media coverage.

In addition, the committee coordinates between clubs to ensure that the stands are not offering the same things, and that those offerings are diverse enough to implement the theme in Outdoors. Moreover, the members of the Miriam Assad Chief Executive Officer

Outdoors committee are responsible for the food and games that will be offered.

Tell us about the challenges the event has faced over the past few years.

Over the last two years, our main problem was sponsorship. The economic situation made it hard to secure sponsors, although it is very appealing and prestigious for those companies to sponsor Outdoors. Nevertheless, sometimes they cannot fit it in their budget.

Another challenge we had to overcome was meeting people’s expectations. We had to do a matching between these perceptions and what we can implement on the floor Are there any security improvements from last year to this year?

Last year we had no fights whatsoever. The distribution of events, the qualifications of our Safety team, and the availability of quality entertainment guaranteed this desirable outcome.

Are there going to be stands for every Arab country?

What about Music, Dancing and Entertainment?

No. Arabian Nights refers to the tales in the book “Alf Layla W Layla.” In this book, characters like Harun Al Rachid, Aladdin, and Shahrazad. These characters used to live in the Arab Peninsula.

Kamal Hasan V.E. Construction, Decoration,& Safety

Ramzi Taybah

Nadine Hamdan

Chief Operating Officer

V.E. Entertainment, Sponsorship, Concert & Marketing

Nour Jalloul

Jawad Kamal

As for entertainment, the Champions League Final will be displayed on a big projector on the Green Oval on Saturday Night between 9:30 and 11:30. As for music and entertainment, we ask everyone to visit our Facebook and Twitter page where our surprises will be announced.

Outlook also had the opportunity to talk to Abed Hout, the Safety Team Leader, and inquire about the safety measures that are being taken.

How many members do you have in the Safety Team?

We have 44 members, and they are distributed over 9 areas between main gate and Penrose, where the events are go-

ing to be held. In every 20m radius, we will have about 4 people of our team. We also coordinate with the Security Team in AUB who will be reporting any violation to.

What are the other types of safety measures the Safety team is responsible for?

Our Food safety team makes sure that the food provided at Outdoors will arrive in the safest manner possible. We supervise the handling of food, and we make sure that plastic non-latex gloves are used to ensure hygiene and avoid any allergies.

This year, the Electricity cables will not be on and under the ground. Instead, traditional Outdoor wiring will

Yasmine Saab

Chris Sassine

Games Team Leader

Concert Team Leader

Georgio Haddad

Marcelle Mendelek

Construction Team Leader

Entertainment Team Leader

Yazan Halawani

Hussein Mostafa

Operating Officer

V.E. Food and Games

Nour Al Ajouz

Mona Talih

Decoration Team Leader

Sponsorship Team Leader

Secretary

Clubs’ Officer

Abed Hout

Maya Merhi

Jad Hajj Ahmad

Joanna El Mir

Safety Team Leader

Treasurer

Food Team Leader

Marketing Team Leader

By: Hadi Mehio Senior Staff Writer be implemented and the cables will be hung from above.

We are also responsible for safeguarding the campus against fire hazards, and we have placed extinguishers all over the campus. We will also be trained to use them tomorrow. Moreover, stands that need fire or heat to prepare their food will be made from fire resistant material. The campus is non-smoking except for the indicated areas.

Will there be a playing area for children? And how will you ensure their safety?

Yes, the area will be between Penrose and Bliss. To ensure their safety, the Red Cross team will be deployed right next to the play area.

Tariq Buhilaigah Photographer & Publicity

2012 Committee

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Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Outdoors

The Arabian Nights: Tales from a Thousand and One Nights

Outdoors is a Journey

Ramzi Taybah Chief Operating Officer

I

t’s kind of difficult to know from where to start. Outdoors is a journey that I started 3 years back and glad of every moment I spent in it. It would take a more than just an article to describe what Outdoors taught me or the experience I gained. I am thankful that I had this amazing opportunity and recommend anyone to being part of outdoors. Be-

ing a part of the Sponsorship and Safty teams during my first year was crucial to my Outdoors experience. Then taking the position of operations officer was a challenge.

It was a great year, and we are looking forward to set the new standards of Outdoors this year. I’m glad I had the chance to contribute towards Outdoors as I’m the Chief Operating Officer this year, and I must admit that it is a highly demanding and trying position, but it’s worth it. Past and current experience in Outdoors was very vital and the best thing about Outdoors is the team spirit we have every year. As outdoors comes closer and closer, all the teams become integrated on a high level to make this event as successful as possible. It is always nice to see something you have

worked on for months becoming a huge success. Outdoors is different than any other club or event as it teaches you something valuable that I have learned from, most importantly time management and making sure that everything is done the way it is supposed to be done, on both quality and time basis. These little details make a huge difference later in life.I would like to thank all our members this year for putting this extra effort to making this year’s Outdoors like no other without their hard work we wouldn’t have been able to do anything. And I would like to advice them to work as hard as they can during the remaining time because there is nothing better than the feeling that you get when you see all people enjoying the event that you have worked

so hard for to make it a success. I also want to send a big thanks to the cabinet members who really did a great job this year and justified their selection and made the office a great place to be. Fnally I’m looking forward to seeing you all at Outdoors because this year is going to be exceptional.

Even Before OUTDOORS’ SPONSORS Byblos Bank Deek Duke Dunkin’ Donuts Audi Cars Snack Jiha

Jad Hajj Ahmad Treasurer

Red-Bull

I

have made it a habit for me to attend the Outdoors each year, even before I was an AUB student. And once I got into AUB, I was determined to be a part of the team responsible for it. This year I hold the position of treasurer, I am fairly comfortable with it since I previously held this position in other societies, but the difference here is the scale we’re working on, because Outdoors is natu-

Siblou Sno-Biz raly a high budget event with nine different teams each of which has a different range of expenses. But I am glad to be able to share this responsibility with such talented and dedicated cabinet members. In the end, our work is a team effort and helping each other is a part of the Out-

NRJ doors experience that everyone should have the chance to be a part of. The idea for this year’s theme started off a little shaky, but now it seems that it has grown into the perfect theme for such an event. And I think from the work we’ve put into it– that it has the potential to be one of

the most successful Outdoors so far. We still have some work to do this week to finalize our preparations, hoping for the best for making our hard work a great challenge !

Bankers Insurance DOTs digitalCUPS Hyphen

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Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Outdoors

You Must Learn How to Leave Your Audience in Suspense

An Arabian Treasure

Nour Jalloul Operating Officer

A

s I started my second year in AUB Outdoors, I felt right in place…it felt like I got back home after a long long summer. The success of last year’s Outdoors and the record breaking experience, left a deep mark in my heart for this annual event. As we get closer to the Big day, I fall into the “dilemma of the feelings” as I like to call it. A feeling of excitement and antic-

ipation to get to that Big day; a day we’ve been working day and night for throughout the year; and a stressful, gloomy feeling, for I have to leave a family again, and turn the best moments into memories. Outdoors is not only a preparation process for an event. It’s building a dream from nothing.

Group of students build it from scratch with no professional experience for planning an event as this one. Hard work, fights, laughter, tears, stress, right decisions, and wrong ones, make it happen... make AUB Outdoors. But above all, a team, one hand, make it that huge and that memorable!

This year’s Outdoors has the Arabian feel, a beauty of color, mystery, treasure, and magic, that makes it a unique experience like every year. This year, AUB Outdoors 2012 will have a different feel; apart from the exquisite decoration, unique performances and astounding music, AUB Outdoors will grant its attendees with the

wild experience on both its nights with the champions League Final on Saturday night and amazing shows on Sunday night. I am proud of being part of this event, and mostly I am grateful for every single member in the Outdoors, for they have become my Arabian treasure.

Thrill, Rush, Love, and Magic

Nour Al Ajouz Secretary

W

hen I got accepted at AUB, I wondered what made AUB students so attached to it, and I wanted to experience that extraordinary bond and live the AUB experience to the maximum. I joined AUB outdoors last year as a decoration team member thinking it’s just any other club, but then I fell in love with

the thrill of creating such a huge and successful event and so it became the experience I was looking for and the bond I aimed at. As secretary of the AUB Outdoors this year, I got to live it again yet on a closer scale; we fought, we laughed, we cried, we had bad days and good ones. It all happened in one office, one room, with a group of people I consider now family. This year’s Arabian Nights theme is so special, it’s magical and I’m pretty sure that all the hard work will pay off in just the perfect way. As the two big days appear on the corner, a feeling of homesickness already fills my heart... and so, I can now say that I did live the AUB experience to the fullest, after being a part of AUB outdoors’s thrill, rush, love, magic, enthusiasm, and dream...

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Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Some Stories Can Save Us

Outdoors

Greater

Loulwa Kalache Outdoors 2010 Food Team Leader

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hen my friends ask me why did you work in Outdoors when there is no actual “gain”? Or when you ask any member in Outdoors why do you work for Outdoors for 5 consecutive months for a 2 days event?

I would simply answer them for the FUN. I believe Outdoors is the only event in AUB that we work solely for

the fun of it!! But that’s not all, it’s the team work, the skills you learn, the friendships you built, the memories you store and the pictures you take. Years will pass and we will still talk about Outdoors and what we did to make it happen! We will talk about the games we played instead of working, about the unique cloth we wore, about the food we ate, we will talk about the mistakes we did and definitely about how successful it was. It has become a legend, for me atleast. It is something to be proud of.

Proud that we made something that made people smile and laugh and go crazy for two days. This is my impression from the years passed that I worked in Outdoors from a member to a food team leader. This is the spirit that Outdoors members share together through their work,

and then eventually share it with the visitors attending the event. And this spirit will get me excited every time “outdoors” come in May! And it is not just the members that get excited. It is also all people living in Lebanon. Outdoors is not just an “AUB” event, it is an event for all people in Lebanon, for the children, for the parents, for the teenagers, for the students, for the alumni. It is a two day event only that unites all those people in just one place. Isn’t it amazing come to think about it?

Outdoors will always stay this entertaining tradition in AUB. Though I wasn’t part of the outdoors this year, but I am having outdoors “blues”.

Yes, I am kind of nostalgic to be part of this great team. I even had a dream a couple of days ago about Outdoors when they announced the

event on facebook. Say it is a hallucination, but I truly believe that Outdoors is in my blood (as we say in Lebanese).

I bow to all the great efforts of the year’s team, and their strenuous preparations. But I can’t deny that I am as nervous as them that I want OUTDOORS to be great and even greater than all years before. But I am sure that it will be amusing, startling and spectacular.

Proud of Being

Hussein Mostafa Sponsorship Team Leader

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eing a great university is not only about having a distinctive educational system or a great campus, but also about the student’s social and extra-curricular activities that he/she participates within. In my opinion, AUB Outdoors is one of the biggest activities that someone can participate in at this level and carries such a privilege and responsibility that you cannot but crave to take

a role in. As a former Sponsorship Team member and a current Sponsorship Team Leader, Outdoors has given me the opportunity to be part of a wider community and has presented a field to apply my intrapersonal skills I have developed within the premises of AUB. Targeting potential multinational sponsors, meeting the target within a certain deadline, tackling last minute obstacles, and working handin-hand with a big team, are only few of many skills that you acquire while working in Outdoors that you cannot learn from reading a book or two. These expertises can only be earned by handling the pressure great events impose on you. However, Outdoors is not all about seriousness and continuous hard work. Fun, laughs, and a lot of excitement are always present when you work along with the family of Outdoors.

Perhaps the friendly and warm atmosphere you work among during these few

months is the main reason behind every success story we write down every year. Every smile, every “high five”, and every dance of joy, is just another step towards the tale of perfection we call Outdoors. As for this year’s Outdoors, around 1 week separates us from another record breaking event. Arabian Nights is the title of the new upcoming achievement that we wait for eagerly to stand there and be proud of being part of “AUB Outdoors 2012”

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Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Outdoors

A Journey Through the Sands of Time

“1000 Layle w Layle”

Jawad Kamal V.E. Food and Games

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s a Vice Executive for Food and Games in AUB Outdoors-2012, and after three amazing years working for this event, it is really hard to describe my feelings and thoughts in few words. As we all know, AUB Outdoors is the biggest event fully organized by AUB students,

this gives me the opportunity to learn a lot of new habits and skills in different fields that include planning, scheduling, supervision, teamwork and communication.

We ended up being a new family with one unified spirit that is behind all the success we have achieved so far..

As for my specific tasks, I had to work closely with the food and games team leaders, with the clubs, societies, and SRCs in order to distribute the stands and menus, and with the safety department at AUB so we can assure a high level of food standards and fire safety.

During the last few months, we have passed through memorable moments that wont be forgetten and

that will be always attached to our short journey at AUB. Finally, I hope that Outdoors’s attendees would enjoy their time during the 2-days event, and appreciate our efforts in maintaining the best conditions and atmosphere for all of them so they can live “1000 layle w layle”…..even in 2 days.

The Youngest

Mona Talih Club Officer

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s a sophomore I was already being challenged by all the changes AUB brings to its newcomers. However my interest and enthusiasm took over and I was excited to apply and take part in organizing Outdoors.

Nonetheless a bigger challenge arose when I knew that the position I was applying for was being implemented this year for the first time:

I had to set the standards for this position and discover to what extent I could contribute in organizing the event. Not only did it feel like I was the new girl but I was the youngest in the committee so I was always asking for guidance. Luckily a week or two later it seemed as if I’ve been part of this group for quite a while and my trust in each of its members grew stronger as we got closer to the big day. Many of my friends were complaining about my commitment to Outdoors. Every time they asked me where I was going or what were my plans for the afternoon they’d reply to each other saying I was certainly going to the Outdoors office. Maybe I did miss out on some of the things I used to do before by getting involved in this experience but I was gaining so much more skills and friendships by taking part in Outdoors and helping in the organization of such an exciting event.

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Wednesday, May 16, 2012

The Tales Goes on...

Outdoors

Special Memory

Marcelle Mendelek Entertainment Team Leader

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his is my first year as a member of the AUB Outdoors. Even though I used to attend this event every year, I had never realized how much work and effort it requires to make it such an important and successful event. The Outdoors is a two-day long huge event that more than 15 000 come to, it is therefore a huge responsibility. It is also fully handled and taken care of by stu-

dents, which is in my point of view something really impressive when we see the great results. For at least two months, all of the members are under great pressure trying to do their best: full creativity, hundreds of ideas, using all of their contacts…

The committee members are so enthusiastic that one cannot escape this fever and get caught without realizing, every day more and more in the excitement.Like every activity with big responsibilities, I personally faced some obstacles that I sometimes believed to be unsolvable. But with hard work and especially with the help of the other members I was able to get through those three months without majors problems.

I cannot wait to see the results of the hard work of all the members. It was a great experience working with all of them and to be part of this amazing event. I’m really happy to leave AUB with this additional special memory.

Experience

The Nice Atmosphere

Joanna El Mir Food Team-Leader

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ast year, I started being a Food member in Outdoors. It was the fun and the nice atmosphere that I experienced last year that encouraged me to apply this year as a Food Team Leader. Not only you get to meet different people in the committee, but also you get to know your team members and become friends with some. If I want to speak about the committee, I can describe it as a family, whose members are all

aiming at one goal: The Success of the AUB Outdoors.

Every person is worried not only about his work, but also about the others’ work. That is how you feel that someone has got your back. If you need any help, there’s always someone who is ready to help you. Well, what I have been doing is, I am trying to incorporate in my team members, this united spirit we have in the committee. So far it is being successful. The Food meetings we do are really full of fun. We always work hard and finish the work on time but at the same time we do have a humorous and friendly atmosphere. The members are now comfortable with each other and they actually became friends. So far we have achieved the spirit I was talking about. Yes, we are an ambitious team who is doing his best in or-

der to achieve the best. Now that we have reached the last week of work, I can’t be but sad because this whole thing is done, but at the same time I am happy about the hard work we did and what we achieved. It is predictable for me that this Outdoors is going to be astonishing. Finally, you can’t join Georgio Haddad Outdoors and not feel the fun Construction Team Leader with us. I advise every AUB student to try being a member once in the Outdoors, and I am sure that once he reat fun! Work under is in, he won’t be out. Do you pressure! Discovering your know why? It is because we real potential! Getting crework by our hearts, and that ative in saving time! Team is what keeps us attached to work at its best! This is the it. Posters are being hanged; outdoors experience! stands are being constructed and decorated; people are rehearsing: Welcome to the AUB Outdoors 2012.

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Nadine Hamdan V.E. Entertainment, Sponsership, & Marketing

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n unbelievably huge event with too many details, they could lose you. But the involvement, the eagerness, the thrill and the enthusiasm of the committee, the members and the people waiting for this festive weekend, make every detail important and enjoyable. Once in, the “jaw” and the entire experience of Outdoors hook you.

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Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Me Looking at you, My love

Outdoors

Close Friends

Kamal Hasan V.E. Construction, Decoration and Safety

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Chris Sassine Concert Team Leader

uring my three years working with the AUB Outdoors Committee, I met amazing people and made very close friends. Working at Outdoors does not feel like work at all, I can spend days at the office without wanting to leave. At Outdoors, we are not only a group of enthusiastic people working with each other, but we have grown into a family that cannot be separated. I spent 3 years working at Outdoors, and this year, I am the Vice Executive of Decoration, Construction and Safety. Our work covers everything from construction of the stands, ticket booths and the stage to the entire decoration of the Outdoors as well as the safety of the food and games. We are working very hard to ensure that this year’s event will turn out to be better than in previous years, and we hope that all our work will impress all the attendees.

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his year’s concert team had a very tough task with over 30 auditions involving all types of musical talents over a period of 3 weeks. The final bands list was not easy to decide upon, but we are confident of the choices we made and we are really looking forward to the show at the Outdoors. This year’s concert will include a very large number of university, and especially AUB, students performing as well as exciting bands that have been dominating the local scene for the past few years. We would like to encourage all music fans to come and watch this year’s show, which is going to be very unique in terms of the diversity of the genres, as we are hoping to satisfy the tastes of most of the spectators.

go into making Outdoors function smoothly, and for a weekend, all our tireless work comes together in a happy display of what can result when you get enough people working on something they all love. What have the months of planning, negotiations, and time-pressed preparations managed to produce? Overnight, our campus is transformed from academic buildings into a world of melted ice cream and wet grass, exciting games and sumptuous food, sandals and sunglasses. Summer only comes once a year.

Yasmine Saab Games Team Leader

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utdoors is like summer; you spend months waiting for it and then all too soon it’s gone. When the sun is hot and final exams are a week away, people form winding lines at the ticket booth to enjoy the day and see what Outdoors has brought them this time. So many things

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Outdoors Wonderful! Magnificent! Glorious!... Punctual!

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Close Friends

Yazan Halawani Decoration Team Leader

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his is my first year working in Outdoors, and I can only say it’s a super-fun experience! I am very proud of being part of such an important university event.

The committee people are

like a big family so even when work is though, its always cool! I encourage everybody in AUB to join the AUB Outdoors team next year.

There is a lot to-do and everybody can find ‘his calling’ in Outdoors: whether you like painting with the Decorations team, using hardware with the Construction team, implementing marketing strategies with the Marketing team, inventing games with the Game team or being Gourmet food critic (or not) on the Food team.

Abed Hout Safety Team Leader

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n event that has become an annual public phenomena-taking place in the heart of Beirut. Every year thousands of people enter outdoors to get exposed to activities uncommon in our beloved city. As the Safety

Team leader, I am faced with a huge challenge that is the safety of these visitors. We are expecting a record breaking visitor’s number and this means more and more people to safeguard. This year, I’m trying something new and different from other years, this year’s safety team is comprised of smaller teams each with a safety captain, the safety subunits themselves are also divided into specialists each in the field of hazards, fire extinguishers, food, concert, and games. The safety subunits contain 4-5 members each, with a 2 hour shift rotating throughout the whole Outdoor’s area. My plan involves dividing the outdoors into specified sections thus each safety subunit will take control of this section for 2 hours and rotate between different sections after the shift ends. Each member of the subunit is required to check for the tasks entitled to him/her by his/her specialty as mentioned above. The members of my team have taken extensive workshops and training in these fields and are all Red-Cross first aid certificate carriers. I’m sure this plan will suffice in insuring the safety of this year’s Outdoors visitors. I hope to see you all in Outdoors.

We Did it, Last Year !!!

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Annual Yearbook Gala Dinner

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Outloud

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

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AUB’s Outdoors and 1001 Faces Simon Sakkab, Freelance Photographer Special-to-Outlook The “1001 Faces- LebnenJama3na” photography project is about what a collection of faces projects.

The way the faces were shot, extreme crop, was no coincidence, nor was the location that most were shot a coincidence either. So what does a collection of faces really project? And how does AUB Outdoors come into play in this project?

The answer lies in part in my May 2009 trip to Lebanon where I was shooting faces around Beirut.

Originally, the project was a small, random collection of faces that was not shot in a consistent style and was not thought out at all; yet looking at the collection of faces one might say, well so what?

Most people would look at a person’s photograph and see facial characteristics, judge the face on the prettiness and cute scales and maybe on the photographic qualities or lack thereof. However no one judges the person behind the face because if you know not the person then how could one judge him or her? It’s simply a face without background or affiliations. Every face projects a human quality. The commonality of these faces, for the project, is the sky under which they all function as a unit that wants to thrive and survive in peace, despite the many socio-economic differences, difficulties and the diversities that exist in such a small place, Lebanon. So the idea and the message the faces would project appealed to me and I set a goal of shooting a minimum of 1001 individual faces, however challenging that may be. What was started in 2009 as a small purposeless project is now developing into a large endeavor requiring a large amount of resources.

To accomplish this objective a large gathering of people would be helpful and AUB’s Outdoors provided a viable venue.

How exactly did AUB Outdoors contribute to this project?

Well, AUB Outdoors provided a large window of opportunity to drive the project because it provided the following key elements:

The rest of the faces were shot in other Lebanese cities, in streets and cafes. The 1001 faces goal was surpassed. Currently there is a page on Facebook https://www.facebook. com/LebnenJama3na displaying over 1400 photographs (or more by the time this article goes to print) and the rest of the photos will be uploaded so that they will all be up online by the 1- The sheer number of attendees gathered in time Outdoors 2012 is in full swing. one place 2- The mood of the Outdoors patrons, festive That’s how AUB Outdoors contributed to the and approachable project and one could say: Lebnen Jama3na…

3- The people would represent many different bil AUB J .I am grateful to all who participated parts of Lebanon and loaned me their faces, or facilitated and 4The people would be from all different helped in other ways. backgrounds Elements 3 and 4 constitute the soul of the I hope that the people whose faces are in project. the project, not only get to see the page, their photographs, tag, like and comment but also get Having one’s photograph taken by a stranger to know about the meaning of the project being is not as easy as it seems and the project was more than a portraiture book—this project is not about taking candid pictures at random to about the diversity of Lebanon and its people. accomplish its numerical objective. Each person Visit the page https://www.facebook.com/ was approached and asked permission to take LebnenJama3na and give your opinion! his or her photograph and the names were also registered.

The first day of shooting for the project took place at LAU and the AUB shoot started on Friday and extended through Sunday. On Friday there was an exhibition by AUB students.

Saturday and Sunday were the “Carnival” days.

The shoot from that weekend resulted in about 650 individual faces. That was more than what I had hoped for.

Off-Campus

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

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When HR managers go hunting Nadine Abou Hatab Media Relations, Rizk Group We all know the clichés when applying for a job, writing a CV, or showing up for an interview:” Body language, make sure to know how to cross your legs, wear a sharp suit, make eye contact, make the CV very concise; keep it to a one page maximum…’ here to break or prove the myths of recruitment for the AUB job fair, are testimonials of HR and recruitment managers from prominent companies in the region.

To start the employment ball rolling, Damian Taylor, HR Business Partner (MENA) at Starbucks talks to us about their selection process: “ Starbucks is a dynamic, genuine and truly people and customer focused global Brand that strives to retain local connections within each market (country). We actively source interested applicants from the local marketplace and as a Brand, we are proud of the commitment and involvement our partners (employees) show in supporting local community initiatives.

When asked about experience vs. academic achievement, Taylor stated: “We initially focus the assessment on a behavioural and cultural basis that best fit the brand. We then seek to balance academic achievement with relevant past work experience, depending on the level of the role. However, as we have extremely strong Brand oriented development programmes, if applicants don’t have relevant past experience, we are confident that we can develop their knowledge, skills and capability to support a quick integration to the business.

A cover letter and CV are important to support an application for a position and time should be taken to ensure it is of high quality, as it is the 1st impression a company gets of an individual. It provides an in depth and personal overview of the candidates and their career and achievements to date, as well as their personal interests and aspirations. However, we do spend more time on face-to-face, practical and behavioral based assessments to ensure there is a good individual fit to Starbucks.

Partners (employees) have the opportunity to work in a local market such as Lebanon, which is part of the Middle East region covering 10 markets and ultimately part of the Starbucks global Brand. We actively encourage all partners (employees) at all levels to consider how best they can fulfill their aspirations, discuss this with their line Managers, which may include relocation between markets and regions.”

Finally, as a Brand, we are very active and involved in numerous local community based

projects and are supportive of our partners (employees) taking an interest in other activities, especially those that encourage and enhance ‘leadership and people based skills’.

As for Sanaa Saliba, HR manager at Rizkgroup Advertising, what is mostly taken into consideration is the academic achievement of the applicant. According to Ms. Saliba, a CV that details a lot of transfer within companies where the candidate’s stay was short is not very well received. “I also focus on what previous positions were occupied by the applicant and his responsibilities in his previous work’’, stated Saliba, continuing with:” at our company we give priority to graduates of specific universities in Lebanon, and we believe that extra-curricular activities and workshops are a highly addedvalue to the individual, enriching his identity especially if the activities are outside the advertising field.’’

HR mangers tend to tackle a different aspect when recruiting; we sat with Mrs. Najwa Grace Tohme from the Resource Group Holding as she spills the beans about who might make the cut at RGH: “Diversity, talent and synergy are the core drivers of our group. We seek highly motivated, intelligent and multicultural people who work hard and strive for excellence, sharing the group’s values and continuously improving and developing. It is the combined talent, knowledge, skills, experience and passion of every member that made us who we are today.”

For Najwa, some job vacancies do not require prior work experience, what matters most in some instances is the willingness to learn and develop with the group, in addition to the required technical know-how and relevant competencies. In other instances, RGH looks for experienced employees with rich backgrounds, having worked for multinational companies. “We look for excellence in terms of qualifications as we have to live up to our As for the vacancies in the company, Ms. Saliba utmost objective; to keep growing the group to remarks that the majority of demand is for a multinational level,” she added. highly experienced candidates, particularly in the field of marketing and advertising, even Academic records and extracurricular if the position in question is the accounting activities, in addition to soft skills, are among department, preference is to those who were the evaluation criteria in which Najwa believes, formerly working at an advertising agency: “I they are indicators of success. Mrs. Tohme receive a lot of biographies of people who are continued that: “We look for talent everywhere seeking recruitment and I consider that the and our junior employees are recruited from CV constitutes a first and comprehensive look top universities and have outstanding academic at the applicant; I cannot however know the records along with strong interpersonal skills to personality of the individual, I leave the benefit fit our diversified work environment.” of the doubt for the interview’’.

Parting words with RGH were a sneak peek Tackling a different sector, we sit with Myrna into the realm of this market giant: ”We are a Ghaziri, HR manager at Chedid Capital Chedid fast-evolving group operating across different Capital S.A.L. (Holding), Insurance and industries and countries. We are among the few Reinsurance, who talks to us about the delicate companies in Lebanon that can offer good work filtering of candidates: opportunities with possibilities for personal growth. Our multinational team exceeds 1000 “Notwithstanding specific job pre-requisites, members and we strive to create a favourable certain traits of character are always favourable work environment based on meritocracy, when we are recruiting, such as an ambitious where equity and respect for the individual drive, strong communication skills and are fundamental. We recognise that our people teamwork orientation. Experience over are our greatest asset and by developing their academic achievement favouritism depends potential we can achieve our common goals. on the position of course, when speaking We therefore keep investing in our employees of managerial level then evidently work and guide them in defining their career paths experience is a must, but if we are referring within the group. We welcome applicants to to an executive position than the previous visit our Group’s website www.resourceholding. answer applies. Having an impressive academic com and find out more about our upcoming achievement is preferable, but other features vacancies. are also taken into consideration, for example extracurricular activities are important as they In conclusion, we congratulate you on your show commitment and sociability and of course, first step taken towards launching your career, it depends on what the activities are.” attending the AUB job fair, and of course, reading this article!

In the automation solutions industry however,

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Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Viewpoint

Black Smoke Fills Lebanon’s Atmosphere Frederic Abou Jaoude Staff Writer

It was a very peaceful morning on Friday, May 11, 2012 when a large fire spread through a carpet factory in northern Beirut. The Byblos Carpet Factory, a five-story building, was considered to be one of the most famous and important carpet factories in the entire Middle East. The blaze was so powerful to an extent where a few floors of the building collapsed as a result of the combustion just an hour after the fire burst. This gloomy incident created not only an industrial catastrophe, but also an environmental disaster.

This factory was located in the coastal area of the Kesserwan province and specifically in the town of Safra. In spite of the fact that the Civil Defense Personnel arrived immediately to the site of the happening, unfortunately, they were unable to put the fire out as quickly as they arrived. The failure to dampen the flames quickly

was due to the size of the inferno and their lack of equipment and gear. The Lebanese Army also helped in killing the flames by gathering gallons of sea water using helicopters and throwing them above the burning building. Thankfully, no one lost their life - the damage was only limited to factory property and belongings. However, at least five of the Civil Defense labor men were hurt and taken to neighboring hospitals after they breathed in some of the smog when they were inside the building.

According to the information of the firsthand investigation about the distressing occurrence, the carpets caught fire as a result of electrical contact. Describing what happened as a mere “fire” is truly an understatement. What happened on the morning of Friday, May 11 was an enormous conflagration. President Michel Sleiman was concerned with what took place and gave his instructions to the specialized security services in support of the Civil Defense workforce. The minister of industry Vreij Sabounjian announced that new regulations will be implemented in factories and new criteria will be taken into consideration when hiring industrial employees. In an interview with the Lebanese Broadcast Television (LBC), Mr. Sabounjian said that he would work on preventing any similar cases of fire in the future.

It is not the first time in the recent history of Lebanon where an industrial company is burned down to the ground. The only difference is the place of the companies and the cause of the inferno.

As industrially saddening as it is, the environmental consequences of the conflagration will always be even more disheartening. Approximately eight hours of burning was sufficient for the smoke to fill the sky of Safra. The emission was so immense to an extent where it entered all the apartments of the surrounding region and some inhabitants even fled their homes to avoid suffocation. It was mentioned that money would be available to the owner who lost his business and to the workers who lost their jobs. However, the environmental hazards due to fume, haze, and carbon dioxide gas release can never be compensated. If only financial atonement could be similarly provided to nature in order to pay off all the air pollution caused. Finally, the following question now imposes itself: Why do the Lebanese industrial factories lack fire suppression systems, smoke barriers, space separation, fire lifts, and emergency escape faculties?

Photo taken from www.aljoumhouria. com

Viewpoint: Winds of change Dania Machlab Staff Writer Every now and then, change is good. Getting a hair-cut, going on a road trip to see what snow the cold winter left behind, picking out a new book to enjoy, painting a wall of your bedroom, buying a guitar, having your first taste of sushi, or even just sleeping upside down in your bed.

We feed our sense of curiosity for the unknown every time we do things differently. On the other hand, maybe we’re just creatures that can’t handle boredom very well and continuously need to feel the excitement of doing things differently. At times, small changes in habits or our ways of going through a day are enough.

But sometimes, no matter how much you try to alter a way of living, you find yourself stuck in a hole. All the small changes you’ve been making happen to be digging deeper into the ground, discovering remains in the soil, or coming across other organisms living with you in that ditch when a whole world has been waiting outside for you to uncover. When it comes to big changes, fear has more of a say in our decisions.

Yet moving to another country is just another form of change. Why do we place more weight

on such alterations? Could so many changes at once be overwhelming? Yet it seems that the bigger the decision, the more we learn, appreciate, and mature. As my last semester in AUB is coming to a close, I find myself lost as to where I intend to continue my education.

We spend so much effort thinking that there is a right decision we absolutely must find using our brain powers. Fact is, no matter where I go I’ll be somewhere new. And for now, ‘new’ is enough. Finally moving out of my parents’ house, being part of a new city, and buying my own groceries fills me with a rush of excitement that overthrows the residing fear of not knowing what to expect.

Maybe one ought to take these decisions more light-heartedly. Whether you stress too much, thinking about making the supposedly best choice to go somewhere or you randomly point at a country on the globe, you’re going to be in the same situation. Either way you’re starting over. You’re getting used to new people and habits. So why make a big deal out of picking your destination?

Looking at the end of my undergraduate years I take comfort in the thought of it being one out many transformations I will be facing. Whilst I enjoy the consistency of some things, I secretly long for that other world waiting outside my doorstep, knowing I will find myself in new situations that are bound to gradually teach and change me. No matter where we come from we all feel the wind changing direction every once in a while and find it too wondrous not to try and follow it to see what oceans and canopies it will sweep over.

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Wednesday, May 16, 2012

spotlight

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Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Campus News

Geology/Petroleum Studies football match in honor of Munib Masri Ahmed Kamali Special-to-Outlook On May 15, 2011 a petroleum studies student Munib Masri was protesting on the LebaneseIsraeli border when he was shot by an Israeli soldier in the back. After weeks of surgery and treatment to his broken spine along with other injuries Munib, the grandson of an AUB board of trustee member Mr. Munib Masri, left to the United States to continue treatment.

One year later, his former classmates honored him through the first annual “Munib Masri Geology/Petroleum Studies Football Match.”

When asked about it, friend of Munib’s and fellow Petroleum Studies student Bilal Dirani said: “We don’t have many people in our department, so we are all very close. So when something happens like that it affects us all. It’s like family.”

The game took place on May 9 with approximately 30 students, graduates, professors, and even the Chairman of the Geology Department participating. The teams were divided by colors, with one team choosing to wear black and the other, white. The game ended 4-3 for the black team and incorporated hilariousness and your

typical sports controversy.

At one point a goal for the white team was called off for having too many players on the field. In the end everyone obviously had fun and enjoyed the beautiful afternoon on Charles Hostler Green Field. The main reason for the event was kept in mind by all and hopefully through this newly annual event Munib’s boldness and bravery will be remembered for years to come.

Dinner in the Dark article Rana El Jarrah Staff Writer As part of their quest to support visually impaired people the AUB Red Cross organized a “Dinner in the Dark” at La Piazza restaurant. The dinner was unique because the participants had to eat while blindfolded, in effect empathizing with the visually impaired. On each table the participants were joined by visually challenged people, where they conversed and received tips on how to eat in the dark. The evening was lovely and people easily conversed together, with good food to match.

The experience of having to eat while being blindfolded is unique and enriching. For about an hour, the participants had to give up their eyesight and know how to deal with their environment. At first the task sounds easy but once one is blindfolded one find himself/herself in another world. The person enters a world in which he/she has to rely on his/her other senses to construct an image of their environment. This is difficult to do and some people were peeking or removing the blindfolds in order to see their food. The experience was fun yet challenging.

Mariam Osman described her experience by

saying: “It is challenging and difficult to live what the visually challenged go through every day, even it is just for a few minutes.”

What the participants went through describes a minor part of the everyday life that the visually challenged go through. However, despite the fact that they are unable to see, they go on living their lives just like everyone else. One of the visually challenged people who attended the dinner was a student named Rawan. She is not completely blind, though she has lost most of her vision. She is a second year student in the Lebanese University, studying journalism, and is doing well in her studies and has an internship.

She keeps a positive attitude about everything around her. Rawan does not allow her weak vision to stop her from reaching her goals and trying new things in life. A disability does not make a person any different from another. This dinner reminded everyone that people are the same despite their weaknesses.

As fun and unique as this experience can be, it makes one appreciate having good eyesight. It reminds everyone that they take so many things

for granted. Something as simple as eyesight is a blessing that people do not appreciate as much as they should until they feel what it is like to lose it. Zouher, a participant at the dinner advised that “people should try this even at home so that they start appreciating what they have more.”

Viewpoint Egyptian Presidential Debates Lojine Kamel Editor-in-Chief

Last Thursday, May 10, was a historical precedent in the Arab world, with the first ever televised presidential debate occurring in Egypt. Four and a half hours long, the debate revolved around highly sensitive and controversial issues in society at present.

These included – but weren’t limited to – Islam’s role in government and society, the candidate’s ties to the old “Mubarak” government, their financial ties, and even the “virginity tests” administered by security forces on protesting females.

The two debaters were high profile Egyptian figures: former Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa, and Islamist moderate Abdel Moneim Abul Fotouh. The beginnings of the debate showcased the historical footage of the 1960’s debate between John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon, as well as the 2008 Vice Presidential debate between Joe Biden and Sarah Palin, in a ploy to relay the democratic intention of the Egyptian government.

Interestingly enough, this momentous occasion was given only rudimentary coverage at best. Many Arabs and Arab-Americans have not even heard of the debates, and western coverage seems to place it as a second-rate news story at best. Perhaps this is because western media is tired of covering the ongoing revolts and revolutions in the Arab world, or perhaps it is because of their continued shy-away mixed representation of Israel (though its mention was brief).

Either point aside, these debates represented the Arab world’s first attempt to display the qualities of their potential leaders to the public; a testament to the democratic importance of voting. Through this milestone, Egypt is presenting an eager forefront of transparency, and is markedly the first Arab nation to do so. Indeed the major points of the debate were very much focused on Egyptian matters, namely civil liberties, economical issues and Islam in society.

Egypt was the center of global attention during the Tahrir Square revolts. And as the largest and most influential country in the Arab world, it is a shame that something as important as the presidential debates should not warrant tantamount coverage.

Yet protests are ostentatious; democracy is not. It is up to the Arab world to begin to see itself as a democratic society, and through doing so, realize the importance of civil liberties and democratic ideals. Here’s hoping that Egypt, and indeed, the rest of the Arab world, manifests this realization into implementable changes in their societies.

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Page 19

Viewpoint: Avenging the Avengers Sarah Khalil Staff Writer If you’re reading this, chances are you’ve watched The Avengers in the past couple of weeks. You may or may not have read Outlook’s review of the movie, by our lovely copy editor Ian Gibson, who rather bluntly christened the movie as “cinematic hodgepodge” in all respects, really, and probably rightly so. Seeing as I considered this movie the most awesome thing I’ve seen all year, I submit a rebuttal of his review, not to condemn his opinion, per se, but to tell him, in short, to just lighten up.

It could be no clearer that this film isn’t going to be winning any Oscars for its superb acting, its gripping story, or its controversial groundbreaking subject matter. The Avengers, much like its prequels, is neither poignant nor succinct, has no abundance of depth or emotion nor does it feel or yearn to be felt. I didn’t walk into Cinema 2 at ABC Achrafieh last weekend with a little Hulk figurine atop my plastic soda cup expecting any of that. Neither should anyone planning to watch this movie. So much for stating the obvious.

So why would you really criticize a film that makes absolutely no pretensions in the “depth and meaning” department with a wry, caustic piece that scorns the film with that very purpose in mind? It’s based on a Marvel Comics franchise, for god’s sake. It has made its fans happy and, as of this writing, has made three times its “ninefigure loan from Merrill Lynch” internationally in the span of two weeks (the budget was $220 million – you do the math), with everyone I know wanting to watch the darn thing at least

once more. We know it’s all that stuff you said it was. It’s overwrought with clichés, tried-andtrue jokes, and Scarlett Johansson in tight black clothing.

To get to the heart of this rebuttal, then: you don’t go into a McDonald’s expecting a gourmet six-course meal with all the trimmings. Not every book is going to be Shakespeare. And you don’t listen to Ke$ha expecting an epiphany about what your life really means. So it follows that you certainly don’t walk into a movie where a handful of dashingly handsome Hollywood actors is fighting an army retrieved from the murky depths of Norse mythology in starspangled tights and guns and “oh look one of them is big and green.” This film is a moneymaking machine, practically a homage to western capitalism. It is hell-bent on entertaining you until you can’t drink anymore watereddown theater soda and your eyes go cross-eyed behind those awful 3D glasses. So are all the other superhero films, which would explain why they’re all the same at the crux of it. Any more depth than that and you’ll be on your merry way out of the “Summer blockbuster based on a fifty year-old comic book” bracket and well on your way to the land of Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter. Which this isn’t. And never will be. Ever.

It is, as the review states, “the greatest superhero movie of all time.” Well, what else would “the greatest superhero movie of all time” do? “To think? To feel?” Ay, Ian, there’s the rub.

http://upload.wikimedia. org/wikipedia/en/thumb/f/ f9/TheAvengers2012Poster. jpg/220px-TheAvengers2012Poster.jpg

Page 20

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Arts & Culture

Movie Review: The Cabin in the Woods Ian M. Gibson Copy Editor Of the many dead genres of Hollywood cinema, the one near the bottom of the heap (and therefore most decomposed) is that of the horror movie. It is a genre of cheap scares and base shocks that seems forever confined within a few overused and no longer effective storylines.

The Cabin in the Woods, a new horror film from Cloverfield scribe Drew Goddard and produced/co-written by fanbase-supported Joss Whedon, wants the viewer to know that it knows how awful the genre it has gotten.

Actually, that’s the whole shtick of the film – selfreferential filmmaking. Put five wild-and-crazy college kids into a scary cabin, throw a zombie redneck torture family at them, and sit back and laugh at how clichéd the whole thing is. It’s not a genuinely bad idea; Black Dynamite and Starship Troopers have successfully conquered the “so cheesy it’s good” angle. But where those films were brilliant to the point of giggling glee, The Cabin in the Woods elicits nothing more than a temperate “meh”.

The failing in the movie is that it is simply too heavy-handed. Yes, the main themes of horror

tropes and metacinema need to be present within the film in order for the concept of the film to work. But what that doesn’t mean is that every line of dialogue should overtly reference them.

Despite the tendency of box office numbers to suggest otherwise, the audience should not be treated as a bunch of drooling slack-jaws under constant barrage by the film’s main themes.

The truth is, making a deliberately cheesy movie is incredibly hard to do. It is a tough line to walk between boring seriousness and offensive ridiculamity, and few films succeed at providing an experience that lasts beyond their admittedly shallow premise. Black Dynamite works because it continuously alters the humor it succeeds upon. Starship Troopers succeeds because it embraces the primal wants of militaristic scifi action fans. The Cabin in the Woods fails because it just doesn’t know what type of film it wants to be.

For a film that sets-out to lambast the horror genre, The Cabin in the Woods sure does steal a lot from it. That would be okay, so long as it reinvigorates the clichés in a unique way (ala

Dale and Tucker vs Evil). But if a cliché is implemented in the exact same way as the status quo without an effective change to context or presentation, how is that an improvement? And if there are moments of half-dead comedy and obvious metanarrative sandwiched between said clichés, does it make for a coherent movie?

No, it doesn’t; what it does leave you with is 95 minutes of schizophrenia.

And this is a sad thing because, despite all the criticism one can easily lob upon it, The Cabin in the Woods is an interesting movie.

The premise is very unique and allows for an immense amount of commentary on the horror genre, filmmaking, and aesthetics of cinema as a whole. But rather than use this premise wisely through brilliant cinematography, a wellwritten story, and effective technique, Goddard and Whedon have wasted it on what amounts to a late-night TV movie. That’s what The Cabin in the Woods really is – wasted potential.

The artificial sweeteners and sugar debate Loulwa Kalache Staff Writer A girl in a restaurant orders a burger with fries, and then orders a Diet Coke. “Do the calories really matter when you are eating all this food?” her friends around her ask. Yes it does. One can of regular coke contains, more or less, 38 grams of sugar.

Scientists have all agreed about the malicious effect of consuming a lot of sugar. The intake of sugars has been attributed as the number one leading cause for obesity, even more than fat. They also cause dental cavities, tooth decay, and other obesity related diseases such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension, hypertriglyceridemia, and heart disease. But do these substituted “diet” sugars offer true and charming help?

Substituted sugars are known as artificial sweeteners that help “sweeten” food to give it a more palatable taste. But they do not control our appetite. Artificial sweeteners are synthetic sugar substitutes, but can also come from natural sources such as herbs or sugar itself.

They produce intense sweetness - that’s why smaller amounts are needed to reach the same sweetness of regular sugar. They are found in drinks, chewing gum, jellies, baked goods, candy, fruit juice, and ice cream.

Are they safe? In the US, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has categorized them under the “generally recognized as safe” (GRAS) list or as food additives. The 1958

Food Additives Amendment to the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act states: “There is evidence that the substance is safe under the conditions of its intended use. And the specific data and information that demonstrate safety depend on the characteristics of the substance, the estimated dietary intake, and the population that will consume the substance.”

Artificial sweeteners currently approved

by FDA are: Acesulfame potassium (Sunett, Sweet One), aspartame (Equal, NutraSweet), neotame, saccharin (SugarTwin, Sweet’N Low), Sucralose (Splenda), and sugar derived alcohols (sorbitol, malitol, xylitol).

Despite this fact, artificial sweeteners have stirred debates for decades. Critics claim that artificial sweeteners cause a variety of health problems such as cancer. This is largely because of studies dating to the 1970s that linked saccharin to bladder cancer in laboratory rats.

However, there is a general accord among scientists that aspartame, saccharin, and sucralose are harmless when consumed in moderation. Also, while cyclamate is still banned in the US, many other countries still allow it, like Canada. Moreover, the National Cancer Institute and other health agencies state clearly that there is still no sound scientific evidence that these approved sweeteners cause cancer or

any illness. And several research studies confirm that they are generally safe in limited quantities.

Nevertheless, the FDA has set an acceptable daily intake (ADI) for each artificial sweetener.

This is the maximum amount considered safe to consume each day over the course of your lifetime. ADIs are usually 100 times less than the smallest amount that might cause health concerns.

Despite the above, the existence of such a dilemma until now makes us doubt the scientific research done. Results of some studies are actually serving the wealthiest and influential food companies that can easily manipulate governmental agencies and laws. Thus, one has to be aware that artificial sweeteners are not always the savvy choice. The key is to consume them in moderation, as they are not always the magic helpers in reducing weight. It is important to realize that a “sugar free” product does not mean it is free of calories. Thus, one may still gain weight. Remember, it is always good to choose natural substitutes for sugar such as honey, natural date sugar, grape juice concentrate, and molasses. For more information, visit: www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Risk/ artificial-sweeteners .

Outlook Team Chairperson Editor-in-Chief Associate Editor Arabic Editor Photography Editor Layout Editors Webmaster

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Talal Nizameddin Lojine Kamel Nour Jane Kachicho Nouhad Awwad Mohammad B. Azzam Nadine Razzouk Layla Smaili Jad Shammsseddine

Public Relations Manager

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Timmy Malkoun Amer Farhat Marc Ziade Ian Gibson

News Executives

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Tugce Coskun Nadi Nassar

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Cartoonists Deedee El Jilani Ghassan Nassar Jad Jari Assaad Khoury

Amer Sare Mohamad Alameh Robert Isaf Dania Machlab Mada Dibs Mohammad Yaghi Heather Jaber Rayane Zahreddine Hadi Mehio Lama Zakharia Rami Panayoti Zeina Mhaidly Sarah Al-Dirani Karim Zahed Rida Daher Loulwa Kalache Hrag Vosgerichian Gregoire Dugueyt Ghida Ismail Edward Abou Jaoude Jon Martin Cullell

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Page 21

‫صفحة ‪٢٢‬‬

‫االربعاء‪ ،‬ايار ‪2012 , ١6‬‬

‫�رشقي ٌة‬ ‫�شجون‬ ‫�أوجاعي‬ ‫ٌ‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫�أ�سامة خري‪ ،‬كاتب �صحفي‬

‫ر�أيت ال ّنا�س ت�ضحك و تبكي‪ .‬ر�أيت النا�س تفرح و حتزن‪ ،‬كما‬ ‫أ�صدق � ّأن احلياة تنتهي بكلمة‪...‬‬ ‫ر�أيت �أي�ض ًا من يحيا و ميوت و مل � ّ‬ ‫بورقة‪ ...‬بقرار‪ ...‬ب�إم�ضاء‪ .‬بالأم�س ك ّنا نلعب‪ .‬ك ّنا نرك�ض بني‬ ‫احلي و ال نقعده» على‬ ‫ال�ساحات‪ .‬ك ّنا منلأ ّ‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫الدنيا ب�رصاخنا و «نقيم ّ‬ ‫�أالعيبنا‪.‬‬ ‫إبتدائية‪ .‬ك ّنا نرفع �أيدينا‬ ‫�سويةً على مقاعد ال‬ ‫بالأم�س ك ّنا‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫لنتكلّم‪ .‬كنا نتحدى املعلّمة من م ّنا �أف�ضل و �أفهم و له دراية‬ ‫�أكرب‪ .‬بالأم�س‪ ،‬يف و�سط ال�صف ا�شتعل النقا�ش بيننا على‬ ‫موا�ضيع عدة و مل تفلح املحاوالت لتهدئة انطالقتنا �أو حتى‬ ‫ال�ص ّف و يف املرة‬ ‫العودة اىل ال�شرّ ح‪ .‬بالأم�س‪ ،‬وقفت الأول على ّ‬ ‫تتكرر‬ ‫املناف�سة‬ ‫علي و كانت هذه احللقة من‬ ‫التالية تفوق �أحدهم‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫نتحدى بع�ضنا‬ ‫كلّ عام و كلّ ف�صل و كلّ امتحان‪ .‬و �أي�ض ًا ك ّنا‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫ي�سدد و من ي�سبح و‬ ‫يف الريا�ضة فمن يرك�ض �أف�ضل و من‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫الدنيا كلّها �ساحةً لنا و ميدان ًا ملواهبنا و‬ ‫من يرمي �أف�ضل‪ .‬كانت ّ‬ ‫�سلّم ًا نت�سلّقه يوم ًا بيوم‪.‬‬ ‫مرةٍ ك ّنا نت�سابق عند ال ّنبعة فوقعت و ُجرحت و كان الرفاق‬ ‫ذات ّ‬

‫مر ًة كاد رفيقنا �أن ير�سب‬ ‫�أوفى من كان يف امل�ساعدة و العالج‪ .‬و ّ‬ ‫عامه فرتك اجلميع �ش�ؤونهم و درا�ستهم لت�أمني الدعم املطلوب‬ ‫له‪ ،‬ليال نهارا‪ ,‬حتى �أنقذناه من الف�شل و �سار معنا بنجاح يف‬ ‫االعوام الدرا�سية ال ّتالية‪.‬‬ ‫أيام ُحلوة‪ .‬كانت دنيانا ب�سيطة جميلة رائعة‬ ‫أيام �صعبةٍ و � ٍ‬ ‫مررنا ب� ٍ‬ ‫و مطمئنة‪.‬‬ ‫جتمهر يف و�سط‬ ‫مر ًة ذهبنا اىل ال�سوق لنبتاع حاجياتنا فح�صل‬ ‫ٌ‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫ال�سوق‪ .‬و �أخذت الهتافات املطالبة بتح�سني االو�ضاع املعي�شية‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫تدوي يف زوايا ال�شارع‪.‬‬ ‫و رفع الغالء ت�صدح يف ال�سماء و ّ‬ ‫ال�صفوف لنهتف و نر ّدد‬ ‫حتم�س رفاقي و دخلنا و�سط ّ‬ ‫عندها ّ‬ ‫�شعارات تنادي بخف�ض �سعر اخلبز و ت�أمني البنزين و‬ ‫العامة‬ ‫مع‬ ‫ٍ‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫نوعية الغذاء و دعم الفقراء‪ .‬للأ�سف‪ ،‬عندما قمنا بجرمنا‬ ‫حماية‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫هذا ن�سينا �أ ّننا ال ن�ساوي �شيئ ًا و ظن ّناها لعبة من �ألعاب الطفولة‬ ‫«نهي�ص» قلي ً‬ ‫ال و نعود اىل بيوتنا لنخرب �أهلنا‬ ‫و �أ ّننا �سنهتف و‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫ثم نرفع ال�صور على الفي�س بوك‬ ‫خ�ضناها‪،‬‬ ‫جديدةٍ‬ ‫عن مغامرةٍ‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫عار�ضني مراجلنا على رفيقاتنا ‪.‬هكذا ‪ ،‬بكلّ ب�ساطة ‪ ،‬نعود اىل‬

‫حياتنا‪.‬‬ ‫دقائق معدودةٍ على انخراطنا يف املغامرة الغري حم�سوبة‬ ‫بعد‬ ‫َ‬ ‫ي�سمون �رشطةً و مع �أحدهم‬ ‫بقم�صان زرق‬ ‫ال ّنتائج‪ ،‬ر�أينا �أنا�س ًا‬ ‫ٍ‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫بارود ًة �أخذ ي�ضغط على زنادها ليختفي ال ّنا�س و ت�ضيع الأمور‪.‬‬ ‫و�سط تلك املعمعة‪ ،‬و بدون ادراك‪ ،‬كان املوقف هو الهروب مع‬ ‫التفت حويل فوجدت رفيقًا‬ ‫نهم بالهرب‪،‬‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫ال ّنا�س الهاربة‪ .‬و �إذ ّ‬ ‫االح�سا�س‬ ‫معدم‬ ‫حراك‬ ‫أي‬ ‫�‬ ‫بدون‬ ‫أر�ض‬ ‫ال�شعورِ‬ ‫ِ‬ ‫مردي ًا على ال ِ‬ ‫ِ‬ ‫فاقد ّ‬ ‫َ‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫ينظر ايل باحث ًا عن روحه و ك�أن �آخر ما �أراد قوله يل «�أودعتك‬ ‫الدنيا الفانية فال تن�ساين»‪.‬‬ ‫الله هذه ّ‬ ‫عندها‪� ،‬سقط قلبي �أردت العودة اليهِ لكن ال �أدري من �أم�سكني‬ ‫يوم ‪ .‬بعد‬ ‫و �أخرجني من املكان كله‪ .‬ذلك اليوم مل يكن ك�أي ٍ‬ ‫حتي ْون؟»‪.‬‬ ‫رحيله �س�ألتهم «�أتبقون؟»‪ .‬بعد رحيله �س�ألتهم «مل َ‬ ‫ال�سكوت حلكم املعبود؟»‪.‬‬ ‫�س�ألتهم «ما معنى ّ‬

‫ال�سلطة و الدولة ‪ :‬هواج�س العلمنة‬ ‫رنا حربي‪ ،‬م�ساهمة �صحفية‬

‫ّ‬ ‫نظم ال ّنادي الثقايف اجلنوبي الأربعاء يف ‪ّ � 10‬أيار ‪2012‬‬ ‫ال�ساعة ‪ 4:30‬يف قاعة» �شارلز هو�ستلر» لقاء بعنوان «‬ ‫ال�سلطة والدولة‪ :‬هواج�س الدين والعلمنة» ّمت فيه ا�ست�ضافة‬ ‫احلكمية للدرا�سات‬ ‫ال�شيخ �شفيق جرادي مدير معهد املعارف‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫الدينية والفل�سفية‪ ،‬والأ�ستاذ بيار �أبي �صعب رئي�س حترير‬ ‫ّبنانية‪ .‬ابتد�أت املحا�رضة‬ ‫ال�صفحة‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫الثقافية يف جريدة الأخبار الل ّ‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫أهمية هذا‬ ‫�‬ ‫على‬ ‫د‬ ‫�شد‬ ‫الذي‬ ‫رزق‬ ‫ر�ضا‬ ‫علي‬ ‫الندوة‬ ‫يف‬ ‫لعر‬ ‫بكلمة‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫املهمة‬ ‫احلواري ؛ اذ � ّأن مو�ضوع العلمنة هو من املوا�ضيع‬ ‫اللقاء‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫ال�سائدة يف جمتمعنا اليوم‪ ،‬ولذلك �أراد ال ّنادي الثقايف اجلنوبي‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫مبني‬ ‫إ�سالمي‬ ‫�‬ ‫ديني‬ ‫منظور‬ ‫خالل‬ ‫من‬ ‫املو�ضوع‬ ‫هذا‬ ‫يناق�ش‬ ‫�أن‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫مف�صلة‪.‬‬ ‫ودرا�سة‬ ‫عميقة‬ ‫معرفة‬ ‫وكذلك‬ ‫ووعي‬ ‫ثبات‬ ‫على‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫حتدث الأ�ستاذ بيار �أبي �صعب عن �رضورة هذا النقا�ش‬ ‫ثم ّ‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫الأ�سا�سي واحليوي مع ال�شيخ جرادي الذي اعتربه «رجل حوار»‬ ‫والع�صبية‬ ‫و «رجال مقاوما» اذ �أ ّنه يقاوم كل �أ�شكال االنغالق‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫وال ّتقوقع‪.‬‬ ‫�شدد على � ّأن‬ ‫ا�ستهلّ الأ�ستاذ بيار حديثه بالدفاع عن العلمانية اذ ّ‬ ‫العلمانية ال تعني �إلغاء الدين‪ ،‬بل هي ت ّت�سع لكل الأديان وكذلك‬ ‫حرية ممار�سة‬ ‫كل اخليارات الفل�سفية‪ .‬فالعلمانية تدعو �إىل ّ‬ ‫القناعات من دون الإعتداء على �أحد �أو حمي �أو ا�ستبدال �أي‬ ‫ثم ترك �صعب املجال لل�شيخ �شفيق‬ ‫جهة دينية كانت �أم فل�سفية‪ّ .‬‬ ‫إمكانية �إلتقاء الدين والعلمنة‬ ‫جرادي للر ّد واحلديث عن كيفية �‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫والدولة‪ .‬فبد�أ ال�شيخ حما�رضته بال ّت�شديد على �أ ّنه‬ ‫لبناء املجتمع ّ‬ ‫يظن بع�ضهم �أ ّنه من املمكن العي�ش‬ ‫ال�سطحية الكربى �أن‬ ‫من‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫يظن البع�ض الآخر �أ ّنه ميكن‬ ‫الدين و�أن‬ ‫من دون وجود روح ّ‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫العي�ش دون «روح العلمانية»‪.‬‬ ‫يقول ال�شيخ �أن الله خلق الب�رش و�أوجد فيهم جملة من الطبائع‬ ‫ت�سمى الأخالق الفطرية وال�رشيفة التي يتبعها �أولئك‬ ‫التي‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫بالدين كو�سيلة لبناء املجتمعات؛ فكل ما يقدمه لنا‬ ‫املتم�سكني ّ‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫مرت�سخ يف طبائع و�أفكار و�أخالق االن�سان‪.‬‬ ‫الدين‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫و ح�سب ال�شيخ‪ ،‬فبدون االن�سان ال يوجد �رشيعة وال دين وذلك‬ ‫لأن االن�سان يتكامل مع ال�رشيعة ليدير �ش�ؤون احلياة‪ .‬و ح�سب‬

‫قوله �أي�ضا‪� ،‬إن الدين والعلمنة لديهما نقطة التقاء �أ�سا�سية وهي‬ ‫«�أ�صالة الإن�سان»‪ ،‬ولكن االختالف يكمن يف � ّأن الدين يرى � ّأن‬ ‫االن�سان باال�ضافة اىل «الوحي» ي�ؤديان اىل املجتمع ال�صحيح‪،‬‬ ‫بينما العلمانية ترف�ض االرتباط مع �أي مرجعية غري االن�سان؛‬ ‫فالعلمانية ترى �أن �أي عالقة مع �أي مرجع خارج عن �إطار هذا‬ ‫الع�رص‪،‬من دين �أو تراث‪ ،‬مرفو�ض اذ � ّأن الطريق �إىل املجتمع‬ ‫بالتم�سك بالزمن احلا�رض ‪ .‬بعد ذلك‪ ،‬انتقل ال�شيخ‬ ‫الناجح هو‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫�إىل احلديث عن العلمانية بتعريفها من خالل خ�صائ�صها‪.‬‬ ‫ال�سائدة معلّقا‬ ‫عر�ض ال�شيخ على احل�ضور جملة من التعريفات ّ‬ ‫ومتحدثا عن نظرته لكلّ منها‪ .‬فاعترب � ّأن العلمانية هي‬ ‫عليها‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫اجتاه وم�سار «يخلق الدوافع املولّدة للأفكار» مثل الليربالية‬ ‫والدميقراطية وخالفهما‪ .‬كذلك فالعلمانية‪ ،‬يف تعريف بع�ضهم‪،‬‬ ‫هي نفي املرجعيات و�سلب كل الأمور املحيطة بها و هذا �أكرث‬ ‫حتول العلمانية �إىل‬ ‫ما يخ�شاه ال�شيخ‪� .‬إذ ّ‬ ‫�شدد على �رضورة عدم ّ‬ ‫ايديولوجيا �أو اىل ما ي�شبه النزعة الدينية التي تريد �أن جتتاح‬ ‫التكيف معها مثل حديث بع�ضهم عن‬ ‫الأديان الأخرى ولي�س‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫التعدي على‬ ‫أ�شكال‬ ‫�‬ ‫من‬ ‫وغريها‬ ‫إ�سالم»‬ ‫ل‬ ‫م�سعى اىل «علمنة ا‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫الآخر ووجوده‪ .‬ومن التعاريف الأخرى هي حيادية الدولة يف‬ ‫ال�ش�أن العام ومراعاة حق الفرد يف ممار�سة طقو�سه الدينية من‬ ‫ثم انتقل ال�شيخ للحديث عن الأ�سباب التي جعلت‬ ‫عبادة وغريها‪ّ .‬‬ ‫بع�ض امل�سلمني ينتبهون اىل الرف�ض ال ّتام للعلمانية وذلك لأ ّنه‬ ‫يرى � ّأن امل�سلمني يعي�شون العلمانية «كعقدة تاريخية» وذلك‬ ‫لأ�سباب عديدة منها اجتياح وغزو الغرب للمنطقة «الإ�سالمية»‬ ‫حتت عنوان «العلمانية «‪ ،‬م�صطفى كمال �أتاتورك‪ ،‬موقف‬ ‫العلمانيني امل�ضاد للجامعة الإ�سالمية‪ ،‬حديثهم عن الإ�سالم‬ ‫كدين التخلّف و اجلهل والإرهاب‪ .‬وقد ربط امل�سلمني العلمانية‬ ‫باال�ستبداد‪ .‬وهذا الرف�ض للعلمانية تبلور الحقا من خالل ن�ش�أة‬ ‫احلركات الإ�سالمية‪ ،‬و �أخريا‪« ،‬رمادية البعد» و «رمادية النظرة»‬ ‫قدم للعرب وك�أ ّنها نبعت‬ ‫بخ�صو�ص العلمانية وذلك لأنها مل ُت ّ‬ ‫من الداخل بل وك�أ ّنها نقي�ض جاء من اخلارج ويجب حماربته‪ّ � .‬أما‬ ‫ال�شيخ فوقف �ضد هذا املوقف �إذ � ّأكد � ّأن الر�ؤية الدينية وكذلك‬ ‫ت�شدد على احرتام االن�سان يف نزعته و�أهمية‬ ‫الر�ؤية العلمانية‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫أ�سا�سية‪ .‬و ر�أى �أ ّنه على اللعبة العلمانية‬ ‫حماية حقوقه ال‬ ‫ّ‬

‫الإ�سالمية �أن �أ ّ‬ ‫جمرد لعبة طوائف اذ � ّأن الأزمة‬ ‫تتحول �إىل‬ ‫ال‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫الطائفية �إذا اخرتقت بنيتنا قادرة على تدمري جميع الأ�سا�سات‪.‬‬ ‫فبالرغم من عدم �إمكانية بناء «دولة �إ�سالمية مدنية علمانية»‬ ‫�إال �أ ّننا ن�ستطيع ‪ ،‬يف نظر ال�شيخ‪� ،‬أن ن�ستعمل القيم املطروحة‬ ‫علمانيا « واملطروحة �إ�سالميا» لبناء �أفق لدولة تتجلّى فيها‬ ‫ت�شدد على �أ�صالة االن�سان؛ فاملجتمع الأف�ضل‬ ‫هذه القيم التي‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫طياته الروح املرنة التي ت�سمح للدين‬ ‫يف‬ ‫يجمع‬ ‫هو ذلك الذي‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫والعلمنة باالختالط واالتفاق على �أهمية املواطنة‪ .‬يقول ال�شيخ‬ ‫� ّأن الإ�سالم ي� ّؤكد على � ّأن االن�سان هو وحدة متكاملة قادرة �أن‬ ‫تدير حياتها و �أن تن�شئ نظاما «حقوقيا» بابداعاتها ب�إر�شاد من‬ ‫تقبلها جلرعة �أو جرعات من روحية‬ ‫الوحي �أوال‪ّ ،‬‬ ‫وثم من خالل ّ‬ ‫العلمنة و�آرائها عن احلكم و عدله‪.‬‬ ‫م�شددا على �أن‬ ‫جمددا‬ ‫حتدث الأ�ستاذ بيار �أبي �صعب‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫ثم ّ‬ ‫ومن ّ‬ ‫العلمنة تدعو للم�ساواة بني الب�رش على �أ�سا�س �إن�سانيتهم وهي‬ ‫قالب مت�سامح مع الدين ولي�س عن�رصا مناق�ضا له‪ .‬فقال �أبي‬ ‫�صعب املقولة ال�شهرية‪« :‬الدين لله والوطن للجميع»‪ ،‬فتبعه‬ ‫ال�شيخ قائال «الدين للجميع و الوطن للجميع‪ ..‬واجلميع لله»‪.‬‬ ‫و �أخريا فُتح املجال للح�ضور بتوجيه الأ�سئلة‪ .‬ولعلّ �أكرث ما لفت‬ ‫نظري هو تعليق �أحد الطالب ب�أ ّنه تفاج�أ بدرجة مرونة ال�شيخ‬ ‫يف نقا�شه وعن انفتاحه يف احلديث عن العلمنة وذلك مامل‬ ‫يتعود عليه الطالب ‪ ،‬وهنا ر ّد عليه ال�شيخ بالقول � ّأن االنفتاح‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫التدين ولي�س العك�س؛ فمن هو م�ستعد �أن‬ ‫على الآخر هو دليل‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫يناق�ش الآخرين هو الذي يكون واثقا كل الثقة من دينه‪ ،‬و�آرائه‬ ‫‪ ،‬ومعتقداته‪ ،‬و�أفكاره‪ .‬و ختم ال�شيخ بالقول « ال �أحب وال �أرغب‬ ‫مطويا بالكتب» بل �أطمح للإ�سالم الذي يكدح بالعلم‬ ‫ب�إ�سالم‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫ويعمل من �أجل الفقراء وحت�سني البنية الإجتماعية والتنمية‪.‬‬

‫صفحة ‪23‬‬

‫االربعاء‪ ،‬ايار ‪2012 , ١6‬‬

‫الدم والألعاب الأوملبية‬ ‫نهاد غازي عواد ‪ ،‬حمررة ق�سم اللغة العربية‬ ‫نهاد غازي عواد‪ ،‬حمررة ق�سم اللغة العربية‬

‫�أعلن نظام الت�أمني ال�صحي يف اململكة املتحدة �أن هناك حاجة‬ ‫ما�سة �إىل زيادة التربع بالدم بن�سبة ‪ 30‬يف املائة قبل �إحتفاالت‬ ‫اليوبيل امللكي املا�سي ودورة االلعاب االوملبية هذا ال�صيف‪.‬‬ ‫كما حذر من �أن الأ�شخا�ص الذين يتربعون ب�إنتظام هم الأكرث‬ ‫عر�ضة لتفويت مواعيد التربع عند وجود �أحداث كبرية جتري‪.‬‬ ‫وخ�صو�صا هذا ال�صيف حيث جتري �أربع �أحداث مهمة وهي‪:‬‬ ‫اليوبيل املا�سي ‪� ،‬ألعاب لندن الأوملبية‪ ،‬وميبلدون‪ ،‬وبطولة ك�أ�س‬ ‫االمم االوروبية‪.‬‬ ‫اليوبيل املا�سي هو االحتفال الدويل للملكة اليزابيث الثانية‬ ‫والذي �سيقام �صيف ‪ 2012‬ب�سبب مرور ‪ 60‬عاما على‬

‫بني الأم�س و اليوم‪...‬‬

‫ت�سلمها عر�ش اململكة بعد وفاة الدها امللك جورج ال�ساد�س‪ ،‬يف حوال‪ 1.2‬مليون �شخ�ص مما �سي�شكل �ضغطا على بع�ض‬ ‫‪� 6‬شباط ‪ .1952‬وامللكة اليزابيث تعترب ملكة على �ستة ع�رش فئات الدم الأكرث �شيوعا يف املناطق الأخرى‪ .‬وجتدر الإ�شارة ان‬ ‫دولة‪ ،‬اثنا ع�رش منها كانوا م�ستعمرات بريطانية عند ت�سلمها الربيطانيون بحاجة اىل فئتي الدم ‪ -o+ , o‬ب�شكل خا�ص‪.‬‬ ‫احلكم‪ .‬امللكة اليزابيث هي امللكة الثانية فقط التي حتتفل‬ ‫ويجري الت�شجيع للمانحني للدم للمرة الأوىل عرب �إن�شاء املواعيد‬ ‫باليوبيل املا�سي‪.‬‬ ‫�إ�ضافية ومتديد �ساعات العمل يف حماولة لإعطاء اجلهات املانحة‬ ‫دورة الألعاب الأوملبية هي حدث دويل كبري ي�ضم الريا�ضات مزيدا من املرونة‪ .‬ويف هذا ال�صدد قال جون الثام‪ ،‬املتحدث با�سم‬ ‫ال�صيفية وال�شتوية‪ .‬وي�شارك فيها الأالف من الريا�ضيني يف نظام الت�أمني ال�صحي يف اململكة املتحدة « هذا العام لدينا و�ضعا‬ ‫جمموعة متنوعة من الألعاب‪ .‬وتعترب هذه الألعاب مناف�سة فريدا ونحتاج �إىل م�ساعدة الر�أي العام لقلب املوازين وذلك عرب‬ ‫دولية ب�سبب م�شاركة �أكرث من ‪ 200‬دولة بها‪ .‬وتعقد حاليا التربع الكثيف لوحدات الدم يف هذا ال�صيف املميز‪ .‬وقال لهيئة‬ ‫االذاعة الربيطانية‪« :‬كل وحدة من الدم تنقذ حياة �أو حت�سن حياة‬ ‫دورة االلعاب مرة كل �سنتني‪.‬‬ ‫ثالثة ا�شخا�ص‪ .‬نحن نريد بالطبع �أن نت�أكد �أن اجلميع يتمتع‬ ‫بطولة وميبلدون‪, ،‬والتي �ستقام من ‪ 25‬يونيو حتى ‪ 8‬يوليو الألعاب‪ ،‬ونريد �أي�ضا �أن نت�أكد من �أنه �إذا ح�صلت �أي حوادث‬ ‫من هذا العام هي �أقدم بطولة للتن�س يف العامل وتعترب الأرقى ‪� ،‬سيكون لدينا امدادات الدم الكافية مل�ساعدتهم على التعايف‬ ‫�أي�ضا‪ .‬وميبلدون هي البطولة الكربى الوحيدة التي ال تزال تلعب ب�رسعة‪« .‬‬ ‫على الع�شب ‪� ،‬سطح املباراة الأ�صلي‪ ،‬الذي �أعطى لعبة التن�س‬ ‫وجتدر الإ�شارة اىل �أن امل�ست�شفيات يف انكلرتا وويلز �شمال‬ ‫ا�سمها‪.‬‬ ‫بحاجة اىل ‪ 7000‬وحدة من الدم كل يوم‪ ،‬وحتى الآن ال يتربع‬ ‫بطولة ك�أ�س االمم االوروبية هي املناف�سة الرئي�سية لفرق الرجال �سوى �أربعة يف املائة من النا�س املخولني لذلك‪.‬‬ ‫لكرة القدم والتي ينظمها االحتاد الأوروبي لكرة القدم‪ .‬تعقد‬ ‫البطولة مرة كل �أربع �سنوات منذ عام ‪ ،1960‬يف �سنة زوجية كما �إن وحدات الدم يجب جتديدها ب�إ�ستمرار لأن الدم يتحلل‬ ‫بني بطوالت ك�أ�س العامل‪ ،‬وكان ي�سمى يف الأ�صل ك�أ�س االمم ‪ ،‬ب�رسعة‪ .‬فخاليا الدم احلمراء تبقى حوايل ال‪ 35‬يوما بينما‬ ‫ال�صفائح الدموية تعي�ش حتى ال�سبعة الأيام‪.‬ف�سي�صعب تخزين‬ ‫وتغري �إىل اال�سم احلايل يف عام ‪.1968‬‬ ‫الكميات املطلوبة‪ .‬ولت�أمني الوحدات املطلوبة يقام حمالت‬ ‫ح�صول هذه الأربع �أحداث املهمة يف نف�س الزمان واملكان توعية يف الطرقات حلث النا�س على التربع بالدم‪ .‬وهذه اخلطوة‬ ‫ي�شكل عبئا على كاهل الدولة التي ال يغيب عنها ال�شم�س‪� .‬إما �سيتبعها خطوات �أخرى لت�أمني الرعاية ال�صحية للزوار‪.‬‬ ‫من الناحية التنظيمية �أو من الناحية الأمنية والأهم من الناحية‬ ‫ال�صحية‪ .‬حيث �ست�ضطر اململكة العظمى اىل ت�أمني امل�ستلزمات وعلى �أمل �أن ي�صبح لبنان كما بريطانيا مركزا للألعاب الدولية‪.‬‬ ‫الطبية الالزمة لل�سياح املتدفقني وخ�صو�صا وحدات الدم التي و�أن ي�صبح لدينا نظام ت�أمني �صحي يهتم بنا وبال�سياح‪.‬‬ ‫تعاين امل�ست�شفيات الربيطانية من النق�ص فيها‪ .‬ومن املتوقع ان‬ ‫‪http://img.metro.co.uk/i/pix/2012/04/26/article‬‬‫دورة االلعاب االوملبية واالوملبياد اخلا�ص �سيزيد عدد الزوار‬ ‫‪1335442830129-12C3E340000005DC-69‬‬

‫منى �أيوب‪ ،‬كاتبة �صحفية‬

‫نهاد غازي عواد‪ ،‬حمررة ق�سم اللغة العربية‬

‫بالأم�س كنت يف نزهة مع جمموعة �أطفال يف �صيدا‪� .‬أ�سعدتهم و �أحالمنا‪ -‬املا�ضية و احلا�رضة‪ .‬غري �أن هذه الذكريات و الأحالم‬ ‫اجلولة يف البحر‪� .‬أطلقت منهم �ضحكات مل ا�سمعها من زمن‪.‬‬ ‫كان لها طعم �آخر‪ .‬مل تكن بعفوية و براءة ما كانت عليه منذ خم�س‬ ‫�سنني‪ .‬كانت نا�ضجة هذه املرة‪ .‬واقعية‪ .‬خالية من «الطفولية»‪.‬‬ ‫�أعجبتهم القلعة القدمية‪� .‬أخذوا ين�سجون ق�ص�صا و ق�ص�صا‬ ‫عنها‪ :‬عن احلروب التي توالت عليها‪ ،‬و عن «الفار�س» البطل بعد �أ�سبوع �س�أكتب مقايل الأخري لهذه ال�سنة‪ .‬و بعد �شهر‬ ‫الذي بناها ‪ ،‬و �أخرى عما قد يكون بداخلها اليوم‪� -‬إذ مل ي�سمح �ستنطوي �سنة �أخرى يف هذه اجلامعة‪� .‬س�أودع �أ�صدقاء �أنهوا‬ ‫لهم بدخولها‪� »:‬أيكون داخلها مدافع قدمية؟ �أو رمبا �سيوف حديدة درا�ستهم كعهدي كل حزيران‪.‬‬ ‫يعلوها ال�صد�أ؟ �أحدهم ظن �أنه قد يجد «الفار�س» البطل بداخلها!»‬ ‫و بعد هذا‪ ،‬من يجر�ؤ �أن يحبطهم ويقول لهم ان ما بداخلها هو براءة الطفولة ‪ ،‬و براءة الأحالم‪ ،‬و االيام ‪ ....‬كل يتغري ب�رسعة‬ ‫عظيمة‪ .‬كل يكرب و ين�ضج بطريقة ت�صعب على الفهم �أحيانا‪.‬‬ ‫نفايات‪ ،‬و نفايات فقط؟؟!!‬ ‫«�سندوي�شات» الفالفل كانت متعة لهم « عظيمة»‪ .‬مل ي�ستطيعوا‬ ‫�إكمالها كلها ‪� -‬إذ جاءت بحجم «كبري» عليهم‪ -‬فارت�أوا �أن و ال تزال مت�ضي الأيام‪....‬‬ ‫ي�ضعوها يف �أكيا�س لعلهم يكملونها الحقا �أو يعطونها لأحد‬ ‫«الفقراء»�أو حليواناتهم املدللة‪.‬‬ ‫�أرجعتني براءتهم و احالمهم ال�صغرية �سنني �إىل الوراء‪� .‬أرجعتني‬ ‫�إىل وقت كانت نزهة البحر و القلعة الكبرية و «�سندوي�ش» فالفل‬ ‫ي�ساوي فرح الدنيا كلها‪.‬‬ ‫و بالأم�س �إلتقيت �صديقة مل ارها منذ خم�س �سنني‪ .‬كنا مقربتني‬ ‫جدا حينها‪ .‬حتدثنا عن املا�ضي و عن احلا�رض‪ .‬حتدثنا عن ذكرياتنا‬

‫‪http://vb.arabseyes.com/upload‬‬‫‪ed/4_1199318180.jpg‬‬

‫جزء ‪ ،44‬عدد ‪٢٣‬‬ ‫االربعاء‪ ،‬ايار ‪2012 , ١6‬‬

‫ال�سلطة و الدولة ‪ :‬هواج�س العلمنة‬ ‫رنا حربي‪ ،‬م�ساهمة �صحفية‬

‫ّ‬ ‫العربية � ّأيار ‪2012‬‬ ‫اللغةيف ‪10‬‬ ‫ق�سمأربعاء‬ ‫اجلنوبي ال‬ ‫غازي الثقايف‬ ‫نهاد ال ّنادي‬ ‫نظم‬ ‫عواد‪ ،‬حمررة‬ ‫ال�ساعة ‪ 4:30‬يف قاعة» �شارلز هو�ستلر» لقاء بعنوان «‬ ‫ال�سلطة والدولة‪ :‬هواج�س الدين والعلمنة» ّمت فيه ا�ست�ضافة‬ ‫احلكمية للدرا�سات‬ ‫ال�شيخ �شفيق جرادي مدير معهد املعارف‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫الدينية والفل�سفية‪ ،‬والأ�ستاذ بيار �أبي �صعب رئي�س حترير‬ ‫ّبنانية‪ .‬ابتد�أت املحا�رضة‬ ‫ال�صفحة‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫الثقافية يف جريدة الأخبار الل ّ‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫أهمية هذا‬ ‫�‬ ‫على‬ ‫د‬ ‫�شد‬ ‫الذي‬ ‫رزق‬ ‫ر�ضا‬ ‫علي‬ ‫الندوة‬ ‫يف‬ ‫لعر‬ ‫بكلمة‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫املهمة‬ ‫احلواري ؛ اذ � ّأن مو�ضوع العلمنة هو من املوا�ضيع‬ ‫اللقاء‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫ال�سائدة يف جمتمعنا اليوم‪ ،‬ولذلك �أراد ال ّنادي الثقايف اجلنوبي‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫مبني‬ ‫إ�سالمي‬ ‫�‬ ‫ديني‬ ‫منظور‬ ‫خالل‬ ‫من‬ ‫املو�ضوع‬ ‫هذا‬ ‫يناق�ش‬ ‫�أن‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫مف�صلة‪.‬‬ ‫ودرا�سة‬ ‫عميقة‬ ‫معرفة‬ ‫وكذلك‬ ‫ووعي‬ ‫ثبات‬ ‫على‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫حتدث الأ�ستاذ بيار �أبي �صعب عن �رضورة هذا النقا�ش‬ ‫ثم ّ‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫الأ�سا�سي واحليوي مع ال�شيخ جرادي الذي اعتربه «رجل حوار»‬ ‫والع�صبية‬ ‫و «رجال مقاوما» اذ �أ ّنه يقاوم كل �أ�شكال االنغالق‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫وال ّتقوقع‪.‬‬ ‫�شدد على � ّأن‬ ‫ا�ستهلّ الأ�ستاذ بيار حديثه بالدفاع عن العلمانية اذ ّ‬ ‫العلمانية ال تعني �إلغاء الدين‪ ،‬بل هي ت ّت�سع لكل الأديان وكذلك‬ ‫حرية ممار�سة‬ ‫كل اخليارات الفل�سفية‪ .‬فالعلمانية تدعو �إىل ّ‬ ‫القناعات من دون الإعتداء على �أحد �أو حمي �أو ا�ستبدال �أي‬ ‫ثم ترك �صعب املجال لل�شيخ �شفيق‬ ‫جهة دينية كانت �أم فل�سفية‪ّ .‬‬ ‫إمكانية �إلتقاء الدين والعلمنة‬ ‫جرادي للر ّد واحلديث عن كيفية �‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫والدولة‪ .‬فبد�أ ال�شيخ حما�رضته بال ّت�شديد على �أ ّنه‬ ‫لبناء املجتمع ّ‬ ‫يظن بع�ضهم �أ ّنه من املمكن العي�ش‬ ‫ال�سطحية الكربى �أن‬ ‫من‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫يظن البع�ض الآخر �أ ّنه ميكن‬ ‫الدين و�أن‬ ‫من دون وجود روح ّ‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫العي�ش دون «روح العلمانية»‪.‬‬ ‫يقول ال�شيخ �أن الله خلق الب�رش و�أوجد فيهم جملة من الطبائع‬ ‫ت�سمى الأخالق الفطرية وال�رشيفة التي يتبعها �أولئك‬ ‫التي‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫بالدين كو�سيلة لبناء املجتمعات؛ فكل ما يقدمه لنا‬ ‫املتم�سكني ّ‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫مرت�سخ يف طبائع و�أفكار و�أخالق االن�سان‪.‬‬ ‫الدين‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫و ح�سب ال�شيخ‪ ،‬فبدون االن�سان ال يوجد �رشيعة وال دين وذلك‬

‫لأن االن�سان يتكامل مع ال�رشيعة ليدير �ش�ؤون احلياة‪ .‬و ح�سب‬ ‫قوله �أي�ضا‪� ،‬إن الدين والعلمنة لديهما نقطة التقاء �أ�سا�سية‬ ‫وهي «�أ�صالة الإن�سان»‪ ،‬ولكن االختالف يكمن يف � ّأن الدين‬ ‫يرى � ّأن االن�سان باال�ضافة اىل «الوحي» ي�ؤديان اىل املجتمع‬ ‫ال�صحيح‪ ،‬بينما العلمانية ترف�ض االرتباط مع �أي مرجعية غري‬ ‫االن�سان؛ فالعلمانية ترى �أن �أي عالقة مع �أي مرجع خارج عن‬ ‫�إطار هذا الع�رص‪،‬من دين �أو تراث‪ ،‬مرفو�ض اذ � ّأن الطريق �إىل‬ ‫بالتم�سك بالزمن احلا�رض ‪ .‬بعد ذلك‪ ،‬انتقل‬ ‫املجتمع الناجح هو‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫ال�شيخ �إىل احلديث عن العلمانية بتعريفها من خالل خ�صائ�صها‪.‬‬ ‫ال�سائدة معلّقا‬ ‫عر�ض ال�شيخ على احل�ضور جملة من التعريفات ّ‬ ‫ومتحدثا عن نظرته لكلّ منها‪ .‬فاعترب � ّأن العلمانية هي‬ ‫عليها‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫اجتاه وم�سار «يخلق الدوافع املولّدة للأفكار» مثل الليربالية‬ ‫والدميقراطية وخالفهما‪ .‬كذلك فالعلمانية‪ ،‬يف تعريف بع�ضهم‪،‬‬ ‫هي نفي املرجعيات و�سلب كل الأمور املحيطة بها و هذا �أكرث‬ ‫حتول العلمانية �إىل‬ ‫ما يخ�شاه ال�شيخ‪� .‬إذ ّ‬ ‫�شدد على �رضورة عدم ّ‬ ‫ايديولوجيا �أو اىل ما ي�شبه النزعة الدينية التي تريد �أن جتتاح‬ ‫التكيف معها مثل حديث بع�ضهم عن‬ ‫الأديان الأخرى ولي�س‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫التعدي على‬ ‫م�سعى اىل «علمنة الإ�سالم» وغريها من �أ�شكال‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫الآخر ووجوده‪ .‬ومن التعاريف الأخرى هي حيادية الدولة يف‬ ‫ال�ش�أن العام ومراعاة حق الفرد يف ممار�سة طقو�سه الدينية من‬ ‫ثم انتقل ال�شيخ للحديث عن الأ�سباب التي جعلت‬ ‫عبادة وغريها‪ّ .‬‬ ‫بع�ض امل�سلمني ينتبهون اىل الرف�ض ال ّتام للعلمانية وذلك لأ ّنه‬ ‫يرى � ّأن امل�سلمني يعي�شون العلمانية «كعقدة تاريخية» وذلك‬ ‫لأ�سباب عديدة منها اجتياح وغزو الغرب للمنطقة «الإ�سالمية»‬ ‫حتت عنوان «العلمانية «‪ ،‬م�صطفى كمال �أتاتورك‪ ،‬موقف‬ ‫العلمانيني امل�ضاد للجامعة الإ�سالمية‪ ،‬حديثهم عن الإ�سالم‬ ‫كدين التخلّف و اجلهل والإرهاب‪ .‬وقد ربط امل�سلمني العلمانية‬ ‫باال�ستبداد‪ .‬وهذا الرف�ض للعلمانية تبلور الحقا من خالل ن�ش�أة‬ ‫احلركات الإ�سالمية‪ ،‬و �أخريا‪« ،‬رمادية البعد» و «رمادية النظرة»‬ ‫قدم للعرب وك�أ ّنها نبعت‬ ‫بخ�صو�ص العلمانية وذلك لأنها مل ُت ّ‬ ‫من الداخل بل وك�أ ّنها نقي�ض جاء من اخلارج ويجب حماربته‪ّ � .‬أما‬ ‫ال�شيخ فوقف �ضد هذا املوقف �إذ � ّأكد � ّأن الر�ؤية الدينية وكذلك‬

‫ت�شدد على احرتام االن�سان يف نزعته و�أهمية‬ ‫الر�ؤية العلمانية‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫أ�سا�سية‪ .‬و ر�أى �أ ّنه على اللعبة العلمانية‬ ‫حماية حقوقه ال‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫الإ�سالمية �أن �أ ّ‬ ‫جمرد لعبة طوائف اذ � ّأن الأزمة‬ ‫إىل‬ ‫�‬ ‫ل‬ ‫تتحو‬ ‫ال‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫الطائفية �إذا اخرتقت بنيتنا قادرة على تدمري جميع الأ�سا�سات‪.‬‬ ‫فبالرغم من عدم �إمكانية بناء «دولة �إ�سالمية مدنية علمانية»‬ ‫�إال �أ ّننا ن�ستطيع ‪ ،‬يف نظر ال�شيخ‪� ،‬أن ن�ستعمل القيم املطروحة‬ ‫علمانيا « واملطروحة �إ�سالميا» لبناء �أفق لدولة تتجلّى فيها‬ ‫ت�شدد على �أ�صالة االن�سان؛ فاملجتمع الأف�ضل‬ ‫هذه القيم التي‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫طياته الروح املرنة التي ت�سمح للدين‬ ‫هو ذلك الذي يجمع يف ّ‬ ‫والعلمنة باالختالط واالتفاق على �أهمية املواطنة‪ .‬يقول ال�شيخ‬ ‫� ّأن الإ�سالم ي� ّؤكد على � ّأن االن�سان هو وحدة متكاملة قادرة �أن‬ ‫تدير حياتها و �أن تن�شئ نظاما «حقوقيا» بابداعاتها ب�إر�شاد من‬ ‫تقبلها جلرعة �أو جرعات من روحية‬ ‫الوحي �أوال‪ّ ،‬‬ ‫وثم من خالل ّ‬ ‫العلمنة و�آرائها عن احلكم و عدله‪.‬‬ ‫م�شددا على �أن‬ ‫جمددا‬ ‫حتدث الأ�ستاذ بيار �أبي �صعب‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫ثم ّ‬ ‫ومن ّ‬ ‫العلمنة تدعو للم�ساواة بني الب�رش على �أ�سا�س �إن�سانيتهم وهي‬ ‫قالب مت�سامح مع الدين ولي�س عن�رصا مناق�ضا له‪ .‬فقال �أبي‬ ‫�صعب املقولة ال�شهرية‪« :‬الدين لله والوطن للجميع»‪ ،‬فتبعه‬ ‫ال�شيخ قائال «الدين للجميع و الوطن للجميع‪ ..‬واجلميع لله»‪.‬‬ ‫و �أخريا فُتح املجال للح�ضور بتوجيه الأ�سئلة‪ .‬ولعلّ �أكرث ما لفت‬ ‫نظري هو تعليق �أحد الطالب ب�أ ّنه تفاج�أ بدرجة مرونة ال�شيخ‬ ‫يف نقا�شه وعن انفتاحه يف احلديث عن العلمنة وذلك مامل‬ ‫يتعود عليه الطالب ‪ ،‬وهنا ر ّد عليه ال�شيخ بالقول � ّأن االنفتاح‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫التدين ولي�س العك�س؛ فمن هو م�ستعد �أن‬ ‫دليل‬ ‫هو‬ ‫آخر‬ ‫ل‬ ‫ا‬ ‫على‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫يناق�ش الآخرين هو الذي يكون واثقا كل الثقة من دينه‪ ،‬و�آرائه‬ ‫‪ ،‬ومعتقداته‪ ،‬و�أفكاره‪ .‬و ختم ال�شيخ بالقول « ال �أحب وال �أرغب‬ ‫مطويا بالكتب» بل �أطمح للإ�سالم الذي يكدح بالعلم‬ ‫ب�إ�سالم‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫ويعمل من �أجل الفقراء وحت�سني البنية الإجتماعية والتنمية‪.‬‬

‫«حمراء» كانت الوردة �أو كان ال�شارع‬ ‫داليا �أحو�ش‬

‫بخفة دمه و بذوقه‬ ‫اللغة�ؤخذ‬ ‫منا مل ي‬ ‫عواد‪،‬الفتى؟‬ ‫يلتق ذاك‬ ‫نهادمنا مل‬ ‫من‬ ‫العربية‬ ‫حمررةمنق�سم‬ ‫غازي‬ ‫الرفيع؟ من منا مل ي�شرت وردة من وروده احلمراء؟ نعم �إنه فار�س‪،‬‬ ‫ذاك الفتى الذي �أ�صبح ووروده من �أحد معامل �شارع احلمراء‪.‬‬ ‫�شعره امل�صفف و ثيابه الأنيقة و تلك املالمح الطفولية الربيئة‬ ‫�أعطوه ال�ضوء الأخ�رض لدخول �أكرث املقاهي �شهرة و �أكرثها‬ ‫ت�شددا‪ .‬اجلميع يناديه با�سمه‪ ،‬ي�سلم عليه بحرارة‪ ،‬يعانقه‪،‬‬ ‫ي�ستقبله بب�سمة مل �أعهدها من قبل عند الإلتقاء ب�أمثال فار�س‬ ‫�أو �إن �صح القول بزمالئه‪� .‬أول لقاءاتي به كانت كفيلة ملعرفة‬ ‫�سبب تقبل اجلميع له و حمبتهم‪ .‬مل تكن مالحمه الطفولية‬ ‫و ال ثيابه الأنيقة بل كانت كرامته الإ�ستثنائية‪�« :‬أنا ل�ست‬ ‫�شحاذا» كان جوابه حني رف�ضت �أخذ الوردة مقابل املال الذي‬ ‫�أعطيته �إياه راميا الوردة على طاولتي و م�رسعا بالذهاب‪ .‬و‬

‫من يومها �أثارت ق�صته ف�ضويل و �أ�صبحت �أتق�صد اللقاء به‪.‬‬ ‫يف �أحد الأيام‪� ،‬س�ألته ماذا يريد �أن ي�صبح عندما يكرب‪ ،‬ف�أجابني‬ ‫‪« :‬حماميا»‪ .‬الطفل الذي عمله يناق�ض قوانني حقوق الإن�سان‬ ‫يف جميع بلدان العامل يريد �أن يدافع عن حقوق االخرين‪ .‬عندها‬ ‫�أدركت �أنني ان�شغلت مبظهره اخلارجي مهملة ق�ضية جوهرية‪ ،‬و‬ ‫ت�ساءلت كيف �أ�صبح وجوده بيننا ظاهرة طبيعية؟ �أمل يعد الواقع‬ ‫م�ؤ�سفا يوم جمل مبالب�س ال توحي بالأ�سف؟‬ ‫فار�س هو الإ�ستثناء الذي ال ينق�ض القاعدة‪ .‬فالأطفال الباعة‬ ‫على الطرقات ال يجب يفر�ض عليهم حتمل نفقة املالب�س الأنيقة‬ ‫حتى ال تنزعج �أنظار الطبقة املخملية �أو املتو�سطة التي حتت�سي‬ ‫القهوة يف �أحد املقاهي‪ .‬زمالء فار�س ال يجب �أن يطلب منهم‬ ‫التحلي بالأخالق الرفيعة و الكرامة يف الوقت الذي نذلهم فيه‬ ‫‪3193 .ext 000 350 01 :tel 208 Bliss Street, West Hall‬‬

‫بنظراتنا‪.‬‬ ‫مع كل حبي لفار�س و احرتامي له‪� ،‬أ�صبحت �إ�ستثنائيته تزعجني‬ ‫لأنها �أن�ست زائري �شارع احلمراء – �شارع الثقافة‪� -‬أن اخلط�أ‬ ‫يبقى خط�أ و �إن جملته املظاهر‪.‬‬ ‫يف النهاية «حمراء» كانت الوردة �أو كان ال�شارع‪ ،‬فالإثنتني‬ ‫ارتبطتا بذلك الطفل «بائع الورود»؛ الأوىل ن�شرتيها مع‬ ‫ابت�سامة‪ ،‬نر�ضي بها ذلك الفتى امل�سكني‪ ،‬نت�أملها قليال و ننتهي‬ ‫برميها يف القمامة‪ ،‬و نرمي معها �أوجاعه و �أوجاع رفاقه و‬ ‫امالهم‪� .‬أما الثانية فلقد كتب لها �أن جتمع النقيدين‪ :‬الثقافة و‬ ‫الف�ساد‪� .‬إىل �أن �أ�صبحت «حمراء» فار�س و �أ�صبح لبنان فار�س‬ ‫ميثالن‪ :‬ثقافة الف�ساد‬