An angry woman speaks out.

At a lot of times, people ask me Why I support the uprising of women in the Arab world, claiming that women do have a lot of rights and are free, also saying that they are allowed to do everything a man is allowed to do, and now women are having the privilege of acquiring jobs of high positions.

I say such an answer is ignorant and is extremely far from what a woman really goes through in our Arab world.

I have not gained my right when I can do the same job as any other man, and yet I am paid less because I am woman.

When I cannot give my children my nationality, when I cannot travel with my children without their father’s consent, and when I have to take my husband’s permission before I speak, then I have nothing.

When my father controls whether I get education or not, when my father decides if I wear a veil or not, when my father determines when and who I get married to, then I have nothing.

When I am looked down upon if I am divorced, when I am rejected if I was smart, when I am silenced if I have an opinion, then I have nothing.

When I am forced to marry the man who raped me, when I am forced to consider myself guilty, when my society condemns me for being beautiful, then I have nothing.

When a man looks at me like a machine to be owned at home, when a man considers me a body for pleasure, when a man dares to raise his hand against my face, then I have nothing.

When my mother only wants to find me a groom, when my sister does not dare to fall in love, when my brother thinks he has the authority to control what I do, then I have nothing.

When I am denied the right to choose my career, when I am neglected in social conversations, and when my intellectual ability is ignored, then I have nothing.

I rebel against this world. I rebel against anyone who considers himself superior to me.

I rebel against the empty thoughts of sexism, and the uncivilized ideas of discrimination.

I rebel against my mother, father, sister, brother, husband, friend, teacher. I rebel against anyone who think I am not good enough.

I rebel against women who are silent and not aware of their rights. I rebel against the society, and how humans have become inhumane.

I rebel against religion, and against any thing people use as an excuse to make me feel less worthy.

I rebel against myself for once believing I was not good enough.

I rebel against the world. 

I am with the the uprising of women in the Arab world because I deserve to live.

Lebanese people asking; What’s next?

Perhaps you have heard a lot about the car bombing that targeted Head of Internal Security Forces branch Brigadier General Wissam al-Hassan, and I do not want to repeat what has already been said, yet I cannot stop myself from speaking about what happened.

19^th of October, marks as another important date among the Lebanese people. “What’s next?” is one of the questions you cannot but ask yourself as a Lebanese.

After the assassiniation of Prime Minister Rafic AlHariri in 2005, a series of bombing started, resulting in the assassination of different political and journalistic figures, but also causing the deaths of Lebanese people who have nothing to do with politics.

Lebanon still has a lot of instabilities, yet it was relieved and secure for two years, having perhaps individual conflicts and fights, but no actual bombings. Now the fear returns. Yesterday’s bombing might be the trigger for a series of unwanted events. The shed of blood that occurred yesterday, the lives that were lost, and the injuries that were recorded are simply devastating and scary.

Lebanese people have a way of coping that is sure. The bombing had just happened but people still went on to their lunches and dinners, to their evening gatherings and parties. A friend from the US was checking up on me, and she couldn’t understand how after such a bombing had taken place people were still going out and going on with their lives. For me, it was not very surprising, because I’m more acquainted to the Lebanese thinking and mentality.

The important issue here is the irony of a lot of things that happened yesterday. They are sad, but urgently need to be mentioned.

As in any other tragic event, politicians began to show up at the bombing area, and give out their opinions and condemning of the bombing. What was very catchy though, is that politicians rushed to tell the Lebanese people that “they” were alright, and that no political figure has been harmed in the bombing. That is for sure before they found out that al-Hassan had died. Allow me to use the word “rude”. I cannot find a better word to describe those self-centered politicians who actually thought that the Lebanese public would care if any political figure had been harmed, while there were 8 dead people, and body parts scattered all over the ground.

Yes, we are concerned about everybody’s safety. But seriously, what would a politician think that his safety is more important than the life of a 17-year old girl who was on her way home, or a child who was walking by his mother’s side?

Wissam al-Hassan, may you rest in peace. But seriously, Lebanese people were all shocked of the bombing and yet no one made a move about the 8 killed and about 100 injured, until they knew that al-Hassan had died. The followers of him and his allies, and I mean politically, rushed to cut the roads, and burn tires-something which seems to have become very popular in this country- trying to prove their point. They hated what happened, everyone did. But the only time they felt the urge to react is for al-Hassan, and not for the 8 others that had no guilt and just happened to be at the bombing place?

It’s an ironic situation, a sad truth. The Lebanese people have devoted themselves so much to their political leaders forgetting their own country and identity.

May all the killed rest in peace, and I wish for all the injured to heal perfectly. The physical injuries can heal with the help of doctors and expertise, yet the emotional harm can never be undone.

This country will never heal from its sectarian divisions, and it will never rise to be strong enough to fight on its own. Healing from the divisions and hatred that people have grown for each other has become impossible. And I can only say that these rages and unfortunate events are only serving the criminal’s purpose.

Whoever is trying to mess with Lebanese doesn’t care about any Lebanese of any sect or political devotion. They want to divide Lebanon and see his people stand in the faces of each other and raise their guns to each other’s chests. They want to see us, the new generation, re-live what our parents went through. They want a civil war, and sadly, that is what we are giving them.