Mountains, cradle of Revolution / December 10, a historic day in the life of Lebanon. Photos
By Samia A. Halaby
December 11, 2006. Cradled in the beautiful southern mountain of Lebanon, revolutionary impulse born of desparation created by ZioAmerican terror, has turned into feverish nationalism. Yesterday, Dec. 10, here in Beirut there gathered over a million people, perhaps two million, a historic first for Lebanon and possibly a historic percentage of any nation any one time anywhere.
It was a crowd in motion, literally. I watched the rivers of people weaving through the masses and the islands of those who stood still. Their shifting patterns, a natural motion, is a rare experience. Most people were very very happy. They were kind and generous and chatty. They were anxious to talk to anyone like me who looked somewhat out of place—white hair, wandering all over alone, camera in hand photographing, body and clothing language from across the ocean.
Someone bought me coffee and another gave me anise chewing gum. Any number of groups of family or friends would have adopted me. They wanted to explain Lebanon to me. Happy, generous, but determined, disciplined, and sure of good results.
Grass roots morality seems to surface and people are all anxious to explain that members of all religions are human. They also told me that Jews are also like us. We are all alike, they said, it is only leaders and government and mistaken beliefs that create trouble. God made all of us alike, they assured me.
One man came to me to show me a hand-lettered poster and requested that I photograph it. It was made by one of his relation and it beseeched Hariri’s son, a member of the Siniora group, to collaborate with them. The separation of church and state was being born and it was delicious to them, a road to a future, a new Lebanon of equality for the oppressed.
Most people are politicized and are glad to explain their view of the world, which most often includes belief in one god that they all share. They are anxious to explain so that others would know their good will. There is not an attempt to convert me to faith, only a desire to tell me that we are all alike no matter their or my religion and as they do so, they clearly are baffled about my religion – they can not type me, but they remain loving, assured, wanting me to believe them.
Someone explained to me that the Palestinian organizations were asked not to join so that the event would not be accused of being Palestinian and would remain Lebanese. Oh big big wolf Palestine! But Palestine was under consideration and the opposition leadership voiced wholehearted support. This individual further explained that the Siniora alliance now in power is offering citizenship to the Palestinians because it wants to make peace with Israel.
One has to admire the unbelievable logistical arrangements created by the opposition alliance and especially by Hezbollah. There were vans parked all over the square and on the bridges with sound equipment. Everyone could hear the speakers. At night, lights are turned on strong enough to illuminate the squares. Toilets are available in rows everywhere. A medical tent has been set up with doctors and emergency teams.
Security is amazing. It is not always easy to tell who is security but they reveal themselves when any need arises. They are always kind, polite, and respectful. They never say a hurtful word. Yesterday, they did their utmost to tone down the zealous youth without breaking their enthusiasm, beseeching them to be gentle, not to push, not to dash, to be careful of others.
Food is not a problem. Everyone brings food and offers it to those near them; and small vendors are everywhere selling fairly healthy food, like corn, beans, nuts, sesame bread, yogurt, water, and soda.
One man told us that Hezbollah tires their enemy with their patience. I have to admit they play their cards slowly saving surprises, keeping plans secret, and holding back on their strongest card – Sayed Hassan Nasrullah.
Yesterday, Dec. 10, for the historic gathering, four speakers were presented. One might have expected Nasrullah to speak but rather the second in command did. Another speaker was Michel Aoun, who is the second most popular leader of the opposition alliance.
Aoun calmly offered some serious suggestions to Siniora and company who are holding out in the government building next to the square. He told them that the offer of the opposition alliance to give them one-third-plus-one of the ministerial seats would end in three days. He also said that after three days, this offer will not be available and that the opposition would be demanding their complete removal, demanding an interim government and early elections.
Aoun also said that the people's patience is not endless and that there will be a moment where the barbed wire will not mean anything as the people will occupy the offices that belong to them.
After the amazing strength of the encampment and congregation in the heart of Beirut, the international bourgeoisie would surely be considering their options, considering how not to let the demands by the crowd outstrip demands made by the leadership.
After hearing Aoun, I took a guess that the U.S. would be thinking of how they can save the day by accepting the opposition and begin dividing, ruling, purchasing them one by one under the table. Today, Dec. 11, 2006, those holding out in the government building began negotiating.
Today, at approximately 5 p.m., I walked through the many tents at Shuhada and Solh Squares. The tents are increasing and people are camped out during the day sitting in circles, drumming, playing sheish-beish, smoking arguila, visiting, etc. And some are winterizing their tents, putting up plywood. There is no doubt that this is the beginning of something very very serious. They are not dragging themselves home just because there are negotiations. They are staying the course till they get results.
In this historic moment, this moment of motion and change for Lebanon, the Arab world, and worldwide, the potential for the masses to continue to working-class revolution is present but so too is the high potential for reprisal by imperialism. The Lebanese Communist Party is on the scene but weak while Communist Parties worldwide seem to be keeping their distance. One wonders what they are waiting for.
Photos and titles by Samia A. Halaby of Al-Awda
A view of one of the bridges overlooking Shuhada Square on December 10, 2006.
A close-up view of crowds and tents in Solh Square approximately one and a half hours before the speakers were expected to begin.
Some people doing the dabke in Shuhada square on the night of December 5, 2006, just before the candle light memorial for Ahmad Mahmoud who was killed by thugs on his way home from the great congregation of Beirut. The photograph of Ahmad Mahmoud is on the stage behind, lit up. This is not the main stage but rather the secondary one at Shuhada.
People dancing around candles planted in the soil with a flag and a picture of the martyre Ahmad Mahmoud. The picture of Ahmad Mahmoud is visible on the stage.
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