Post by Janjoon-Lebanese on Feb 7, 2007 13:43:29 GMT -5
Talking politics is banned in Lebanon
07-02-07 06:42
BY: AP
Beirut store owners are trying a new way to lower the sectarian tensions that have erupted into street violence: Putting up signs banning any political talk in their shops.
It's one of the ways Lebanese are coping with the standoff between pro- and anti-government camps.
It's better without politics," reads the red and white sticker at the entrance of a pub on the restaurant- and bar-filled Gemayzeh Street in the Christian sector of Beirut.
At a posh gym across town, a sign reminds clients: "This is a place for sports so please refrain from expressing political opinions." And on the dashboard of a taxi cab, yellow sticky notes try to ban talk of politics.
The signs, which began as scattered individual initiatives, have caught on, particularly after a political spat in the cafeteria of the Beirut Arab University on Jan. 25 turned into street riots that killed four people, the worst outbreak of sectarian violence since the 1975-90 civil war.
I have customers from all religions and sects, I can't afford to have them fight with each other," said Oussama Mansour, a 31-year-old grocer in a Muslim neighborhood who put up a sign asking customers to "Please refrain from discussing politics and religion."
He said he has had the sign in his shop since former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri's assassination two years ago, but recently added the word "religion" to it.
You start talking with someone and they immediately want to know who and what are you: pro- or anti-government, Christian or Muslim, Sunni or Shiite. It's become disgusting," Mansour said.
Politics is a national pastime for Lebanese, and the country has long been a battleground where regional and international conflicts are played out. The topic inevitably arises when people meet, making for animated discussions.
But it has become explosive since the Hezbollah-led opposition launched its campaign of protests and sit-ins in Beirut on Dec. 1 seeking to topple the U.S.-backed government. Prime Minister Fouad Siniora has stood firm against the Iranian-backed Hezbollah's demand for effective veto power in the Cabinet for it and its allies.
In Beirut's religiously mixed Mazraa commercial district, almost every shop now has a sign banning all talk of politics.
"It's not just for the customers; it's a reminder for us, too," said Ahmed Baasiri, a jewelry shop owner. He said businesses in the area made a collective decision last week to post the signs and take down political slogans and pictures of politicians.
Samia Omeirat, a 48-year-old shopper, thinks it's a great idea.
"These days, the less you talk the better. It's simply too dangerous. These signs should be put up everywhere," she said.
Zuheir Shukur, president of the state-run Lebanese University, on Monday urged students to keep politics off campus.
You can talk politics _ in a decent way. More than this is forbidden," he told prospective students during a campus tour.
Advertisements attacking politicians from opposing camps that are broadcast by privately owned TV stations have also fueled sectarian tensions, and even politicized Lebanese are saying enough is enough. Political disputes have caused trouble within households, leading many families to ban political discussions.
Charles Harb, a social psychology professor at the American University of Beirut, sees the ban on politics as a good way to try to avoid emotional reactions. But he also considers it a form of "avoidance" that does not necessarily help resolve conflict.
"But we have a very serious polarization in our society and, as in all kinds of society, you have people that do not want to be lumped in one group or another and these will want to create some sort of space for themselves," he said.
One such effort is the newly established "March 11 grouping," which claims to be trying to bridge the gap between the anti-Syria, pro-government camp known as March 14, and the pro-Syria, anti-government camp known as March 8. The names are derived from mass demonstrations that the factions held in 2005 after Hariri's assassination.
March 11 is urging supporters of the two factions to meet halfway. Noura Zaayter, a group spokeswoman, said the group plans a series of "peaceful activities" beginning later this month aimed at encouraging moderation. But holding demonstrations is not a goal.
The last thing we want to do is create a third street here," Zaayter said.
Picture: A Lebanese boutique owner puts up a sign "Don't talk about politics!" in his shop window in Beirut, Lebanon Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2007. Using the sign, Lebanese shop owners promote a campaign banning political discussion inside their stores after sectarian tensions running high in the country and political talk could quickly degenerate into street violence.
07-02-07 06:42
BY: AP
Beirut store owners are trying a new way to lower the sectarian tensions that have erupted into street violence: Putting up signs banning any political talk in their shops.
It's one of the ways Lebanese are coping with the standoff between pro- and anti-government camps.
It's better without politics," reads the red and white sticker at the entrance of a pub on the restaurant- and bar-filled Gemayzeh Street in the Christian sector of Beirut.
At a posh gym across town, a sign reminds clients: "This is a place for sports so please refrain from expressing political opinions." And on the dashboard of a taxi cab, yellow sticky notes try to ban talk of politics.
The signs, which began as scattered individual initiatives, have caught on, particularly after a political spat in the cafeteria of the Beirut Arab University on Jan. 25 turned into street riots that killed four people, the worst outbreak of sectarian violence since the 1975-90 civil war.
I have customers from all religions and sects, I can't afford to have them fight with each other," said Oussama Mansour, a 31-year-old grocer in a Muslim neighborhood who put up a sign asking customers to "Please refrain from discussing politics and religion."
He said he has had the sign in his shop since former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri's assassination two years ago, but recently added the word "religion" to it.
You start talking with someone and they immediately want to know who and what are you: pro- or anti-government, Christian or Muslim, Sunni or Shiite. It's become disgusting," Mansour said.
Politics is a national pastime for Lebanese, and the country has long been a battleground where regional and international conflicts are played out. The topic inevitably arises when people meet, making for animated discussions.
But it has become explosive since the Hezbollah-led opposition launched its campaign of protests and sit-ins in Beirut on Dec. 1 seeking to topple the U.S.-backed government. Prime Minister Fouad Siniora has stood firm against the Iranian-backed Hezbollah's demand for effective veto power in the Cabinet for it and its allies.
In Beirut's religiously mixed Mazraa commercial district, almost every shop now has a sign banning all talk of politics.
"It's not just for the customers; it's a reminder for us, too," said Ahmed Baasiri, a jewelry shop owner. He said businesses in the area made a collective decision last week to post the signs and take down political slogans and pictures of politicians.
Samia Omeirat, a 48-year-old shopper, thinks it's a great idea.
"These days, the less you talk the better. It's simply too dangerous. These signs should be put up everywhere," she said.
Zuheir Shukur, president of the state-run Lebanese University, on Monday urged students to keep politics off campus.
You can talk politics _ in a decent way. More than this is forbidden," he told prospective students during a campus tour.
Advertisements attacking politicians from opposing camps that are broadcast by privately owned TV stations have also fueled sectarian tensions, and even politicized Lebanese are saying enough is enough. Political disputes have caused trouble within households, leading many families to ban political discussions.
Charles Harb, a social psychology professor at the American University of Beirut, sees the ban on politics as a good way to try to avoid emotional reactions. But he also considers it a form of "avoidance" that does not necessarily help resolve conflict.
"But we have a very serious polarization in our society and, as in all kinds of society, you have people that do not want to be lumped in one group or another and these will want to create some sort of space for themselves," he said.
One such effort is the newly established "March 11 grouping," which claims to be trying to bridge the gap between the anti-Syria, pro-government camp known as March 14, and the pro-Syria, anti-government camp known as March 8. The names are derived from mass demonstrations that the factions held in 2005 after Hariri's assassination.
March 11 is urging supporters of the two factions to meet halfway. Noura Zaayter, a group spokeswoman, said the group plans a series of "peaceful activities" beginning later this month aimed at encouraging moderation. But holding demonstrations is not a goal.
The last thing we want to do is create a third street here," Zaayter said.
Picture: A Lebanese boutique owner puts up a sign "Don't talk about politics!" in his shop window in Beirut, Lebanon Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2007. Using the sign, Lebanese shop owners promote a campaign banning political discussion inside their stores after sectarian tensions running high in the country and political talk could quickly degenerate into street violence.
