Lebanon’s Pride

Lebanese have probably the most perverse nationalism in the world. There are few people more delusional and grandiose than Lebanese. Whenever I think of Lebanese nationalism I remember what de Tocqueville once wrote: “All people appear glorious to themselves, but national pride does not manifest itself equally in all.”

Some people will proudly wave their flags and sing their anthem, others will go a step further and claim genetic superiority. Lebanese nationalists are the latter. This is a country where the media constantly reinforces the delusion that Lebanese are superior not just to their neighbors, but to all people by citing this or that Lebanese “achievement” as “proof”. Many Lebanese – particularly right-wing Christians – reject the very idea that they are Arab. They are Phoenicians, they claim. And the Phoenicians, they add, are part of Western civilization. These individuals often pretend that they do not even speak Arabic, but rather “Lebanese.” This mentality of extreme and destructive nationalism inflicts way too many in that so-called country.

Just as Lebanese nationalists like to praise the greatness of this or that “Lebanese” when such greatness is not to be found, they also celebrate their army when it is not worthy of even a casual thanks.

Many armies are weak, but they at least put up a fight against aggression. Georgia’s troops probably knew the Russian were going to overrun them, but they fought nonetheless. Nothing can be said for the Lebanese army. Israel has been violating Lebanese sovereignty and launching attacks against the country for decades, even before the PLO was established, and the Lebanese army never once retaliated.

The army never once defended the country against anyone except defenseless Palestinian refugees. Israel routinely kills Lebanese in south Lebanon till this day and crosses into the country, but the army does nothing. Israel occupied the country for 18 years, but it was the militia Hezbollah and not the army that forced the Israelis to withdraw. The joke of the Lebanese army is that it was known for serving tea and hospitality during the occupation. This reputation was once again on display in the 2006 Israeli war against Lebanon.

The army will put up a brave fight against Palestinian refugees, but it does not issue even a verbal protest against the Usurping Entity’s violence.

All this makes the recent display of army pride all the more laughable. In an army anniversary celebration, the cowards rank-and-file danced and even bit the head of a snake {in Arabic culture runs the expression that “he is so tough he bites the heads of snakes”). Buffoons, all of them:

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Is this supposed to impress anyone? Is this supposed to make us believe these are real men who let their country’s honor to be violated by the Temporary Zionist State?

And here’s a bag for those idiot Lebanese nationalists who like to delude themselves:

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