Stability fears are just the tip of the iceberg
This week has constituted a painful deja vu for many people who love this country but
retain vivid and painful memories of the bad old days. Two violent deaths with political
overtones have done much to undermine the image of stability that Lebanon has sought to
construct for itself in order to fully rejoin the community of nations. As detrimental as
the security situation is to both the national psyche and the confidence of potential
investors and tourists abroad, however, the more pertinent issue is the environment in
which the incidents occurred: The economy is in terrible shape, and the level of political
discourse is disturbingly low.
There are no quick fixes that can enable the country to dispel fears about its stability,
especially when the entire region is engulfed in tension and when more powerful neighbors
have eminently more capacity than we do to influence events. In addition, some people will
always be outlaws: They will continue to commit crimes without regard to either public
safety or national security. Criminals exist in every country, and while measures can be
instituted to dampen the effects of their nefarious activities, no society has ever rid
itself of them entirely.
It is important to recognize, however, that a great many things are completely within the
Lebanese government’s purview and ability. That which burdens people from one end of
the country to the other is a package of concerns, and most of them can be soothed if only
a few decisive steps can be taken. The killings of Ramzi Irani and Jihad Jibril have not
helped matters, but nor have they taken place in a vacuum. The national mood has been
under siege for months by a deep sense of foreboding engendered by economic malaise and
political dysfunction. The way to improve the nation’s self-confidence therefore has
far less to do with punishing a few murderers (although that would certainly help) than it
does with providing society with evidence that things can and will get better.
The state must not be alone in this endeavor. Government institutions must be at the
forefront of a new and more productive approach, but all participants in the political
realm have to do their part by adhering to higher standards of behavior and performance.
Every party, group, movement, faction, gathering and front has an obligation to serve the
long-term national interest before their own short-term goals. Be they allies or critics
of the government, all politicians should realize that while certain forms of rhetoric are
beneficial to the causes of reform, recovery, and reconciliation, many are not. The verbal
garbage that passes for debate in many quarters serves only to fill the air with noise
that prevents rational points from being heard: Disagreeing with the state does not make
one an Israeli agent.
Lebanon’s people and government alike have much work to do if future generations are
to have a decent chance at normal lives in their own country. This cannot be accomplished,
however, so long as even the most senior officials routinely engage in squabbles that
belong in a school yard. No one likes to use the word “shame,” but unless
Lebanese politicians acquire some very quickly, angering or embarrassing them will be the
least of our worries.
Copyright © The Daily Star |
