Day 1 - August 31rd 2008

My sons slept at my parent's house while I slept at my friend's place after a night full of planing and meditation on the further steps to be taken after my return from this experience. The beauty of running is knowing that there are people who believe in you as much as you believe in them. Although among my friends there are women equally as men, trust and support were a hegemony over the working atmosphere beyond genderism, envy or destructive criticism. I felt power and energy before going to bed. The race will begin soon, doubts on whether I will make evaporated in the sky of dreams toward a better Lebanon free from feudalism, tribalism, racism, xenophobia and especially war. Peace is required, it will boost the economy, secure families, elevate the life quality and increase satisfaction.

I stood up early in the morning to go see the kids before I depart at noon. Then I headed to the airport accompanied of a friend and major staff key of my campaign. After my checking in in the first class with Air France I headed to the gate immediately to join the airplane. There I met S. she was a nice woman, full of energy. We sat in the airplane all 3 heading to the USA via France.
The first class was a real pleasure, I had trepassed in the lat 20 years every yearning toward luxury and overcome the peak of Maslow's hierarchy, all theories of needs did not apply anymore to me, I just wanted to offer myself to the people, the Lebanese people. Of course I am not a Mother Teresa nor a Mahatma Gandhi, but I longed no more of anything, though I enjoyed the first class trip, especially the smooth socks which I took with me as a souvenir.

Did you know that Hummus in Tahine is offered beside Caviar and Salmon as a delicatesse in the first class? The Champagne drunk my soul and the flight went quickly lost between exchanging with S. and all my dreams about the USA, running, the people and the energy required.

Landed in France S. and I headed to the Hotel Novotel, a cold unfriendly place. However it was for one night and I dropped my plans to go visit Paris which was far from the Hotel. I needed my energy for tomorrow's 9 hours flight to the USA. After a friendly evening with S. Although I was excited about the trip's agenda and seeing my daughter I was worried because I didn't have a life insurance in case something happens to me however tired as I was I slept like a baby in the big bed praying that God would bless my country and my family and bring me back safely.

Pre-History

Pre-history

Due to my political engagement driven by an intense love toward the country with all its paradigms I landed one day on a brunch table with politically betrothed women. There I met “Myrna”. She was extremely articulate, intelligent, young and dynamic. We exchanged on fund raising for running candidates and on the possibility to help women run in the parliamentary elections in Lebanon. Sunk between the exquisite foods on that table, the presence of two ambassadors as role models for successful women in political life, Myrna and the others, I decided to give it a shot and run as “the candidate for change” in Lebanon’s elections Spring 2009. “Give it a shot” is a real challenge for “someone” to run as a candidate in Lebanon with the worse pre-conditions; (1) No financial means, (2) Not backed by a political party; (3) Not coming from a feudal family; (4) Not conservative and traditional; (5) No compromise on principles; and more. The other face of the coin are pure advantages as I am not a feudal, nor a warlord, nor an extremist, nor an illiterate, nor would I bribe or threaten the citizens, just at the contrary I am an ardent “fighter” for human rights. And yes, unlike my political opponents I have a program based on socio-economic issues to improve the Lebanese individuals’ situation.

Lebanon’s Political Background

In Lebanon the political system is parliamentary, i.e. a National Assembly constituted out of 128 members (64 Muslims; 64 Christians) and an additional President (Shiite) and Vice president (Christian) represent the legislative system which passes bills and resolutions (PS: This is what it is supposed to do, reality is different, it has become the arena for electoral campaigns, battles, physical and verbal brutal exchanges). The Parliament has committees and delegations which study the bills before becoming laws and get submitted to the government currently formed out of 30 ministers (15 Christians; 15 Muslims) headed by a Sunni Prime Minister and a Christian Vice.

The government is the executive apparatus according to law but in reality each minister can perform within his own ministry in an autonomy. Constitutionally, the president has a strong and influential position. The president appoints the council of ministers and designates one of them to be prime minister. The president also has the authority to promulgate laws passed by the National Assembly, to issue supplementary regulations to ensure the execution of laws and to negotiate and ratify treaties. The president who is a Maronite has judicial power although the judicial system is independent in Lebanon based on the Napoleonic Code i.e. juries are not used in trials. The Lebanese court system has three levels--courts of first instance, courts of appeal, and the court of cassation. There also is a system of religious courts having jurisdiction on personal status matters within their own communities, i.e., rules on such matters as marriage, divorce and inheritance.

However the Christian communities are autonomous and do not receive salaries from the state like the Muslim communities. The Christian church believes in separation of politics and religion although it preserves its own culture within the pluralistic system.

Women in Lebanon

Women in Lebanon are obviously underrepresented except for a rarity - mostly inherited seats. Rafiq Hariri was an avant-gardes who appointed a female PM however women remain a complete minority in political life due to several reasons, mainly the cultural aspect in a masculist society but also because of lack of financial resources and her intention to secure her family and insure primary needs such as education and health in a system which does not really take care of its citizens. Lebanon is a free market (Although in reality it isn’t) which has public schools lacking level, and 1/10 are secured in social health.

Moreover people who are not from a political family (Such as Gemayel, Mouawad, Hariri, Aoun, Karameh, Frangieh, Solh, etc.) have few chances to contribute to political life. Hence women have less chances in such a combination.