Standard of political rhetoric in Lebanon is in decline

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In recent years, there have been many complaints that the standard of political rhetoric in Lebanon has been in decline.

This phenomenon has taken place on a few different levels. On many occasions, one hears a generic type of foul language, or very insulting words and terms, tossed around by politicians. Another complaint has been the increasing resort to accusations that a politician from either camp A or B is guilty of treason – people become uneasy when they hear the term “foreign agent” tossed around without any serious attempt to show that this is actually the case.

But then there is the recent incident involving May Chidiac, the former, long-time news presenter with LBC. The rumor mill has it that Chidiac, a staunch member of the March 14 movement, will make a run for Parliament next year in Kesrouan. There are two images that have been making their way around social media. In one, Chidiac is seen delivering a speech, and the caption says that her supposed candidacy would violate the Constitution, because Kesrouan is allocated five seats in Parliament, and not four-and-a-half.

If anyone needs reminding, another photo shows that Chidiac is a double amputee.

It is an unprecedented type of viciousness that has emerged, and the source would appear to be Internet sites that are followers of the Free Patriotic Movement of Michel Aoun.

In the past, and particularly before the Civil War, Lebanon had a host of colorful politicians – Camille Chamoun, Saeb Salam, Kamal Jumblatt and a host of others – who would regularly engage in verbal pyrotechnics with each other.

But in general, watching and listening to them battle with each other was a pleasurable experience. Some of these giants were no stranger to foul language, but they had the self-control, most of the time, to keep such expressions private.

In the Chidiac incident, Aoun himself might not have been the person behind the posts, but he is the person who sets the example. He has a history of resorting to the kind of vulgar rhetoric and vicious personal attacks on anyone who dares to disagree with him; this encourages his followers to do the same, and they end up mocking a person’s physical disability. Instead of respecting a person who has been subjected to an assassination attempt because of her political affiliation, there is the spectacle of actually taunting Chidiac because of the price she paid.

One is fully free to disagree with her, and engage in a heated argument with her, provided that the issue at hand is a political stance, or significant opinion.

The posts are something that stains the entire political class, as well as the country’s reputation. Lebanon is already suffering enough from its entrenched racism to see this kind of behavior.

The entire political class should act immediately to ensure that such methods of political attack are off-limits. As for the FPM, it should hold accountable those individuals involved who occupy certain official positions, and issue the kind of denunciation that ensures it won’t happen again.

The Daily star

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31 responses to “Standard of political rhetoric in Lebanon is in decline”

  1. Patience2 Avatar

    Well, we all know about the difficulty in distinguishing between the open mouth of M. Aoun and an open manhole cover.  You can’t use odor, they are both the same.

    1. yahootizi Avatar

      we dont

    2. yahootizi Avatar

      when you arrive at patience palace it is wrtiiten: ENTER FROM BEHIND

    3. yahootizi Avatar

      i have difficulties in distinguishing between you and a hmar; manay hamir are much more capable than  your prestation

    4. yahootizi Avatar

      a good advice: try biofeedback; many women after delivery are helped by biofeedback; they open their bowels more easily; we got the impression something is going to get out from you yet you are stuck. Oh it is easy; try to insert a big sponge in the place where the sun does not shine and push downwards; i bet your intelligence will pour down

      1. patriotss Avatar

        does your name refer to your a hole because i see it everywhere and
        i hope that you are charging people for it 

        y is it that you know so much about a holes and bowels 
        do you have problems

        i hope that your dad didn’t say that when you were born    

        YAHOOTIZI
           

        1. 5thDrawer Avatar

          He was having a bum day….

        2. NAYYASHME3RAB Avatar
          NAYYASHME3RAB

          nope it is because i am a yahoodologist

  2. Patience2 Avatar

    Well, we all know about the difficulty in distinguishing between the open mouth of M. Aoun and an open manhole cover.  You can’t use odor, they are both the same.

    1. yahootizi Avatar

      we dont

    2. yahootizi Avatar

      when you arrive at patience palace it is wrtiiten: ENTER FROM BEHIND

    3. yahootizi Avatar

      i have difficulties in distinguishing between you and a hmar; manay hamir are much more capable than  your prestation

    4. yahootizi Avatar

      a good advice: try biofeedback; many women after delivery are helped by biofeedback; they open their bowels more easily; we got the impression something is going to get out from you yet you are stuck. Oh it is easy; try to insert a big sponge in the place where the sun does not shine and push downwards; i bet your intelligence will pour down

      1. patriotss Avatar

        does your name refer to your a hole because i see it everywhere and
        i hope that you are charging people for it 

        y is it that you know so much about a holes and bowels 
        do you have problems

        i hope that your dad didn’t say that when you were born    

        YAHOOTIZI
           

        1. 5thDrawer Avatar

          He was having a bum day….

        2. 5thDrawer Avatar

          He was having a bum day….

        3. NAYYASHME3RAB Avatar
          NAYYASHME3RAB

          nope it is because i am a yahoodologist

  3. 5thDrawer Avatar

    “…. already suffering enough from its entrenched racism …”
    Often described as ‘religious’ stances, the belief that women can’t function except in a kitchen is the same as the racism.
    Generally speaking, in most if not all of the world, people have forgotten they are supposed to be voting for a brain, not the appearance on a video tube. But it is too much effort to find out how someone actually thinks – especially amidst all the propaganda and innuendo floating around – and the ‘masses’ don’t really care that much to take the time to find out; or to think themselves about how what a politician says he or she would do if elected could affect the rest of their little lives. If they have enough bread and a roof and clothes, they are happy with ‘now’, and little regard ‘future’. (Beyond getting the kids out of it.)
    Bastardly rhetoric is for the ‘headlines’ and ‘sound bites’ and suits ‘the opposition’ – especially when the opposition has nothing positive to contribute to the future and the grandchildren.

    1. NAYYASHME3RAB Avatar
      NAYYASHME3RAB

      attention for you bum; it seems very vulnerable

  4. Hannibal Avatar

    The same standard embellish many of the posts in here… He He… You could say it is kinda a mirror image.

    1. 5thDrawer Avatar

      True enough Hannibal. 😉  Hmmmm … maybe it’s only in the genes after all.  :-)))

    2. NAYYASHME3RAB Avatar
      NAYYASHME3RAB

      i would replace standard by icones or rather lights; many lights in this blog; 5thdrawer is most shining

  5. 5thDrawer Avatar

    “…. already suffering enough from its entrenched racism …”
    Often described as ‘religious’ stances, the belief that women can’t function except in a kitchen is the same as the racism.
    Generally speaking, in most if not all of the world, people have forgotten they are supposed to be voting for a brain, not the appearance on a video tube. But it is too much effort to find out how someone actually thinks – especially amidst all the propaganda and innuendo floating around – and the ‘masses’ don’t really care that much to take the time to find out; or to think themselves about how what a politician says he or she would do if elected could affect the rest of their little lives. If they have enough bread and a roof and clothes, they are happy with ‘now’, and little regard ‘future’. (Beyond getting the kids out of it.)
    Bastardly rhetoric is for the ‘headlines’ and ‘sound bites’ and suits ‘the opposition’ – especially when the opposition has nothing positive to contribute to the future and the grandchildren.

    1. NAYYASHME3RAB Avatar
      NAYYASHME3RAB

      attention for you bum; it seems very vulnerable

  6. Hannibal Avatar

    The same standard embellish many of the posts in here… He He… You could say it is kinda a mirror image.

    1. 5thDrawer Avatar

      True enough Hannibal. 😉  Hmmmm … maybe it’s only in the genes after all.  :-)))

    2. NAYYASHME3RAB Avatar
      NAYYASHME3RAB

      i would replace standard by icones or rather lights; many lights in this blog; 5thdrawer is most shining

  7. Fauzia45 Avatar

    People who lose their temper,start insulting and use inappropriate language ;strong,bitter,etc words  do not show a strong cause!They just react

  8. Fauzia45 Avatar

    People who lose their temper,start insulting and use inappropriate language ;strong,bitter,etc words  do not show a strong cause!They just react

  9. Fauzia45 Avatar

    and rarely accept the other side!People have to learn to accept others and not impose their views or beliefs on others!!!They must respect each other !Voltaire said, ¨I do not agree with what you have to say,but I ll defend to death your right to say it ¨!!

  10. Fauzia45 Avatar

    and rarely accept the other side!People have to learn to accept others and not impose their views or beliefs on others!!!They must respect each other !Voltaire said, ¨I do not agree with what you have to say,but I ll defend to death your right to say it ¨!!

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