Years ago, while at the American University of Beirut, I had the chance to be a member of the Student Representative Council. An honor which was given to me by the students themselves. Those that saw in me the person who could represent them the most.
A great experience indeed. One of those that boost your confidence. But surely one of those that freak you out. Knowing that you have to do your best to prove your initial intentions.
It starts with the simple fact that you need to challenge yourselves and the other nominees. Then comes the positive goal of making it into the Council. Then comes the work and the responsibilities. Then comes the politics and the headache.
Henry Kissinger once said that university politics are vicious precisely because the stakes are so small. Imagine that even such a high ranked politician spoke about this kind of politics. Then you could say to yourselves:
How crucial it is!
This subject came to my mind knowing that now it is election season around the universities based in Lebanon. While politicians are battling each other in their offices and on television, students are taking it to their university halls and classes. They want to prove that their leaders are there. Even around the smallest fields.
Who is going to win? Not the one who sticks to his beliefs and relies on the followers of his beliefs.
Take it from me. When I ran for a seat in the Student Representative Council of the American University of Beirut I had no beliefs. What I had was a program which only concerns the students in their university. And that is what elections should be all about.
But, I guess I was diplomatic enough to win votes from all around. Even from parties involved in historic conflicts. I remember the midnight calls I used to get from activists from all sides telling me that they were going to include me on their lists. Was it wrong to accept? Almost ten years later ... I don’t think so. I had been supported and elected by all parties. The ones with whom I share some beliefs and the ones with whom I share nothing at all.
But when does the headache hit? Later during the SRC meetings when those same parties are fighting over some new laws. Most of the time, a blank paper was there. Mine! Playing it safe to say that I’m with everyone and against no one, but I’m rather there for someone: for the students.
That wasn’t easy in practice. Not easy at all.
I fear that this might happen in my country on a bigger scale. The next President. Different parties are working on agreeing on one person for all. I assume this person will have, in a way, the same characteristics I had when I was still in university. But once elected, what will he do? Serve the people?
Unfortunately serving the people for one party is acting against the people for another.
Good luck,
Mr. President!
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
I'm On Earth
I have had my share of disappointments in this life. I have loved and lost. Like many of you out there. My OtherEnders.
And many other disappointments are yet to come. This makes me realize that some of what I have today is to be lost tomorrow. I am happy today but am to be disappointed tomorrow.
But still, I shouldn’t give up. I am to be happy again after tomorrow. Apparently that’s how it goes. Twenty nine years have taught me. A lot actually.
I guess life is like an economics theory. The simple rule of supply and demand applies to it. Some people demand happiness because their lives lack some of it and others supply happiness because they have so much of it. The two curves intersect at the equilibrium point where we stand today. Our social status. The only point that we share together. But which we can’t see.
I imagine myself in front of a beautiful sight. There are green mountains, calm rivers, flying birds and a clear blue sky. But I also see myself in this portrait. Then I realize that it’s just a mirror I’m looking at. I see my own reflection and this whole gorgeous sight behind it.
That could be my past. My yesterday. My today is not in the mirror. It’s what’s around me now. Which might not be as beautiful. But my tomorrow might be even more.
Let’s see.
Sometimes I guess my words make me sound serious and sucked by another parallel world. The reality is that I’m still the guy next door. The guy that likes to have many laughs. Many drinks and much other unhealthy stuff. The guy that likes to surround himself with funny people and that throws himself in weird situations. The guy that thinks the sky is blue because it’s blue and the sun is a ball of fire because it’s a ball of fire.
Some of you might say that the sun is a ball of fire created by God to give us light. I would still say that it’s a ball of fire. I see things as they are and never see things as “why they are”. Why go into deep thinking when deep thinking is not required. Why live your day with ten deep thoughts when you could survive just fine with three simple thoughts.
Don’t say I’m naïve. Say I’m on earth …
… not two feet above.
And many other disappointments are yet to come. This makes me realize that some of what I have today is to be lost tomorrow. I am happy today but am to be disappointed tomorrow.
But still, I shouldn’t give up. I am to be happy again after tomorrow. Apparently that’s how it goes. Twenty nine years have taught me. A lot actually.
I guess life is like an economics theory. The simple rule of supply and demand applies to it. Some people demand happiness because their lives lack some of it and others supply happiness because they have so much of it. The two curves intersect at the equilibrium point where we stand today. Our social status. The only point that we share together. But which we can’t see.
I imagine myself in front of a beautiful sight. There are green mountains, calm rivers, flying birds and a clear blue sky. But I also see myself in this portrait. Then I realize that it’s just a mirror I’m looking at. I see my own reflection and this whole gorgeous sight behind it.
That could be my past. My yesterday. My today is not in the mirror. It’s what’s around me now. Which might not be as beautiful. But my tomorrow might be even more.
Let’s see.
Sometimes I guess my words make me sound serious and sucked by another parallel world. The reality is that I’m still the guy next door. The guy that likes to have many laughs. Many drinks and much other unhealthy stuff. The guy that likes to surround himself with funny people and that throws himself in weird situations. The guy that thinks the sky is blue because it’s blue and the sun is a ball of fire because it’s a ball of fire.
Some of you might say that the sun is a ball of fire created by God to give us light. I would still say that it’s a ball of fire. I see things as they are and never see things as “why they are”. Why go into deep thinking when deep thinking is not required. Why live your day with ten deep thoughts when you could survive just fine with three simple thoughts.
Don’t say I’m naïve. Say I’m on earth …
… not two feet above.
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
Life Is Full Of ...
I’m out of musings these days but never out of words. As long as I see sunrises, I will make sure to write. The day sunrises shall disappear from my sight on earth, I shall probably see them from Heaven and shall make sure to send you some words from up there.
And that’s a promise. All you’ll have to do is focus. Focus on what I might send. It might be words, sounds, lights or you name it. Yes. I promise.
Sunrises will always be there. Is this a relief for you? I don’t think so. I assume you already know that.
But, will we be there? No. We will be gone and sunrises will always be there. So stop asking others if they saw today’s sunrise. Instead ask the sunrise if he saw them: on earth. Someday sunrise will see them: in Heaven. Still somewhere but not here. Somewhere nice probably. Yes probably. We like to assume so. And that’s a relief too.
There are things we cannot change. We have to adapt to the environment. Sometimes Love does not exist but rather Adaptation does. Ages ago, and still in lots of spots around the world, people used to get married without even seeing each other. They used to adapt to each other. But they rarely divorced. Divorce has been increasing with time. Time when people say that Love arises. People claim to be civilized by meeting each others in bars and clubs. Later they fall in love. Later they marry. And later they divorce.
Love is gone. But they claim it was there. They are civilized. Aren’t they?
Yes. There are things we cannot change. There are things I cannot change about myself. There are things I like and others I hate. There are people who make me love them and others who make me despise them. I never hate but I despise. They’ve pushed me to. It never was my intention.
Yes. I like cappuccino. But even a bad cup of coffee is better than no coffee at all.
Yes. I do appreciate beauty. Who doesn’t? But who does appreciate ugliness? Well. I do. I just think it’s the way you look at things that makes them beautiful or ugly. Therefore the ugly can be beautiful. It only depends on you. On how you want to see it.
My OtherEnders,
Life is a simple story, but not an easy one to tell. Like a fable, there is sorrow... and like a fable, it is full of …
… wonder and happiness.
And that’s a promise. All you’ll have to do is focus. Focus on what I might send. It might be words, sounds, lights or you name it. Yes. I promise.
Sunrises will always be there. Is this a relief for you? I don’t think so. I assume you already know that.
But, will we be there? No. We will be gone and sunrises will always be there. So stop asking others if they saw today’s sunrise. Instead ask the sunrise if he saw them: on earth. Someday sunrise will see them: in Heaven. Still somewhere but not here. Somewhere nice probably. Yes probably. We like to assume so. And that’s a relief too.
There are things we cannot change. We have to adapt to the environment. Sometimes Love does not exist but rather Adaptation does. Ages ago, and still in lots of spots around the world, people used to get married without even seeing each other. They used to adapt to each other. But they rarely divorced. Divorce has been increasing with time. Time when people say that Love arises. People claim to be civilized by meeting each others in bars and clubs. Later they fall in love. Later they marry. And later they divorce.
Love is gone. But they claim it was there. They are civilized. Aren’t they?
Yes. There are things we cannot change. There are things I cannot change about myself. There are things I like and others I hate. There are people who make me love them and others who make me despise them. I never hate but I despise. They’ve pushed me to. It never was my intention.
Yes. I like cappuccino. But even a bad cup of coffee is better than no coffee at all.
Yes. I do appreciate beauty. Who doesn’t? But who does appreciate ugliness? Well. I do. I just think it’s the way you look at things that makes them beautiful or ugly. Therefore the ugly can be beautiful. It only depends on you. On how you want to see it.
My OtherEnders,
Life is a simple story, but not an easy one to tell. Like a fable, there is sorrow... and like a fable, it is full of …
… wonder and happiness.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)