Goodbye Year of Spontaneity and Heroism.. Welcome Year of True Independence?
 Like an unplanned child, this past year came upon us. 2011 was conceived, carried and delivered exactly like an unplanned pregnancy with ups and downs, surprises and disappointments, hopes, wishes and desires. During the process some dreams were shattered or crushed while others came true. There is no denying that a lot was achieved during this historic year in many countries; but the real challenges have only now begun, and many new challenges will arise in the near and far future. Read more »
Iraq: Let The Aftershocks Begin
A Saddam-less, American-less Iraq comes face to face with its status as an independent republic. Iraq stands divided, broken, weakened, impoverished, and scrambled as a nation. Yet, Iraqis remain proud as individuals. Each Iraqi wants the best for his or her country. Each of them defining patriotism from their point of view. Their ethnic differences and violent clashes have been waged as unwelcoming neighborhoods, strong political disagreements, planted explosive devices and suicide bombings. Their sectarian division has deepened and gotten bloodier over the past years. It is now impossible to have a conversation about Iraq without the words Shiite, Sunni and Kurd being an integral part of it. It is also impossible to discuss any future of Iraq without factoring in the priorities of countries such as Iran, Turkey, Syria and Saudi Arabia. Read more »
Social Media Changing Lives
Guest Blog By Ibrahim LahoudThe place, AUB Issam Fares Hall The date, December 16, 2011 The event, Social Media Collaborative Introduction keynote followed by the National Anthem. We all stand up. On the giant screen, one of the event posters appears. It is the one with Octavia Nasr’s photo from the CNN days. The message was about how Social Media can change a life. And there it struck me! Read more »
To Each A Season
As the end of the year looms, December brings reflection and Christmas or Holiday parties and celebrations. This time of year also brings commemoration and longing to those no longer with us, along with intentions, resolutions and plans for the brand new year ahead. Read more »
What Are We Afraid Of?
I find myself bombarded daily by people imposing their scare tactics on me as they try to sell me something. Products and services are for sale, ideologies too; and many are out there selling fear itself. Read more »Labels: Arab Spring, Islamists, Middle East
Lebanon: Rape, Murder and The Failure of The State
By Guest Blogger: Nadine Moawad
The attempted rape and murder of Myriam Achkar in Sahel Alma has angered and outraged all of us. Myriam’s story is tragic and brings us face to face with the cruelest, most heinous of crimes. We are frustrated and enraged because it is unjust that she dies like this. A young woman, 28, takes a 20-minute walk from her home in the suburbs and gets sexually attacked and then murdered by a man.
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