A courageous initiative, that of abolishing confessionalism in Lebanon. And the courage is made manifest, for the first time, by peaceable and law-abiding people taking to the streets, advocating a cause which is the most sensitive in Lebanon. Since the adoption of the first Lebanese Constitution in 1926.
Confessionalism has annihilated the evolution of the country and affected the ambition of its young people. Confessionalism has been the voter, the governor and the social director. Confessionalism has always been found innocent... and that is the most dangerous of its aspects... to such a point that it was once normal to say that the abolition of confessionalism in Lebanon was tantamount to abolishing Lebanon itself.
From the partition of 1842 to Taef... confessionalism has been confirmed and reinforced. And the emulation in radicalism was in its stances. The most confessionalist person was the person most welcome in the "club" of his confession. And what we have seen in the worst period of recent times does not minimise the Lebanese misery.
The Lebanese street was formerly a place in which one took pride. It was the "Arab street", and the "street of Man", in a certain proportion. The street of today appears to be such in the expression of the national and social conscience. It is the same street that denounced the imprisonment of the men of independence on November 10, 1943. The street which encouraged "the revolution of a million martyrs" in Algeria. The street that confronts the West over the cause of Palestine. The street that urges the state to attend to the concerns of its citizens such as medical care, education, adequate working conditions, old age pensions
At no time in the past has the abolition of confessionalism been the cause of a descent into the streets. Nor did people take to the streets in support of judges. The judiciary is an authority that the street has forgotten, not only in Lebanon but throughout the world. The judiciary deserves no demonstrations or strikes. But it has been taken over by the Executive power, which constantly seeks to embody all powers, even that of legislation, exercising its hegemony over Parliament in cases where it does not have the authority to govern by decree. The history of legislatures has not always been a glorious one. Cromwell manipulated the English Parliament. And the brother of Napoleon did the same with the Assembly so that his brother could carry out the coup d'état of the Eighteenth of Brumaire against the Directory set up after the French Revolution. The French Parliament of today remembers and submits. The Council of the Estates-General in the time of Louis XVI was acknowledged to be one of the most active and courageous Parliaments. It was this body in fact that was the revolution of 1789.
In Lebanon, the Parliament of 1943 assumed its responsibility. And after it, the Parliament of 1970 that elected Sleiman Franjié president of the Republic by a majority of a single vote. The Parliament of today has designated Najib Mikati after counting on itself... and on those on whom one can count.
The street has opened the dossier of confessionalism. But to succeed, the movement of the street requires a movement of legislation. For the abolition of confessionalism is not a slogan. It is faith in a state of mind which finds expression in laws. I am convinced that the speaker of Parliament is sincere in his aspirations. I am not afraid of the abolition of confessionalism. But there is a duty to take the leadership of a campaign to bring about change, and this duty is to carry on a dialogue with everyone so that the campaign is effective. In clearer terms, Christians fear the results of the abolition of confessionalism. What have we done to dispel these fears?
I would like to hear a leader of a community say: "I am in favor of the abolition of confessionalism. That is why I have begun with myself. When appointments are made in future, I will give up the functions that would be the share of my community in favor of competent persons who might belong to any community." If any leader said this, hope would be reborn.
Not only this: which of the three senior state officials is prepared to give up his seat to the Bani Maarouf, the Druzes who have vainly hoped that they might receive the speakership of an upper chamber of Parliament, a Senate, that might be created? Emile Lahoud appointed Jamil Sayyed, a Shiite, as director-general of Public Security. Will the Shiites restore this post to the Maronites who held it before? In the examinations given for candidates who wish to enroll in the security forces, the admission of Christians is facilitated because they have avoided the Gendarmerie, the Internal Security Forces, the Public Security and the Army.
The Arab world and the world beyond remains, like Lebanon, the world of confessionalism and sectarianism. The battle of Bahrain has not been without this distinction. And the wider Middle East is the field of sectarianism, from Tahrir Square to the Persian Gulf. Europe continues to study the dossier of Turkey. For Muslim Turkey is still not acknowledged to be capable of reconciling democracy with Islam. Israel speaks of equality between man and woman and passes in silence over the distinction between Ashkenazim and Sephardim. A Jewish sectarianism that divides the sons of a single religion.
No one is opposed to the Lebanese street calling for the abolition of confessionalism. Everyone expects that the Lebanese street will write a manifesto bringing Lebanon out of the pact of 1943... and of the pacts which preceded and followed it... From Sykes-Picot to Taef. This will be a correction of the Lebanese history... from 1841 to this day.
© Monday Morning 2011