12.30pm Tuesday November 22nd
we turn on the radio, the news jingle on the channel is the same as 20 years earlier when we clung to the tune announcing the low-down on how many days saw us staying in the shelters.
Crowds gathered out on the streets to see what the loud sounds of the military air force parade on Independence Day were all about.
They guessed right, Israeli planes zigzagged in a November sky, breaking the sound wall for a celebratory popper on this holiday.
The spontaneous gathering swelled into a mass by noon and the Ministry of Justice on Badaro was the first institution to see a mob now assembled in protest. Most are young, discernably lots of street peddlers amongst them, delivery guys, shoe shiners, child flower sellers…Not just those fresh with notions from university books in their mind, but also those with only a sense of hunger for better possible things. Those who are 40% of the population below the poverty belt, living on less than 300 dollars a month. Asked what they’re doing here “it all starts here, the structure on which the system is based is corrupt”
Theater to the deep seated rivalry of those in government sanayeh sees the mob marching towards the ministry of interior: March 14 and March 8 forces are targeted representing the government’s guard dogs: Internal security forces ISF and the General directorate of General Security, symbols of political, sectarian influence and corruption.
Down with the ISF intelligence office, the system’s tentacles and spy body made legal. Khadarji grocers and Arguileh charcoal delivery guys are seen gathered there, ready to hurl stacks of merchandise in Muntathir al-Zaidi fashion.
More acts of civil disobedience spreading to parts of the capital are recorded through the day: At the airport: entrance to a country the government seems to only be proud is replete with uncrowned wonders like Jeita ans plastic surgery. A huge demonstration locks up the arrivals and departures roadways “Lebanon as an amusement club for the Gulf” “middle eastern spies no more” “Real estate whore for oil money” banners read quickly handwritten.
The Ministry for Administrative Reform has been also vested with standers-by: For being a farce since the war ended and testing the people’s patience with its officially proclaimed mission “Lebanon will be a civil society respectful of the rule of law, formal and informal, promoting equality of opportunity.” A ministry with 20 years of epic trials and failures born to mend the wounds of a 230000 civilians killed, a quarter million emigrating, and 25 billion dollars of loss in infrastructure. Slogans there carry one word “Shukran”
As dusk fell on the city, the gatherers were seen walking to Beirut central district or Solidere. Graffitti sprayed the old Beirut city heart where even singing in public is now reprimanded by army guards. The new motto flags with “Solidere, places for life” were taken down and carried up scribbled with dollar signs and “Solidere, lives on sale” instead.
There was something peculiar about the crowd though, filmed from far on tv it seemed like an array of smaller people, when the lens got closer it revealed a horde of kids, chanting in chorus the places they came from “Ouzai, Dahyeh, Nabaa, Burj el Barjneh, Hay el Sellom…!!!!” the poorest most neglected parts of town.
Every store closed shop quickly that evening, except for an ice cream parlor, a beacon in the night for things that might come to light someday maybe, for a kid living here on independence day.
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