Resistance is not possible in weakness.
Resistance is not possible in weakness, as Mr. Alam al-Hoda mentioned, Lebanon was once the bride of the Middle East, known as the center of luxury and enjoyment for Arab countries. But today, that Lebanon has transformed into the focal point of Muslims’ hopes and aspirations, a symbol of religion, selflessness, and sacrifice in the path of God. It has been asked if the people of Lebanon did not have a religious inclination and did not sacrifice and resist in the way of God, would they still be trampled in blood and dust?
These points, of course, require some explanations. There is no doubt that what Israel is doing to the Lebanese is a crime. However, since they have brought up the issue of the Middle East bride, it is not a bad idea to review the history of Lebanon, which was once called the Paris of the Middle East, to understand how Lebanon has reached its current state. The bride of the Middle East has electricity for only three hours a day, and of course, the joy has also disappeared from the lives of the Lebanese people.
Lebanon was a mosaic of different religions, ethnicities, and cultures. When these colors interacted based on peace, tolerance, and justice, prioritizing national interests while embracing differences, Lebanon progressed and became a beacon among Arab countries, a nation with cultural freedoms and a balance of political powers. Its economy flourished, especially relying on tourists who, not only visited Lebanon for leisure but also traveled worldwide, not necessarily all indulgent and carefree, contributing to its development.
It had educated people with reputable universities and international festivals. It was a gathering place for intellectuals, architects, and artists, where one could see Muslims, Christians, Jews, Druze, Buddhists, Hindus living together based on both Western and Eastern Arab traditions. However, the roots of Lebanon’s current struggles must be sought in the day when this model of tolerance and diversity gave way to devastating internal wars that erupted among major ethnic and religious groups, leading to the killing of 120,000 people and the emigration of one million from the country between 1975 and 1990.
In the midst of this civil war, Israel seized the opportunity to attack Lebanon under the pretext of confronting the PLO and Palestinian residents of Lebanon who were also involved in these internal conflicts. Today, historians may find it interesting to identify the main culprit of this internal tragedy, but I doubt that for the people whose lives have been destroyed, such an investigation would be appealing. They mourn the missed opportunities and lost happy days, realizing that if it weren’t for this civil war, today would have been different for the Lebanese people.
Of course, since the 1990s, the Lebanese have tried to stand up again, but who doesn’t know how difficult reconstruction and reform is, especially when human blood is shed. In the past five years, Lebanon’s situation has deteriorated again. The 2019 economic crisis is estimated to be one of the worst economic collapses in the past two centuries.
Here, the main internal problem lies in the enmity towards the failed Lebanese government, which is one step away from a collapsed state like Yemen, and with inefficiency and chronic corruption, it has inflicted a national frustration. Failing to provide 80% of the people’s basic needs has pushed them below the poverty line. When the indicators of power in a country are so weak, the resistance that Mr. Al-Mahdi is considering will also suffer deficiencies.
In today’s world, the foundation of resistance lies in power, not the other way around. If you show weakness, your circumstances will change. Different indicators of power have been taken into account, from soft cultural and diplomatic power to hard military and economic power. All of these aspects must be considered together, especially for us Iranians. Government studies indicate that the government in Iran is in a weak position and there is a short bridge between a weak government and a collapsed government, like Iraq’s collapsing government.
Mr. Alamalhoda asked if the people of Lebanon did not have a religious inclination, would they still be shedding blood and fighting? I do not know the exact answer to this question, but I am sure that in the internal wars of the Bedouins, they did not stand together. However, if Lebanon was a powerful and wealthy country, its elites would act based on national consensus and serve national interests, and its people would be prosperous and happy. Israel would not dare to look left with such interpretations. In Mr. Alamalhoda’s place, I would do my best to transform the government into a government of physicians.
