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Since Sunday, a salvo of insults has been directed at William Noun. A full-scale electronic army has been unleashed to attack him, belittle his cause and accuse him of political subservience, exploiting the blood of martyrs and even treason.
If not for some modicum of decency, these haters would have gone as far as accusing Noun of orchestrating the port explosion and assassinating Fouad Shokr and maybe even Ismail Haniyeh in the heart of Tehran.
Furthermore, they would have most likely blamed William for the economic crisis and for bringing on the COVID-19 pandemic. In hindsight, they would have even held him responsible for the May 7 events. Who knows, if it weren’t for him, maybe Rafic Hariri would still be alive and Lebanon wouldn’t have lost all the martyrs of March 14!
William Noun should be blamed for all the above!
This young man in his twenties, who up until August 4, 2020, led a normal life—socializing with friends, goofing around with family, spending evenings in bars, enjoying a few drinks and laughing heartily—relied on his brother, knowing he had a steady support in his life named Joe.
He feared nothing, and nothing could silence his laughter! That was true until August 4—specifically until the Beirut port explosion. In an instant, his main pillar was shattered, his laughter turned into silent tears, and the drink that once brought joy became a balm for the pain!
William Noun, the young man who buried half of himself along with his brother on August 4, still strives to live while clinging to the truth and justice, directing his efforts at those who have obstructed and continue to obstruct the investigation!
However, some Lebanese see William as more than just an innocent victim of the explosion. Rather, he is viewed as someone deserving of stoning, or even death. How dare he seek justice for his brother? How dare he challenge Hassan Nasrallah, accuse him of hating Beirut and bring up May 7? If only May 7…
William Noun triggered the supporters of the Shiite Amal-Hezbollah duo, leading them to launch a torrent of insults and attacks on their social media platforms. But what exactly fueled this uproar? Why does the mention of May 7 provoke such a fierce reaction from this specific audience? Isn’t that their day of glory? Didn’t Hassan Nasrallah himself hail it as a significant victory? Aren’t they the same people who commemorate May 7 with gloating, vindictiveness and mockery of their invasion of Beirut and its residents?
William Noun was not wrong; he merely pointed out what they are doing. He confronted them with their own truth, even though such confrontation was unnecessary! The truth is clear: there are indeed those who hate Beirut, and perhaps even Lebanon as a state and an independent entity.
They despise it as a state that does not fall under the Iranian rule of Wilāyat al-Faqīh, a state that does not wish to be part of Iran and its concepts and ideology!
There are simply those who do not perceive Lebanon as a homeland, but rather as an extension of an ideology they adhere to! How can they love a homeland they do not even recognize as such? How can they care for a capital they refuse to embrace?
