Conspiracy Theories, a Lebanese’s Daily Bread
Johnny Kortbawi 2024-03-19 15:46 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
No people in the world believe in conspiracy theories like the Lebanese do. In Lebanon, there is an absolute passion for analyzing and painting scenarios, no matter how farfetched or utterly unrealistic they might be. Adherence to conspiracy theories is nothing new for the Lebanese people, who believe that all that occurs is the result of a ...
Miss Lebanon: More Than a Title
Johnny Kortbawi 2024-03-12 14:31 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
Lebanon has been abuzz since the crowning of its beauty queen, Yasmina Zaytoun, as the first runner-up in the Miss World competition; a crowning that goes beyond just a position. Indeed, she was also crowned Miss Asia, surpassing her competitors, including Miss India. Much ink has been spilled on this subject in recent days, given that it is the ...
A Lebanese-Signed Ramadan Drama
Johnny Kortbawi 2024-03-05 22:25 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
The measures implemented in various economic contexts resemble the plot of an intriguing Ramadan soap opera, but the unfolding events hint that all the protagonists will meet their demise. The most striking plot twist associated with the series is the writer's decision to increase salaries in the public sector. An undoubtably rightful measure ...
Saydet al-Najat and the Criminals of Peace
Johnny Kortbawi 2024-02-28 11:55 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
On February 27, 1994, Lebanon's societal taboos faded away. The explosion of Saydet al-Najat Church in Zouk shattered the equilibrium of reason and comprehension, leaving Christians engulfed in escalating fear and denial. For some Lebanese, the explosion of Saydet al-Najat Church was perceived as a crime perpetrated by the Lebanese Forces (LF), ...
Still Debating the Need for Prompt Municipal Elections?
Johnny Kortbawi 2024-02-21 14:27 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
The electoral process in Lebanon is adapting to challenging conditions, wherein securing any sort of election has become more of a privilege in light of the country’s political, economic and security situation. Municipal elections, slated for last year, were postponed due to the reluctance of influential governmental and parliamentary ...
She Is Majida El Roumi, They Are Cowards
Johnny Kortbawi 2024-02-13 15:47 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
It is not the first time that a campaign is organized against Majida El Roumi. Everyone thought that campaigns end at some point, but the fanbase of the "Resistance" seems to bore easily and did not miss out on the opportunity to lash out at a major art figure and one of Lebanon’s biggest cultural symbols. In context, the speech El Roumi made ...
Clearing Criminals in the Name of Collaboration
Johnny Kortbawi 2024-02-06 18:28 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
It is no secret that, in Lebanon, anyone who does not support the Axis of Resistance or Hezbollah is branded a “collaborator.” This has been common practice for years, since 2005. The threats made against MP Samy Gemayel, Lebanese Forces chief Samir Geagea and other anti-Hezbollah politicians are proof of this, and last year’s viral video ...
A Budget Tainted With Condescension!
Johnny Kortbawi 2024-01-30 12:40 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
The average Lebanese citizen used to earn a modest salary. For the sake of this story, let's assume that this income was a hundred Lebanese pounds. However, it’s important to clarify that here, the pound is a mere fictional currency, as in reality, a hundred lebanese pounds is not a typical salary in a country like Lebanon, where the pound ...
Into the Maelstrom of Political Shiism
Johnny Kortbawi 2024-01-23 16:45 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
History has shown that, in Lebanon, every era is dominated by a religious community or group, voluntarily or not. Before the war, political Maronitism was made manifest when the Maronites took over the State, taking advantage of the President’s considerable prerogatives to consolidate their position and better their status. They did not heed ...
Why Is Iran Upholding a Precarious Calm in Lebanon?
Johnny Kortbawi 2024-01-16 14:56 - Reading : 4 minute(s)
The Iranian poise and restraint prevailing on the Lebanese front may raise questions, especially given the recent escalation in the region following the Kerman attack. The Iranian Revolutionary Guard accused the groups behind the attack of having Israeli ties and undergoing training in northern Iraq, justifying the assault on Erbil. However, ...
The Historical Role of Christians
Johnny Kortbawi 2024-01-09 15:46 - Reading : 4 minute(s)
After the civil war, the declining number of Christians in Lebanon was cause for alarm not only in the country, but in the region too, knowing that Lebanon is the only Middle Eastern state to have a Christian president. Immigration and the impossibility for expatriates to reclaim their citizenship became a major hurdle as far as the protection of ...
‘Tis the Season to Be Mournful…
Johnny Kortbawi 2024-01-02 16:59 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
The Lebanese are plagued by a chronic disease, one that is rooted in childhood and education. The disease in question is the constant state of mourning and the expression of mourning on all occasions. To begin with, festivities must continue, even if they are too traditional, and people should keep wishing others prosperity and success, even if ...
Between Reconciliation and Accountability
Johnny Kortbawi 2023-12-26 18:26 - Reading : 4 minute(s)
In the calculations of the Lebanese people, the Taif Agreement appears to be irreplaceable despite the plethora of options and proposals on the table. However, a collective understanding prevails that, without comprehensive international consensus and an appropriate regional context, the exploration of an alternative arrangement would be ...
Christians in Lebanon: Rights Versus Roles
Johnny Kortbawi 2023-12-19 09:00 - Reading : 5 minute(s)
The discussion on the rights of Christians in Lebanon takes center stage in various periods — be it amidst the fervor of elections, times of heightened tension, or when it becomes relevant to review and reshuffle all the pertinent matters at hand. Today, we are surfing through a multitude of phases. We are currently in a period dominated by a ...
The 'Hole in the Basket' Budget
Johnny Kortbawi 2023-12-12 13:33 - Reading : 4 minute(s)
Any household provider or anyone overseeing day-to-day expenses can fully comprehend that addressing the financial deficit requires either reducing expenditures or increasing revenues. Unfortunately, the Lebanese government, overshadowed by some of its members’ arrogance and defiance, erroneously believes that the budget that was drafted can be ...
Culture on Its Deathbed Amidst Crises
Johnny Kortbawi 2023-12-05 12:29 - Reading : 4 minute(s)
Observing the pervasive decline across Lebanon's economic, financial, educational, and healthcare sectors is disheartening. The impact of widespread immigration has cast a shadow on the workforce, prompting a call for urgent rescue plans. Yet, amidst these challenges, it is the cultural downturn that demands our immediate focus. Lebanon ...