Listen to the article
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 at the Saadiyat music festival in Abu Dhabi fueled the anger of some, although she did not target anyone in particular. In fact, all the Lebanese star said was that she comes from a country where nightmares abound.
Apparently, Resistance sympathizers know that they have been weaving Lebanon’s nightmares all these years, many of which are presented as idyllic dreams, such as the liberation of Jerusalem.
Supporters of the Resistance cannot possibly forget Majida El Roumi’s words at the anniversary of Gebran Tueni’s assassination, a speech that made her the voice that cries out against injustice. They cannot forget her words when she sang about a people who defied injustice and rose. They rise against her every time she performs in an Arab state that far surpasses any other country in the world. They accuse her of ingratiation because they would rather carry rockets than books.
The campaign against Majida El Roumi reached discriminatory heights, wherein Resistance supporters proudly say, “You have Majida El Roumi, we have Julia Boutros.” What these sympathizers forget, however, is that Boutros is the wife of Elias Bou Saab, who has excellent ties with the UAE, and is currently attending the World Government Summit in Dubai.
It has become clear that campaigning against Majida El Roumi is no innocent deed. It is in fact cultural propaganda to limit the freedom of the Lebanese people who prefer living in a leading world capital than among rockets and sketchy banks.
Majida El Roumi made no mistake in her speech. Every day, we say what she said. Hezbollah turned dreams into nightmares and, had it wanted to fulfill those dreams, it would not have stood in the way of the inquiry into the August 4 port explosion.
What is there to say to these sympathizers? How to convince them that Hezbollah safeguarding corruption and assisting its allies in thwarting all legal action is, in and of itself, the stuff of nightmares?
Majida El Roumi did not bring up any of this, but her detractors still think that they are right. They refuse to discuss or negotiate, and accuse their opponents of treason.
On the other hand, had Julia Boutros stated that Lebanon is the sum of all nightmares, they would have agreed with her. They make no distinction between political opinion and ideas you can agree on. No matter how many campaigns are organized against Majida El Roumi, she will remain the voice that cries out against injustice. The problem is that she sings her song “Sayyidi al Raees” – which means “Mr. President” – to condemn injustice, but unfortunately, there is no president to sing to. And this is all Hezbollah’s doing…
