Freedom of Speach In Lebanon!

"Three men have been arrested for making fun of President Michel Suliman on Facebook" reads the headlines. Three men WHAT? Are you kidding me? Since when has Lebanon become North Korea? I mean guys...Lebanon is the ONLY country in the Middle East (an one of the few in all of Asia) where people have this right. I find it disturbing that people are getting arrested for this! What in God's name? Anyways, my favorite blog, Blogging Beirut, posted a link to an online petition demanding our freedom of speech. And freedom of speech we will have. Like my fellow bloggers have mentioned... I think you should worry about the corruption, poverty, electricity, the people above the law, pollution, our continuous problems with Israel and Syria, weapons everywhere, cancer caused by power plants in North Lebanon, the unhealthy food that is produces, the drying up of our lakes and rivers, our decline in healthy fish in our rivers, landfills left for the sun (hello they produce methane!), deforestation, theft, failures in infrastructures, deterioration of our ancient landmarks, and the oil we have now discovered off of Lebanon's shores (thanks bloggingbeirut for that). Do you see Obama arresting people left, right, and center for mocking him? Nope. And trusttttttt me, a lot more people do that.

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/lebanese_freedom_of_speech/

This is Lebanon =]

I love Lebanon's remarkable diversity. It always amazes me. I came across some videos that really show how diverse and culturaly complex Lebanon is. The first is a short film, produced by 2 Lebanese in Lebanon. Its a funky film about life in Lebanon...and in general with all its good and bad. The second video is a music video for the Lebanese Indie group Mashrou3 Leila.... they play the music in the short film i selected. The 2 videos are two of my favourites, I love how they give you that "other side" of Lebanon... so touching :P. Enjoy :) Here is the info about the short film:
Name: Beirut, I Love You (I Love You Not),
Awards: Winner of "Best Film - International" Award at the Swansea Bay Film Festival UK - 2010
Written & Directed by: Mounia Akl & Cyril Aris
Cast: Mounia Akl Cyril Aris
The film has already been selected in:- The Swansea Bay Film Festival - UK (2010) - The International Youth Film Festival - UK (2010) - The International Film Festival of Egypt (2010) - The Lebanese Film Festival of Montreal, Canada (2010) - The SOAS Cultural Event, UK (2010) - The Creative Commons Salon in Beirut, Lebanon (2010) - The Creative Commons Salon in Amman, Jordan (2009)
Music by: Mashrou' Leila: http://www.myspace.com/mashrou3leila Barnabas Folk: http://www.youtube.com/user/BarnabasF... & Yann Tiersen
Filmed in: Lebanon (Beirut, Jbeil, Deir El Qamar, Broumana & Rabieh)


This is the song called Fasateen by Indie group Mahrou' Leila. They are Lebanon's favourite indie group...simply because they are Lebanon's own....not to mention amazingly talented. Enjoy :)