From: nmouawad@waterloo.edu (Naji Mouawad)
Subject: Re: jokes
Organization: University of Waterloo
	<NMOUAWAD.92Jul21122205@math.waterloo.edu>
	<1992Jul24.160406.13517@cbnewsi.cb.att.com>
Date: Sat, 25 Jul 1992 20:51:30 GMT

To: 
In article <1992Jul24.160406.13517@cbnewsi.cb.att.com> jrad@cbnewsi.cb.att.com (ahmad.m.jrad) writes:


Hello Ahmad,

   > 
   > With all due respect, I would like to suggest to Mr Ibaa Oueicheck a
   > little more restraints in his writing on this group. The Syrian
   > presence in Lebanon is an extreemly sensitive issue to many readers of
   > this group. 
   > 
   > While we all understand that the Syrian people as a whole are
   > suffering under the regime of Hafez el assad, one is reminded of the
   > 40,000 or so Syrian soldiers who are serving in Lebanon and who are
   > enforcing the Syrian's law onto the Lebanese.
   > 
   > Under circumstances such as these, I doubt that the use of the word
   > "brothers" is in any way constructive. 
   > 
   > When the Israeli forces, the Syrian forces, the Iranian forces, the
   > Palestinian forces and every other foreign force would have left
   > Lebanon, we might consider talking about brotherhood.
   > 
   > Until then, let us try and build friendship.
   > 
   > Naji.

   With all due respect to Naji, I think that we ought to make a
   distinction a between the Syrian people and their government. I
   think that the Syrians are brothers with the Lebanese on the people
   level. The cultures are very much related and the land was all
   called Sham until quite recently. 

   Besides All Muslims are brothers regardless of national origin. Though
   I may be making an assumption here about the religion of our Syrian
   brother.

   Ahmad


As you may have noticed, I did explicitly state that the Syrian people
are suffering under the current regime. Yet, one should not overlook
the military presence of Syria in Lebanon. Any one can call any one
else a "brother" on s.c.l. That is a given. Yet, one should not impose
such a title on those who did not voice their opinion. It may be the
case that calling us all "brothers" is an expression of friendship and
enthousiam, a sign of openess and a desire to share. This is
commendable. Yet, all to often in the past did the Syrian regime use
these words while imposing their will on that of the Lebanese. I may
have been too sensitive to the use of that word by Jaber, and my
reaction my tone harder than what the net deserves. In such a case, I
apologize to Jaber and to any one else who felt offended by my words.

As with "bilad al sham", it may be worthwhile to recall that such a
denomination was given by the ruling class in Damascus and was not
voluntarily shared by a number of Lebanese, particularly those who
lived in the mountains.

As such, I would not use such a term without carefully waighing its
significance in light of the recent events in Lebanon.

Words are words until they are marred in blood. They then become tools
for war or for peace.

naji.
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    | Naji Mouawad  |          nmouawad@watmath.waterloo.edu            |
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