Can Language Defy Evolution?

It happened that the issue of usage of classic Arabic language or at least Arabic letters in mobile messages and popular social media sites has been a hot subject of discussion between many people who I met the last two weeks. I know the issue is not new but in my modest opinion it will remain a hot issue in this period of time for several reasons: 1. The increasing number of Arab youth ignorant of the basic Arabic grammar. 2. The technical simplicity of using one type of font (Latin letters in our case) on keyboards and mobile devices for some objective reasons we will discuss later. 3. The natural historical stage of decline of old lingual forms * and inevitability of change in structure and forms – a stage in which Arabic language has entered long ago though totally denied by proponents of classic Arabic language divinity. 4. The political and cultural regression of Arabs and their position as consumers rather than producers of the cultural product. 5. Failure to acknowledge the above factors and deal with their results.

The Mulla’s Time Machine – when theocracy flattens the future

A peculiar report from Iran’s Fars news announcing the birth of an Iranian time machine soon appeared on the timelines of international media stations. The news provoked a wide wave of comments and scientific criticism in the west to which the Fars responded by silently removing the report from its page. Aside from the scientific critique of such a claim the socio-political impact of this alleged attempt of invading the private space of individual future should be addressed…

Mikati’s Resignation, Whose Victory?

Soon after PM Mikati announced his resignation the sound of fireworks was heard from some sunni sides in Beirut. The celebration was shy and short-lived as it was soon clear that the cabinet’s resignation is not in any way a victory for March 14, but the rather the exact opposite. We have written earlier in this blog

Pope Francis in Lebanese Social Media

As soon as the name of the new Roman Catholic Pope was announced the Lebanese social media was not late to celebrate “à la Libanaise”. in the sharp division between believers and skeptics, fans and critics there was a space for cute humor…

Only in Lebanon – Photo #2

The traffic reached from Unesco to Cola… more than 15 minutes no car could move, and here is the reason.

Note: the cars on the left and right are parked on both sides of the road by parents collecting their children from Mar Elias school - UNESCO.
For more than 15 minutes the road was blocked, the red bus couldn’t pass  till the guys removed their cars.

Only in Lebanon – Photo#1

The “No Smoking” sign that covers a trash bin serving as an ash tray
Dunes – Verdun

Women’s Protesting Bodies in Motion and Stillness

[اضغط هنا للقراءة بالعربية] The chronic marginalization of human body in general, and the female body in particular, and the concept of shame superimposed on free body expression are eventually turning these bodies to a sharp weapon of protest. The more the body is conceptualized as “shameful” in public consciousness, the least effort it takes to make it an expression of protest. The struggle of women, whether in the setting of feminist groups or as a part of wide national movements is going in the direction of enabling the body to express, both as a mean of liberalization and a mean of protest. In a strict religious and patriarchal country  the mere presence of a fully covered female body in public can be an event, while this same body has to perform something more expressive to draw attention in a more liberal society.