My first protest in Beirut.

Flashback: Only few days ago I blogged about Graffiti in Beirut and the charges Semaan Khawam is facing.

However, the story behind this new blog post started late Friday night,

Networks reported that Two men were arrested at "Bechara El Khoury" Area for Spray Painting  a wall also known as Graffiti.

http://www.nowlebanon.com/NewsArticleDetails.aspx?ID=388255

Regardless of all laws around Lebanon and worldwide, laws that proclaim Graffiti as "Damaging" public property not to mention breaking a rule or two, we in Lebanon, got used to the Censored Freedom of Speech spreading lately and it was about time someone actually stands out for it.

By Beirut Pursuit (Blog)

To cut it short, till this instant I am not very sure of the Graffiti's content nor nature, yet I protested against their arrest yesterday because Freedom of Speech should be each one's concern, with or without Graffiti, Freedom of Speech is being Censored daily in Lebanon through:

Movies :

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=343596052354443&set=a.242712732442776.56621.194147200632663&type=3&theater

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=194340603946656&set=a.242712732442776.56621.194147200632663&type=3&theater

Documentaries: 

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=194153883965328&set=a.242712732442776.56621.194147200632663&type=3&permPage=1

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=241036642610385&set=a.242712732442776.56621.194147200632663&type=3&theater

Books:

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=194642490583134&set=a.242712732442776.56621.194147200632663&type=3&theater


Not to mention loads of other examples that would take a whole blog post to dive into.

Back to My First Protest in Beirut, sources mentioned that the Graffiti sprayed was a follow up to a movement which started under the title of  [ اسبوع غرافيتي الحريـّة سوريا | FREEDOM GRAFFiTi WEEK Syria ] and that the act was a response for it, while others mentioned that the Phrase sprayed was the following sentence: في منك 128 بمجلس النواب.  However that was not my concern. 


I never trusted a protest organised in Lebanon. The causes are always amazing, so perfect that they even make you wonder. Every protest has some sort of political background that I end up disagreeing with. However, last night's organised March/Protest made perfect sense to me, I believed in something. And for the very first time in Lebanon, I felt useful, I accomplished something. If only someone captured the smile on my face when Ali and Khodor walked out of that police station. They are people who's writings interest me, we are not best friends and we were not raised together, we just share a thing in common: Courage that is.

I now leave you with some photos taken yesterday; because a picture is worth a thousand words. 

 I got to Verdun with a friend not knowing if the Protest will succeed or not.

 Everyone was chanting and soon enough I got carried away and raised my voice

 We waited for almost an hour, PM Mikati was insisting Via Twitter that the guys are on their way out, and I was replying to him that they are NOT. [ I think I'm on his black list now]

 Soon enough, Khodor and Ali were released.

 The Car made it's way through the crowd of friends and supporters.

 Celebrating one true victory, Freedom.

And I shall leave the rest for him to say.

Iza Mafi BIMBOS Mafi Beirut.

So the day started normally, phone calls here and there, another interview, some video to transcribe, some brainstorming for the next blog post and I felt helpless.
I mean, I made it to work safe, no incidents whatsoever on my way there, slow traffic Yes but nothing unusual.
As for work, no deadlines, no rush.
Just another boring day, I thought, until I got this email from my colleague.
I am a curious person and could not help but reading it on spot.

Here comes my inspiration, written exquisitely by another blogger. Which ended up inspiring me more.
And since I admit Not being brave enough to criticize people the way this person right here did; some notes mentioned really succeeded at pointing out a reality that we live and face , Daily.

"How to look like a Lebanese Bimbo". [Yes Sirs you read it right, BIMBO] :

http://www.beirutnightlife.com/featured/la-wlooo-how-to-look-like-lebanese-bimbo/


And to wrap up the day, make sure you listen to this song right here while reading the blog post mentioned above.

Meanwhile; let's all pray for a better generation #Miracles.

Everything -stupid- is allowed in Beirut.

I always admired street artists, those who manage to create a perfect art circle from absolutely nothing.
A little budget, a lot of hard work and patience. Those who turn walls, ugly walls, empty grey dirty walls, into colorful spaces.
It's all about giving Beirut some colors, enhancing the Art scene and of course breaking some rules, because rules are made to be broken.

Some of the Graffiti is abstract,  and if you're not one of us , if you don't have the time and the imagination to understand the messages, the subliminal ones behind those abstract Graffities, then you would be one of those old people who consider them stupid.
Knowing that NO Graffiti should be qualified as stupid, the Lebanese government lacks the imagination. Therefore, for the past 5 years it qualified many Graffities as: useless stupid colorful Graffities and ignored them or , worst case scenario? Painted over them.

Quote: Everything stupid is allowed in Beirut.

And I underlined  stupid, because they qualified Graffiti as stupid.
Stupid did not bring them problems, not until stupid had a cause: Awareness.
Then stupid became dangerous.
Dangerous to an Ignorant Government, unaware of its own people's needs.
And they dare qualifying Art, censoring books, movies , music and shutting down our freedom of speech.

Inspired by Semaan Khawam's case;

To read more about it check this link right here:
http://observers.france24.com/content/20120406-lebanese-artist-risks-jail-time-graffiti-soldiers-lebanon-civil-war-christians-muslims-censorship-beirut

To watch "Enta Horr" 's reportage regarding the case check the link right here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBWr0zRe9qM

Aren't we all victims of routine?

Something fun to start the week with.
Whenever a long vacation is just around the corner, and I am too bored of that same circle of outings & people, I decide to go all creative and apply some idea I stumbled upon online.

I fell in love with this website a while back: http://dearphotograph.com/
Ever since then,  my trials of accomplishing such an exquisite combination have  FAILED.
Then I settled for the last and best result I got.
Here it goes.

Appreciation

The Priceless smile on this man's face whenever I drop a "Good Morning" to him each day.

I took this picture few weeks ago on a rainy morning, it really gave me a thing or two to think of.

One cannot simply Jog alone in Beirut.

Beirut is a complex city, always was and always will be.
Come to think of it, every single sort of possible violation exists here.
This of course exists all over the world, but it's very special in Beirut, for no one, and I mean no one has the power to control nor limit it, violation that is.

Here goes my Sunday, it's the line I've been repeating for the past two hours whenever anyone drops a hello.
My Sunday was pretty much useless and I hate it.
This country is depressing, that's all.
It's all repetitive, your week goes by between work and university and delayed projects not to mention the Facebook/WhatsApp ritual that's been depressing me more lately.
Then Friday night lights are spent in Hamra as always, having few drinks or walking around watching Drunk Teenagers trying hard enough to make fools out of themselves not knowing that none give a bloody damn about them being really tipsy or just, faking it.
After a "wild" Friday night, Saturday is either spent in bed, or home nagging about things that must be done before another "wild whatsoever night", or for me, catching up with the latest never ending news in the region.
Saturday night however won't end up being so different from Friday unless you were lucky enough to explore some new venues or places around the country.
Welcoming Sunday with jaws wide open, the day passes by, you are lazy, still nagging of course, a wild idea floats through your mind: I should go for a JOG! I live right next to a beautiful shore and I must! Clear sky, lovely sunset! YALLA!


Eh no. It's not quiet simple here. You see, between work and university and the daily routines, one cannot simply find time for gym, so the least to settle for would be a nice jog every now and then. Sadly, without the proper company, it's almost impossible around Beirut and no I am not exaggerating .

I am no super model, I force myself to jog for an obvious reason, getting in shape.
But it's really not that simple because One cannot simply Jog alone in Beirut.

Sincerely Beirut,
I don't hate you but it is becoming impossible to settle for what you offer me!
You don't offer me fresh air, good food, proper laws, well behaved generations, proper education, safety, you can't offer me a Simple jog, a decent safe hang out.
Someone must drop me home, if I don't have my car it's either a Taxi which costs me hell, or waiting for someone to drop me home because Public Transportation sucks here, allow me to tell you why.

Because Police here is just so random, randomly cool.
I don't know why this hate for Lebanese police also known as "Darak".I personally hate you people.
You could eat a woman with your eyes! An Ass can manage to distract you and I bet that a thief would rob a bank by then. [ I have a video to prove this and I will publish it soon]

I remember a couple years back when I was harassed by a "Foreigner" right next to my place, I ended up filing a complaint at the nearest police station and I was told to wait for a phone call. I am still waiting btw.

And to think of jogging here? All by myself? When the sun is setting and the weather is fine? I am sorry but One cannot simply Jog alone in Beirut.

One of three incidents is most probable to happen to you if you are a girl between the age of Zero and 90 jogging in Beirut:

1- The famous Cornish verbal harassment whereas you are introduced to the newly released pick up phrases.

2- The one and only "Bezer" being splashed all over your pretty face.

3- Le famous Mobilette/Mostic following you home.

I used to respond to those three incidents by given them The Finger until I realized that this might trigger one son of a B**** to actually lay a hand on me and then me B**** slapping him won't be so sweet whereas he would state the obvious: "Ente 3arfe 7alik ma3 min 3m te7ke?/ Do you know whom you are talking to? " And that we want to avoid because everyone in Someone in this Beirut.

So to cut this short, One cannot simply Jog alone in Beirut and that's it.