2009 seems to be <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Beirut</st1:place></st1:City>’s lucky year. Well, number 1 destination of 2009 according to the New York Times, world book capital…And now best party city in the world?<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>
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Tourism and literature have distinguished us this year, apparently so did our festivals and nightlife according to the Cal Perry report broadcasted on CNN. Something more to be happy about! <o:p></o:p>
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This report clearly shows this other side of <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Lebanon</st1:place></st1:country-region>. The one that we are all proud of, and most certainly the one we want to prevail. These are the pictures we want the whole world to see. We are not only about crisis and hardships. We are not only about Geagea and Aoun, Hizbullah and Bkerke, about resolution 1701, border demarcation and manufactured explosives. 2 million visitors are expected by the ministry of tourism, catchy number after all the turmoil we have been enduring for more then we can remember. <o:p></o:p>
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As the summer doors flung open, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Lebanon</st1:country-region> has been crowded with concerts from <st1:City w:st="on">Beirut</st1:City> to <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Byblos</st1:City></st1:place>, to Baalbeck and Beiteddine. B all the way! Who would’ve said that Paul Anka and Gabriel Yared were paying us a visit! Or David Guetta and Above & Beyond! How about Deep Purple that completely rocked the Lebanese public in one of the most memorable concerts Baalbeck has ever witnessed? 8000 people singing “Smoke on the water” along with the rhythm of Roger Glover’s guitar and the great Ian Gillan. Or how about the English Pop group Keane that performed live at Jbeil on a dreamy set over the <st1:place w:st="on">Mediterranean sea</st1:place>. They embraced us, and we embraced them back. They will be coming again very soon. A few months ago, all this was hard to foresee. <o:p></o:p>
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The picture still kind of looks the same though when it comes to politics. Our constitutional institutions still work on slow-motion. Respecting deadlines is clearly not our best asset. Neither is consensus. The process of democracy is gonna take some time to readjust. Fortunately enough, the implementation of a new cabinet is getting closer and closer, the opposition and majority are still negotiating portfolios… We hope they reach an agreement soon. This is not were the action is going on.<o:p></o:p>
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No need to remind everyone that Lebanon was being attacked by Israel in three years ago, that our infrastructures were completely destroyed, that roads to the South were completely blocked and that our tourists were evacuated, running for their life under the teary eyes of the ones who stayed. No need to remind everyone that Lebanese officials were perishing one after the other, tearing happy families apart and breaking our hearts. <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Lebanon</st1:place></st1:country-region> is rising again today… and it’s so beautiful to watch. <o:p></o:p>
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Someone once said that the true resistance in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Lebanon</st1:place></st1:country-region> lies in its culture and festivals, not in the fatality of Hizbullah’s arms or in the Palestinian cause, with all respect. I think he couldn’t have been more right. <o:p></o:p>
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This is <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Lebanon</st1:place></st1:country-region>. This is <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Beirut</st1:place></st1:City>
- August 1, 2009 9:29 am
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