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In every democratic society the president has various means to listen to the citizens that have elected him either directly or through their representatives in parliament. In Lebanon, the general public does not have such a chance and the president should not only listen to the skewed opinions of the various sectarian leaders who are mostly governed by their own interests and foreign influences that are mainly against Lebanese goals.

This forum intends to allow every citizen to talk directly to the president without intermediaries. We hope that this will give the president the opportunity to listen to the hopes and aspirations of the people and their dreams of a better future.

 

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Mr President: Why does the disappearance of two American citizens in Lebanon/Syria for a few days become the headlines in Lebanon when there are a million other more important issues for the Lebanese. Is it just a fact that American citizens are worth more even if they are doing something silly? Crossing the borders to Syria illegally so they can go back and brag about is not a heroic act and should not be coverd in local media. What about the Lebanese who slept starving with no medicie last night? Is that worth mentioning or not because they mere Lebanese Arabs who are not worthy to be mentioned. I think that when we start to respect ourselves and cover ourselves well in the media as proper citizens, only then the rest of the world will start to respect us. The longer we respect foreigners more than ourselves, the less the rest of the world will respect us.
Fouad, Fri Oct 10 16:52:56 +0300 2008

I think you are right Mr "honoured to be Canadian". Our president has been elected after we waited for a long time. We thought he was going to change something, to act but so far things only seem to be getting worse. I wonder what his views are. I wonder whether we are going to be all cursed by persident after another, politician after another who do not care except after their pockets. They do not necessarily need to be corrupt and steal public moned. They will just hog the presidency's seat for six year, do no work and collect a massive salary.... and if you asked they may challenge you and say that their "the palms of their hands are white" and they haven't stolen any money. True, they haven't stolen, they just took our hope away of nation and a country. Mr President, you are in a very good position to lead and inspire change in a war torn country. It is not an easy mission but you are at the top of the pyramid.You have been elected with a majority and have won the faith of so many people. It is now time to proove that you deserve that hopes that people attached to your election. It is time for action. History will not have mercy on anyone. Presidedt Michael, lead change. You are in a position to do so. Please do not be like traditional Lebanese politicians who talk so much and deliver nothing, or those who stay silent and deliver nothing. What is your strategy? Are there going to be any desperately needed reforms or are we only going to count on God and our "tender mother France". We need change, we need a president with hope and a dream. Do you have a dream? Are you going to make Lebanon any better? I think there is not too much time. Life is too short. Six years will go fast. So far you a had a very successful career, I would hope that you do not it ruin by not being the man for the job. Be a Lebanese hero and start acting and changing fast.
Gergi, Thu Oct 09 13:42:31 +0300 2008

I think you are right Mr "honoured to be Canadian". Our president has been elected after we waited for a long time. We thought he was going to change something, to act but so far things only seem to be getting worse. I wonder what his views are. I wonder whether we are going to be all cursed by persident after another, politician after another who do not care except after their pockets. They do not necessarily need to be corrupt and steal public moned. They will just hog the presidency's seat for six year, do no work and collect a massive salary.... and if you asked they may challenge you and say that their "the palms of their hands are white" and they haven't stolen any money. True, they haven't stolen, they just took our hope away of nation and a country. Mr President, you are in a very good position to lead and inspire change in a war torn country. It is not an easy mission but you are at the top of the pyramid.You have been elected with a majority and have won the faith of so many people. It is now time to proove that you deserve that hopes that people attached to your election. It is time for action. History will not have mercy on anyone. Presidedt Michael, lead change. You are in a position to do so. Please do not be like traditional Lebanese politicians who talk so much and deliver nothing, or those who stay silent and deliver nothing. What is your strategy? Are there going to be any desperately needed reforms or are we only going to count on God and our "tender mother France". We need change, we need a president with hope and a dream. Do you have a dream? Are you going to make Lebanon any better? I think there is not too much time. Life is too short. Six years will go fast. So far you a had a very successful career, I would hope that you do not it ruin by not being the man for the job. Be a Lebanese hero and start acting and changing fast.
Gergi, Thu Oct 09 13:41:58 +0300 2008

Mr. President, All what we hear is that you are the president because they made you. So what will you do now? I would like to ask you of your political platform. What did you do until that is good for the country and the lives of the citizens? Were you elected just for the sake of giving Lebanon a president? Time is passing so quickly and hopefully you will not continue the rest of your term the same way you have started it. If you are elected to bring foes together than you will spend six years without any achievements. Let them hate each other but you build the country. Higher psgychiatrists to take care of the political foes or take some pschycology courses instead of wasting your time and peoples time and tax money on travels, meetings, dinners, expensive hotels (Waldorf Estoria), cars, big salary for you and your staff, palace and other expenses. It is about time for us to have a president with balls who has plans and doesn't listen to anyone. A president with economical vision, environmentalist, believes in equality, fair trials, provides security and builds a country for generations to come. Just tell us what were your plans which hopefully you already started implementing them. You will be just like any other figure if you have not started this already. Six years will pass, you and your family will get your salary and we will continue to live abroad. Show us that you are a real president by doing something and not just by looking pretty.
Honoured to be a Canadian, Wed Oct 08 23:06:02 +0300 2008

Mr President, Lebanon is a democracy and you have been elected by the citizens of Lebanon to ensure the democracy of Lebanon works. Here is an issue of equality that Lebanese people are bringing to your attention. I do kindly respect that you with the minister of interior act quicly to deal with the citizenship issue for the sake of all our Lebanese mothers, sisters and their children. In other words, in order to keep the humaninty of our country echoing loud accross the world. I think the guys are right below. The least Lebanon wants is another scandal. Shokri
Shokri, Wed Oct 08 11:48:06 +0300 2008

Well done! Elias I think you are right. Citizenship is an issue that affects a specific number of Lebanese mothers and their children and those foreign nationals married to them. It is not an issue that affects all Lebanese people. It affects a few people gravely and it should be sorted out sooner rather than later. I think the people spoken about live in Lebanon and most of the time demonstrate outside the Lebanese parliament asking for their rights. I wish those who call themselves "Parliamentarins" would listen to them.
Justice Saeid, Wed Oct 08 11:41:15 +0300 2008

I think that citizenship is the greatest of our problems. We do not even know what a citizen is. We do not know that a citizen has rights that should never be taken away for no reason. Taking away the rights of a citizen is just like any crime. Marcos is saying "Citizenship is the least of our problems", that is becasue he is loosing nothing. He's already got his Lebanese citizenship and has not experienced what it means to be Lebanese and not have Lebanese citizenship. It does not matter where you live, be it Lebanon or abroad. If you are born to a Lebanese mother who is married to a foregn national, you live in Lebanon as an alien and it has great psycholigical effects on the person. If you leave Lebanon to escape this situation and you live abroad, you live just like a stranger among strangers. You end up not fitting anywhere. In fact, it is a kind of deep abuse imposed on innocent people. Lebanese citizens cannot feel the problem through no fault of their own. You do not ask a sighted person "how does it feel to be blind?" because they have never experienced blindenss. You better ask someone who is blind about the problems of blindenss. We should only listen to the people who are deprived of their citizenship. They are the ones who are suffering on a daily basis from that loss. People with their Lebanese citizenship are the least interested in the problem as it does not affect them at all. There is nothing wrong with that. However; it is a catastrophe if they play role in turning the eyes of the president away of such a shameful Lebanese injustice. Thanks Elias
Elias, Wed Oct 08 11:32:56 +0300 2008

Citizenship is the least of our problem. With all the permutations one become a Lebanese Citizen, let's have our president focus on how to help improve the lives of the citizens who already live in Lebanon and don't have a choice to leave !!
 marcos, Mon Oct 06 22:40:30 +0300 2008

Ya ya ya. As usual the Lebanese want every right that is going in the world. Canadian citizenship, Australian citizenship, US citizenship, equal rights in Honolulu but they do not want to give anything back. It is a country that even abuses it own fellow citizens.
Joseph Loulou, Sun Oct 05 00:29:36 +0300 2008

I really did not know that Lebanese mothers cannot pass their citizenhip to their children. I was shocked when I read the commnets below. I think that is abuse inflicted on Lebanese mothers by Lebanese law. It is a crime against humanity. Politicians in Lebanon throughout the years did not bother to do anything about it giving the excuse that the Palestinians may abuse the law, it turns out that Lebanese law abuses Lebanese people and marginalizes them. Lebanese politicians should know that they are servants for the people and should do their utmost to give Lebanese women all their rights.
Paul Boutros, Sun Oct 05 00:24:58 +0300 2008