Death By a Thousand Cuts?

Against the backdrop of the scandallous UN trip, the demands for the president to resign are snowballing.
Malek, a Lebanese living in California, pitches in with his own version of “Lahhoud Should Go”: A letter from a Lebanese citizen to President Lahhoud. (Illustration by Malek)

Dear Mr. President,

Mr. President, we are not judging you on your past behavior, or on your performance in office. We have respected you no matter what. Everyone has refrained from attacking the Presidency, any person who loves Lebanon and your community respects too much this institution and whom it represents. We respect the role it has to play in a modern democratic government, for its community and the whole of Lebanon. Now, you are stepping out of bound, violating the constitution, and acting against the will of your community leaders, and that of world leaders. You have abandoned the presidency. We have no choice but to ask you to vacate the House you are occupying, and stop the damage you are causing to your community. Your time is over.

We understand that you have reservations about stepping into a prison cell out of Baabda. This is no easy task for anyone who has enjoyed spreading his legs and sun tanning at the Mzaar, we saw you there by the way, you were too flashed to see us. You also have to understand that the investigation and everyone else is stopping short of damaging the Presidency. Every Great Man has sacrificed for what he stood for, every Great Man has sacrificed for his community. One common thing about these Great Men, they stood up high, their chest wide open to receive the bullets, because they believe. They have shielded their community with their chests, their lives, they refused to hide behind their actions.

It is now your time to stand up, accept the blame, and preserve the institution that is most vital for your community’s role in Lebanon. Your own backyard is on fire, your backers have evacuated. You might still have something to say, some evidence to provide to world leaders. We cannot believe you, because you would have helped the investigation. You might be attempting to deliver your last man standing speech to world leaders, we know you are no poet. You might be trying to strike a deal, it would not have taken so long if it were ever feasible. The only thing we all know is that you are the last man standing in the face of reform. Why have you allowed for such irony to settle in? We are still reflecting upon you first presidential speech.

Mr. President, you are a thug. Anyone who forces himself into a house where he is unwelcome, and invites his friends along an experience of lavishness, is a thug. But this time Mr. President, you are forcing yourself upon foreign soil. This might be your idea of a last dream vacation before enduring mayhem, you might even plan on committing suicide in a lavish New York hotel while living your last dream and believing you were going to give the most important speech of your life to eager to listen world leaders. That might be the only explanation for such a criminally stubborn move, costing your citizens half a million dollar. It was never their money in the first place, it has been yours to give for a while.

Whatever you have done with your presidency, your home country would still care about you more than world leaders. So we urge you to listen to what it has to tell you. It is asking you to not look straight into the sun, it is hoping you did not obliterate what is left of your sight. Showing slight vision can blind others from your criminality.
There lies your last hope Mr. President, not in New York. It won’t give you a Twin Tower farewell. It is here at home that you can make a difference and save the Presidency.

Yours cordially,

Citizen of Lebanon

The Ideas above reflect the opinion of their contributor (Malek) and do not necessarily represent The Beirut Spring’s point of view.

The Beirut Spring Had invited readers to publish their own pieces. You are welcome to contribute.