The Christians were once the dominant community in Lebanon but now they play second fiddle to Muslims. As if that itself doesn’t threaten them in the fight for survival amidst Lebanon’s political turmoil and insecurity, the fact that the Christian community is internally divided has started to strike at the very heart of the Christian unity and integrity.
Fears of yet another Civil War in Lebanon have raised their ugly heads and the startling scenario this time could be the fight within the Christian community. Christian youth in Lebanon are angry and dissident at the poor running of their government and for them force appears as the most likely and most easily available source to change the current situation. Rival Christians had already started piling immediate to the end of the Civil War way back in 1990 and now more than 15 years later, these rival factions are coming out of their shells.
Allied to them are the Hizbollah. Their threats have often harmed the Lebanese government in an adverse way and for the dissatisfied Lebanese youth, they provide the kind of icon and image that the young people seek. Traditionally, Christians have been the dominant community in Lebanon with a population to 55% but now in 2007, their number barely reaches 30%. The notion that they are superior to the Muslims is rapidly fading and the stark, naked truth that the only way for the nation to advance is equal share of Christians and Muslims in the government is gradually sinking.
The rule in Lebanon has it that the President and the leader of the armed must always be Christians but with the community itself so bitterly divided, a new rule needs to be adopted. For Lebanon to progress and dismiss fears of yet another Civil War, unity, harmony and compromise are required as is the need to break away from tradition.
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Source: The New York Times
