MP Walid Eido: Don't Speak for Me

Do the many mediocrities who govern and represent us even understand the words they utter?
And since the answer is NO, is it any wonder that the country is down a sinkhole?

Here's Future Movement MP Walid Eido on the Naameh shooting of last week. Two Lebanese municipal employees were wounded by Palestinian illegals who were manning a road block. (Eido's words from L'Orient-LeJour, January 12, 2006. In French, appendix below. English is my translation)

MP Walid Eido says:

Stop exploiting the Palestinian cause. This cause is ours, just like Kamal Joumblatt and Rafik Hariri taught us

Illegal Palestinian weapons kill and maim Lebanese citizens. The knee-jerk reaction of every politician in Lebanon: "this is not good for Palestine, the CAUSE". How about condoling the victims and the relatives of the dead before we get into the Palestinian cause? Is that too much to ask? Because you know, maybe you are an MP, or Minister with responsibilities toward Lebanese nationals. But perhaps you wish to be buried in the Palestinian flag like that great Lebanese MP Maarouf Saad?

Mr. Eido is usually a reasonable guy. It goes to show you that when the words "Palestine/Palestinian" are uttered, anywhere in the Arab world, the rare commodities of reason and common sense fly out the window. (Make sure you read his last statement, below)

Here's is the problem. "The cause is ours" is a meaningless statement. Its meaning stretches from "giving 25 bucks to a refugee-helping NGO" to "ordering all units of the Lebanese army to attack Israel right now". And because it is vague, that type of statement helps those carrying illegal weapons.

If you keep putting the "cause" above everything (in your rhetoric, cuz in reality we know it's baloney), the debate will always be "is it good for the cause?": an endless debate, because it is SUBJECTIVE.

It is much simpler and more productive if you just say: "we have a law, no arms outside of the Lebanese regular forces". Then, there is no argument for the other side. Capiche? Or is it too complicated?

MP Eido goes on to say:

Did the shooting take place on the borders of Palestine or near the walls of Jerusalem? Had the shots fired at Lebanese citizens been helpful to the cause, we are ready to forgive [bold emphasis mine].

EXCUSE ME? EXCUSE &#@6$$#ING!! ME?

Have we discussed this as a nation, and resolved it? Are we all on the same page here? Here's the problem again; who says it's good or bad for the "cause"? Who says it is my "cause"? Who defines the "cause"?

Who is "we" Keem-O-Sabe Walid? Don't include me. Next time a Lebanese citizen is wounded or killed, I am not forgiving anyone, even if it is good for the "cause".

I will make an exception though, for Walid Eido and his relatives. Rest assured Walid, if illegally armed gunmen kill you and your relatives, then I shall forgive. I'll also invite others to do the same, just to honor your memory Mr. Eido, but only as long as someone, somewhere, says: "hey, it was good for the cause."

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APPENDIX: L'Orient-LeJour's full story:

Eido : « Si l’incident de Naamé sert les intérêts syriens, nous ne pouvons que le condamner

« Assez exploiter la cause palestinienne. Cette cause est la nôtre, comme nous l’ont appris Kamal Joumblatt et Rafic Hariri. » C’est ce qu’a affirmé hier le député haririen, Walid Eido, lors d’une table ronde organisée à l’AUB par le Club des médias et le Club de la jeunesse de l’université. Évoquant les incidents fâcheux de Naamé, le député s’est demandé : « La fusillade a-t-elle eu lieu aux portes de la Palestine ou autour des remparts de Jérusalem ? Si les coups de feu tirés en direction de citoyens libanais servent la cause, nous sommes prêts à pardonner. Mais s’ils servent au contraire l’intérêt du régime syrien, nous ne pouvons que les condamner », a-t-il précisé.

Et le député d’appeler à mettre un terme au chaos provoqué par une présence palestinienne armée en dehors des camps et à réorganiser le port d’armes à l’intérieur.