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Abu Muqawama

by Dan tdaxp ~ May 16th, 2008

As those with some basic knowledge of Lebanese politics, but apparently not Abu Muqawama, know, Lebanese politics is currently divided between a Sunni-Catholic coalition (supported by Saudi Arabia and France) and a large Shia party (Hezbollah, supported by Iran). Sunni and Catholic Lebanese are more integrated into the global economy and form much of the Lebanese middle class, while the Shia form much of the underclass and like Iran battle globalization and its consequences.

Thus, the Sunni-Catholic government is progressive in the most important way imaginable: they are on the side of economic development.

abu muqawama: Future TV
Did Tom Friedman really just describe Future TV as “progressive”? Really? Progressive in, uh, what way? Because it has the word “future” in its name?

Abu Muqawama thought Hizbollah shutting the station down was just as cowardly and thuggish as anyone, but let’s be honest — Future TV and al-Mustaqbal newspaper are sectarian propaganda organs for March 14th and the Hariri family.

Friedman then went on to say that Hizbollah shut down Future TV so that its “propaganda machine could dominate the airwaves.” Are you kidding me? Is that the way it works in Lebanon, Tom? Have you been back since 1984? There are only two news stations there now, huh? Did LBC fold up shop and emigrate to France? And are al-Arabiyya and al-Jazeera unavailable?

To paragraph Abu, stupid stuff like this in the first three paragraphs of a blog post column is enough to make those who us speak in the first-person-plural quit reading. So if Abu Muqawama said anything smart in the rest of the column, let us know.

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4 Responses to Abu Muqawama

  1. Adrian
    May 16th, 2008 at 5:59 am

    FYI, Abu Muqawama speaks Arabic and has done field research in Lebanon. Have you ever seen Future TV? And the Lebanese Christians in the ruling coalition are not Catholic, they are Maronite (and Orthodox). Basic factual errors don’t help you make your case that you know more than Abu Muqawama.

  2. Dan tdaxp
    May 16th, 2008 at 6:26 am

    FYI, Abu Muqawama speaks Arabic and has done field research in Lebanon.

    I’d suggest you appeal to facts, or appeal to reason, rather than appeal to authority [1].

    And the Lebanese Christians in the ruling coalition are not Catholic, they are Maronite

    This is as sensible as claiming that Barack Obama belongs to the Trinity United Church of Christ, but is not a Christian. [2]

    Q: Are Maronites Roman Catholic?

    A: No. Maronites are not Roman Catholic but Maronite Catholic. The Catholic Church is actually a communion of 22 autonomous or self-governing churches. We say self-governing (sui iuris) because while remaining in union with the pope — the bishop of Rome — each Catholic Church has its own hierarchy and clergy, generally headed by a patriarch or metropolitan, and separate ecclesiastical jurisdictions called dioceses in the West or eparchies in the East. All Catholics share the same faith, partake of the same Eucharist and receive the same seven sacraments (Holy Mysteries). No Catholic is more Catholic than another and it cannot be stressed too highly that all churches are of equal rank and dignity. Roman Catholics comprise the largest of these churches now numbering over 1 billion members, but like the Maronites there are some 20 million other Christians worldwide who live out their faith as Eastern Catholics.

    Basic factual errors don’t help you make your case

    Obviously. I’m glad you have had this opportunity to learn that Maronites are Catholics. I am sure this additional knowledge will help you in the future. (Similarly, Hindus are polytheists, Haredi are Jews, and Russian Orthodox are Christians.)

    [1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Appeal_to_authority
    [2] http://www.archden.org/dcr/news.php?e=33&s=4&a=770

  3. Jack
    May 16th, 2008 at 6:29 am

    Dan,
    Your post doesn’t make a whole lot of sense. When Thomas Friedman called Future Tv Progressive he wasnt talking about Economic Development.

    Are you aware that the largest segment of the Christians in Lebanon (probaly 30-50%) are alligned with Hezbullah against the March 14 Coalition? Do you know who Michel Aoun is? Your point that Lebanon is divided between a Sunni-Christian bloc and a Shia bloc is wildly inaccurate. (Many) Lebanese Christians fear Sunni power more than any other sect. Thats why Michael Aoun has strong support.

    Maybe you should brush up on some basic Lebanese politics before you start calling out Abu Muqawama. What you wrote in this post doesn’t demonstrate anything beyond a Friedman-esque grasp of the country.

  4. Dan tdaxp
    May 16th, 2008 at 6:45 am

    Jack,

    Thanks for the comment!

    Catholicgauze (catholicgauze.blogspot.com) has been providing excelltent coverage of Michel Aoun and Lebanese politics.

    You’re quite right that the Christian community of Lebanon is divided. Still, the point about French support stands.

    The cult-fear of Tom Friendman over at Abu M. (and as seen by your comment, here) is interesting. Abu’s simultaneously ignorant and vulgar analysis of Tom Friednman’s extended discussion of Microsoft Windows and the Berlin Wall is emblematic of the the anit-Friedman shaminism:

    How the fuck do you open a window in a fallen wall? More to the point, why would you open a window in a fallen wall? Or did the walls somehow fall in such a way that they left the windows floating in place to be opened?

    Of course, this sort ritualistic condemnation does not inform readers of anything more than a vague emotional state, and so is useless for me, but other people might get a kick out of it.

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