Beirut

Is AUB a microcosm of Lebanon?

A couple of weeks ago at the American University of Beirut we had student elections for to coveted positions of representatives. The air was filled with chants and cheers, and the razor-shape divide between the two coalitions of parties in AUB perfectly reflected the coalitions of the various political parties outside.

There was the March 14th coalition and the March 8th coalition. The March 14th coalition I found out encompassed the Progressive Socialist Party, the Lebanese Forces (loyal to Samir Geagea) and the Future Movement (loyal to Hariri). The opposing March 8th group was comprised of Hezbollah and Amal (the two most prominent Shia Parties) and the Free Patriotic Movement (mostly Christians loyal to Michele Aoun).

In parallel to the elections at AUB is the drama of Hezbollah calling for a new election in the Parliament, the resignation of 6 Parliament members, and the resultant tension pervading the thoughts and precautions of almost everyone.

As I walked around the campus I was baragged by campaigners who were graciously offering to help me to the front of the queue ("I know someone at the front" they would say) and of course this favor should be returned by my votes. When I finally made to leave campus at 6:00pm I walked passed the West Hall to see how things were going, since the voting had been finished for an hour. As soon as I stepped around the corner to the plaza in front of the hall I was swept into a crowd of hundreds life a piece of driftwood in a storm. It took me a literal 15 minutes to cross my way through the 50 meter space as the constant eddies of the current turned me to and fro, so helpless was I (even with my new found Lebanese pushiness) to push my way through.

When I reached the other side, and two of my friends with whom I was driving home we headed for the main gate. Once there we realized that this was the reason I had seen machine-gun armed policemen all over campus throughout the day. There in the street in front of the gate was a crowd of people (not AUB students) waiting to hear the results. Between them and us, now standing under the archway, where about 15 Riot police with their fiberglass shields and helmets. We were ushered swiftly through the gate out into the street, and a nod from the guard at the gate allowed us through the second rank of M-16 totting soldiers and on our merry way to the car.

I thought a bit about this while we walked the few blocks to where we parked. I was not daunted in the slightest by the situation, I felt comfortable, and at home in the chaos. I am surprised at myself that, like my Lebanese brothers, I have changed my attitude toward such things and see them almost as exciting events rather than scary or crazy situations. Yet, I also felt glad to be in the car and driving toward our home in Antelias and away from these volatile sectarian politics.

God have mercy on this country!