Dear readers, did you know that today is the National Take A Chance Day (https://tinyurl.com/ypuwmn67)?
On the official website informing us of the flavour of this day, we can read the following wise words (https://tinyurl.com/ypuwmn67): “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did. So throw off the bowline, sail away from the safe harbor, catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover” (Mark Twain).
In the case of the official Lebanon, another uplifting quote applies to it perfectly, today more than ever: “Do not be afraid to take a chance on peace, to teach peace, to live peace… Peace will be the last word of history” (Pope Jean-Paul II).
Of course, the journey of the Israeli-Lebanese talks is long and no one can fully predict the outcome of these (overdue) diplomatic negotiations given the complexity of the risky situation, both locally and regionally.
Bambi is neither an expert in international politics nor in military strategies. She only knows one thing with clarity: her birth country has suffered too much while being taken hostage between a rock (Israel) and a hard place (Iran through Hezbollah’s military proxy).
The Israeli “rock” (or hammer) can be quite painful. However, both Israel and Lebanon are neighbouring countries whose innocent people have suffered to a great extent because of the Iranian regime past, current, and most likely future behaviour (whether with or without a nuclear threat).
How do you solve the Lebanese domestic problem of one its groups being clearly stronger than its government? How do you collect its weapons, take back the power of deciding whether to go to war or not, and have all the citizens under the same rule of law?
For Bambi, there is only one wise possibility: “take a chance on peace, dare to envision it, one baby step at a time”. Today’s meeting at the White House gave a powerful message of seriousness and apparent support of the USA to Lebanon. Bravo to the latter for taking this apparently historic opportunity. From a non-ideal ceasefire of 10 days, we are now into three more weeks. There is an apparent improvement. However, what Bambi does not understand is how could negotiations with Lebanon work when the party fighting with Israel is the Hezbollah?
Despite all these contradictions, Bambi remains a strong believer in the value of peace, along with love, among nations and people. If one thing is being achieved, thus far, is to break the taboo of endlessly boycotting Israel.
Bambi believes in healthy communication among nations and people to solve problems and to grow, not to remain stuck in time or to move backward. In other terms, she is not fond of stonewalling or boycotting. She is also not into violence and endless wars. Clearly, Lebanon is the smallest and weakest nation here. Being neutral with all countries, powerful or not, can be a good defense as well as collaborative strategy.
So, yes talk directly with Israel. Talk with Syria. Same with Iran. As for the Hezbollah, no clue how to solve this endless suicidal problem, calling itself resistance to Israel while acting in total submission to Iran? Can’t we be resistant to both at the same time? How about putting Lebanon first for a change?
As Bambi mentioned earlier, she is not a military expert. Yet, she was reading today about a country she loves dearly, namely Haiti. It has welcomed an international force, helping suppress its widespread criminal gang problem (https://tinyurl.com/yeysjxb7).
Inspired by a similar model, could some foreign countries go help Lebanon with the disarmament of the Hezbollah (+ any other armed groups)? Bambi does not think that the task of disarming this militia should be implemented by Lebanon. Surely not by Israel… nor by the Americans. Could other (truly) neutral countries assist Lebanon with this touchy task?
While awaiting the next diplomatic meeting between Lebanon and Israel, with possibly another ceasefire extension (hoping not just on paper), Bambi wishes her birth country the best. She sends her heart to its people AND, since she has enough geographic and emotional distance, her heart also goes to the innocent Israeli people who have been victims of the Hezbollah’s weapons.
Thanks to the USA for fostering negotiations between these two Mediterranean countries. May peace prevail. May love bloom. May “peaceful words” as well as “acts of peace” be stronger than the scary sound of drones, missiles, and airstrikes.
