Bambi read this morning that “Iran’s Quds Force deputy commander says Hezbollah will never be disarmed… “The weapons of ‘the Resistance’ and the Lebanese people are the means of defending their land, and ‘the Resistance’ will never be disarmed” (https://tinyurl.com/bk37b72m). Iran forgot a little yet significant detail: Lebanon is not an extension of it. It is increasingly moving toward independence from its latest era of Iranian hegemony. Thus, it does not have the right to speak in the name of the “country of the cedars”, or any other state. Surely not in the name of the people of Lebanon.
With its controlling attitude, Iran is making Bambi think of narcissists and she is using this term in its most pathological or toxic sense, not just as a personality style or a buzzword. She will explain why: When it comes to abusive individuals—especially those with high narcissistic traits—, they often have people in their toxic circles who enable their overt or covert aggressive behaviour. Some may do it without fully realizing it while others chose to participate in the aggression. We commonly call these people “flying monkeys” because they carry out the manipulative actions of a narcissist. In other terms, they are used by narcissists. They could be essentially people-pleasers (or lacking solid boundaries), not as domineering as narcissists, yet they can cause trouble or frustration to the victims or targets.
Bearing the above in mind, let’s now try to think on a more macroscopic level, focusing on toxic or controlling behaviours among nations and not individuals. Iran has a history of resorting to regional manipulation in its Arab neighbourhood. It creates and finances extremist groups in weaker states, leading them to endless wars by proxy. The latest one is still ongoing in the Middle East.
In this volatile context, we can perhaps consider some entities as flying monkeys, including the Hezbollah or or the Houthis and what have you. They are used by Iran unless they decide to bring a significant change to their toxic ties to the Iranian regime, either ending them or becoming wiser about them.
In Bambi’s non-expert citizen opinion, Hezbollah has a historic domestic chance now to do the above by moving to a space of Lebanon’s interests, along with its fellow Lebanese citizens. It has also a historic opportunity to improve its image worldwide and eventually maybe stop being listed as a “terrorist entity” under Canadian law, like Hamas, El Qaida, and many other unkind groups (https://tinyurl.com/mrxzytf4).
Reforming its mission, by making it more Lebanese-focused, would be ideal. This means becoming/remaining a strictly political party, even if it wants to keep its Islamic philosophy or spirit of resistance. Why not? It is its right and Lebanon would benefit from this important voice too. However, Lebanon is sick and tired of being used and abused by Iran or by any flying monkey, whether external or internal, including the Hezbollah.
Stated differently, it would be a dream come true if the Hezbollah would finally accept to fully recycle itself into a strictly political party (without its scary militia wing), like all other parties at the end of the Lebanese civil war. No more weapons, the hot current issue until the end of the year, it seems (https://tinyurl.com/2pur32ms). No more past, present, or future wars, destruction, and heart aches. No more covert or overt aggression, counter-aggression, preventive aggression, blunt aggression, or occupations by Israel, Syria (or by any other neighbouring country or not). No more decisions of wars behind the back of the government—whether in Syria or with Israel. No more enabling behaviour by anyone. Just stronger borders, institutions, and a healthy will of living in peace.
With all due respect to the Hezbollah as a strictly potentially reformed political Lebanese party, it would be nice to one day see it considering changing its name or logo because both are too much in Bambi’s mind: God never asked to have a party in its name and the picture on the flag is far from being peaceful, even if the yellow colour is beautiful and the idea of a resistance is not the issue. It is its violent format, namely those remaining weapons that must be in the hands of the Lebanese authorities. Bravo to the Lebanese cabinet, which appears to be working well towards this direction. Good luck (https://tinyurl.com/2pur32ms).
Instead of “resisting” disarming itself, why can’t the Hezbollah learn to open the concept of resistance to others who have always “resisted” as well, aspiring for freedom and independence. They did it on their own, peaceful ways. They have used their pens, arts, or voices. They did not resort to weapons and wars. They have valued life and love. They do not aspire to live with an endless victim mentality, even if they have been victimized too. They want to thrive. They want their children and grandchildren to to live in peace once and for all.
Related to the above aspirations, why should the Lebanese people, including the Hezbollah (or any other armed groups), be suicidal just to please Iran in its wars by proxy? When will Iran stop fighting with the blood of the Lebanese people, including Hezbollah members or lovers? Of course, Bambi is saying all this regardless of the slogan du jour, whether it is fight for “Quds” [Jerusalem], the resistance of Lebanon, God, the hate of Israel and the USA, fight in the so-called name of the innocent Palestinians, or just for the sake of fighting.
