12 things you need to know if you’re Lebanese (by Joumana Haddad)
1. If a man loves men, if a woman loves women, if both love both, or whatever combination suits their emotional and sexual needs, it’s none of your business.
But if a man harasses a woman, abuses a woman, kills a woman (or vice versa, however uncommon that may be), it’s your damn business.
2. If a person doesn’t believe in your god, or doesn’t believe in any god, or believes in a god they made up themselves, it’s none of your business.
But if a person blows himself up, and kills others, and puts your life and the lives of your loved ones at risk because of his own fucked-up beliefs, it’s your damn business.
3. If someone wants to have sex, or doesn’t want to have sex, or doesn’t want to discuss their sex life with you, it’s none of your business.
But if someone forces another person to have sex, it’s your damn business.
4. If a woman chooses to take naked pictures of her body, it’s none of your business.
But if a woman’s body is used in an insulting advertisement in order to sell a product, it’s your damn business.
5. If your neighbor wears mini-skirts, comes back home late at night, and invites her boyfriend(s) over to her place, it’s none of your business.
But if your neighbor is screaming because her husband is beating her up, it’s your damn business.
6. If a couple wants to live together in this country without getting married, it’s none of your business.
But if a couple can’t have a civil marriage in this country, it’s your damn business.
7. If an artist (writer, painter, playwright, etc.) expresses something you do not like or agree with, it’s none of your business.
But if this artist is prohibited from expressing what he wanted or needed to express by a censorship committee, it’s your damn business.
8. If a girl is overweight, underweight, or whatever other “wrong” weight you think she is, it’s none of your business.
But if a girl is “married” (read: sold) to a 40 year old man, it’s your damn business.
9. If a Lebanese woman doesn’t or can’t or won’t have children, it’s none of your business.
But if a Lebanese woman can’t give her nationality to her children, it’s your damn business.
10. If someone doesn’t share your political views or allegiances, it’s none of your business.
But if you’re expected to give your loyalty or vote for someone only because they belong to the same religious confession as you, and if your parliament, or government, is made of 99% men, it’s your damn business.
11. If a man and a woman are kissing in a car, it’s none of your business.
But if a man or a woman doesn’t respect traffic lights, it’s your damn business.
12. If your son or daughter wants to spend their lives with someone from a different religion or ethnicity, it’s none of your business.
But if your son or daughter is convinced that people from another religion are “bad” and that people from another ethnicity are worthless, it’s your damn business (and your fault, most probably).
https://now.mmedia.me/lb/en/commentaryanalysis/536691-12-things-you-need-to-know-if-youre-lebanese
