Romy Haber
It's truly a pity that there are so many so-called "academics" out there who just can't seem to grasp the concept of federalism. Despite the tireless efforts of countless patriots to educate them, they insist on persisting in their lazy thinking and calling it divorce.
They cling to their outdated dogma, content to let the country flounder in a sea of misery, as long as they can pose as the cosmopolitan elite above sectarianism. With a fancy Western education and a holier-than-thou attitude towards sectarianism, they are the darlings of academia and the urban elite. While they bask in their own perceived superiority and romanticize their “Levantine cosmopolitism”, Lebanese, especially minorities, suffer from the very real consequences: wars, immigration, poverty, and, extinction.
It seems like we're stuck in a never-ending loop of repeating ourselves to those who refuse to understand a simple concept. So let us once again state it in terms that even a toddler could comprehend: Federalism is not partition. Federalism is not a divorce. Federalism is a system of governance that distributes power between a central authority and constituent units. Federalism allows for more localized decision-making and accommodates the unique needs and perspectives of diverse communities within a larger nation. Federalism provides a platform for diversity management by enabling regional or local authorities to implement policies that reflect the unique needs and values of their respective constituents. By promoting diversity through localized decision-making and inclusive policies, federalism can help to create a more equitable and responsive society that respects and values the differences among individuals and groups.
Some people might find the idea of sharing power and resources a bit scary. So they have to rely on fear-mongering and baseless accusations. Some of the naysayers claim that the problem is not the system as a form of governance but rather the system as a group of corrupt and sectarian demagogues. These demagogues are products of the current system - it's the soil in which they grow. These demagogues understand the situation better than some academics and that’s why they reject federalism. It threatens their grip on power and their ability to manipulate the system to their advantage. And as for those who still cling to the hope of implementing the Taef agreement properly; how many decades do we have to wait before we admit that it has failed?
However, the most ridiculous excuse the voices against federalism use is that federalists do not want real federalism and that Christians are hiding behind the term because they are hesitant or afraid to demand partition. Let’s make things clear: Federalists are not afraid of calling a spade a spade. It is those who fear change and progress that cower behind empty rhetoric. Federalists want a system of governance that respects the diversity of our nation and accommodates the unique needs and perspectives of every community based on the rule of law.
Lebanese Christians are offering a solution, and it's called federalism. If they are denied this solution, they won't simply sit back and watch their people go extinct or live as dhimmis in their own country. They will choose self-determination over victimhood. This is how separatist movements start.
The beauty of federalism lies in its foundation of unity and inclusivity, where all parties have a voice and a stake in the matter. Federalism is being offered, but if declined, partition will be imposed.