A Real Future
By Wael Fatayri, Staff Writer

Beirut, Lebanon - Twice a day, I swim in the thoughts of my future: when I wake up and when I go back to bed. Twice a day, this river of thoughts becomes murkier. Perhaps it is too early for me to think of the future. Or is it? Is it ever worth the time to plan ahead, especially when we are living in a country like Lebanon? I have never lost hope in my country. But “never” is no more. I have reached a stage in my life where I have come to realize I want the best in everything I embark on − be it my career, education or just any other simple activity. This whirlpool of ambitions that I have is so powerful that sometimes I scare myself. I am sure many young men and women are like me. Dreams and ambitions are necessary for anyone to reach a peak. But in a place where dreams have been broken, I have learnt that I will have to fight to restore the peak I yearn to reach.

Dear Lebanese brothers and sisters, I call upon you to wake up. Look around you; is this what you really want? Is this the place where you want your children to grow? Are we so blinded by our –isms that we can no longer realize that the place that is our home is turning into our graveyard? We have been through wars before. We have tasted the sorrow. Why go through it all again, and for what? Those who are so-called "leaders" are using us like pawns in their political game of chess − amusing for them, fatal to us. They could not care less if a couple of thousand of people fight to death. Wake up!

I understand if this were happening in the eighteenth century, when humanity and democracy were concepts still in development. When was religion a drive to abolish human beings? What words of God ask for war? Unfortunately, we are the generation of the 21st century, and we still see people from ancient civilizations roaming around. It is like a disease spreading its evil hands and taking over fresh minds − minds that are supposed to be winning Nobel prizes and opening new ventures, minds that are supposed to build and thrive, minds that are supposed to raise generations to keep the great Lebanon up and going. I am afraid this might be too late. It is like building a castle of toothpicks and blowing it out, over and over again…

My Lebanese brothers and sisters, you have to realize that what was once your home country will become your curse. There is no turning back on actions that will destroy. Live and let live. Occupy your time with fulfilling your dreams and working hard to have the lives every human being deserves.

Too many people have already died. Too many tears have been cried for a country that was once paradise. We have always taken our country for granted. Look at how sick it is now − nearly passing. Not that anyone should care, but I am speaking for myself in saying: I would rather have a real future, one way or another…

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