How have I come to Love these Diversions

[YOSS]

So, in the midst of election heat and campaigning, fans emotions and partisanship increasing, what do we get slipping by in the small attention section of the newspaper? "New regulation for restaurants & pubs & nightclubs etc." disguised with a "noise" excuse.

The noticeable irony is in: who among sects/parties would be the first to object to such regulation, and who is deciding it. The very same people.

The people who would object to this with major leverage would be the Christians. And the Christians by this move, are being taken from behind. Silenced.

The main ingredient that sustain a social life and an 'alive' population; a population feeding and feeding on the 75% of its economy in both revenues and motivation.
The main ingredient that kept the free cause going has been restrained.

New regulations restrict noise at pubs, restaurants
By The Daily Star (Feb 27, 2009)

BEIRUT: Interior Minister Ziyad Baroud and Tourism mister Elie Marouni issued Thursday a series of new regulations concerning the work of restaurants, cafes, pubs and nightclubs in residential and non-residential areas.

The memorandum stipulates that concerning restaurants, cafes, pubs, and nightclubs located in residential areas, music and other shows ought to stop at 1:30 a.m. on Friday, Saturday and on holidays, and at midnight the rest of the week.

Closing time for restaurants, cafes, pubs, and nightclubs is 2 a.m. on Fridays, Saturdays and on holidays, and 1 a.m. the rest of the week.

As for outlets located in non-residential areas, music is to be turned off at 2:30 a.m. on Friday, Saturday and on holidays and at 1:30 a.m. the rest of the week.

Restaurants, cafes, pubs, and nightclubs located in non-residential areas will close down at 3:30 a.m. on Fridays, Saturdays, and on holidays, and at 2:30 a.m. the rest on the week.


Once more; do we want a money making economy, or a culture & tradition making economy, and a truly free one?

Apply the example of this decision, and see how it's main aim is to render an individual more productive for the business he/she works for.

It does not mean that our current system reduces productivity, it just means that the new system is ensuring it, and doing so in manners limiting the 'divertissement' aspect, which frustrates the creator in each individual, and multiplies the worker/soldier role type within the population's life.

For this is no small matter at all. It affects the overall dynamics of our social & economical life, and in very dangerous fashions.

A most productive worker, or creator, is a free & happy one. And that is discounted when the happiness of only a few is accounted for, and the rest left to pick up the miettes while making the formers lots of money & energy.

Welcome to the United states of America, it's business alliances and their political aspect in Lebanon.

When the main power brokers in the country become strictly motivated by economic productivity and business sector control of the public one, how many years do you think it will take until the average Lebanese fairs in knowledge like an average American?

[JD06]

well i can understand the rules for clubs and restaurants in residential areas but the ones tht are not in residential areas should be allowed to stay open as long as thy like.

[dodzi]

Closing time at 2 am in a highly residential area is very normal.

Here in Belgium, in a student city, it is 1 am...

It's completely normal. Noise have to be kept at a minimum after a certain hours... People in Gemmayze have lobbied to the government to obtain certain regulations! It's good that the government is listening to them!

Hella2 if people don't like it, they can move their pubs elsewhere! It's actually the kind of decision that is reflecting progress in this country, not backwardness!

Calling this a violation of Christian rights is the most populistic and propagandistic thing I've heard this week!

In fact, people living in Gemmayze are mostly Christians, and it is their rights that are being protected!

[Ra3ed]

Originally Posted by YOSS

So, in the midst of election heat and campaigning, fans emotions and partisanship increasing, what do we get slipping by in the small attention section of the newspaper? "New regulation for restaurants & pubs & nightclubs etc." disguised with a "noise" excuse.

The noticeable irony is in: who among sects/parties would be the first to object to such regulation, and who is deciding it. The very same people.

The people who would object to this with major leverage would be the Christians. And the Christians by this move, are being taken from behind. Silenced.

[....]

[....]

Welcome to the United states of America, it's business alliances and their political aspect in Lebanon.

When the main power brokers in the country become strictly motivated by economic productivity and business sector control of the public one, how many years do you think it will take until the average Lebanese fairs in knowledge like an average American?

كل ما دق الكوز بالجرة
you come to the christian rights , ennou 7labtouhoun lal christian rights ...

what does this issue have with the christian rights ??
The businessman or woman ,who happened to be muslim, and owns a night club , a bar or a restaurant is not affected ?? or do you mean that the youth, who happened to be muslim, stay home and are not affected by such regulations while the youth,who happened to be christians, are everynight out and alone affected by such regulations ?

To have regulations for bars , restaurants and night clubs located in residential or non residential areas is something very normal that should be not only written as law but also controlled !!!

A country without regulations bensebbou lal wazir ,
A country with regulations bensebbou lal wazir ...
This is called nizam wel lebneneh sha3eb ma t3awwad 3al nizam !!!


The time of the closure and stoping the music can be debatable in non residential areas and in residential areas but what is not acceptable is to make the subject appears as if it is the right of a sect.


I am someone affected about closure and stoping the music in pubs , bars and night clubs and this not because am a resident near those. Still i accept to have regulations, try as much as i can to respect them ( which is not easy , i have to admit),
AND i do not picture the issue as if it is the right of a minority in a foreign country since am living outisde lebanon. ma khass tozz b marhaba.

[YOSS]

Normal by who's terms? Just becoz in Belgium they close at 1 pm doesn't mean we have to, and surely does not mean it is the norm; and even if it was so, whoever said the norm is correct?

This approach taken by some and justifying it as sound 'noise' regulation are digging their heads in the sand. Clubs causing noise can be asked to improve sound proofing or move; pay fines in the interim, etc.

But outright setting a regulation for across the nation, to close down at specific hours, and so, even in non residential areas, is a clear sign of the real intentions of such regulation.

Of course, when we see something happen that exists in the West, we the Lebanese go: "Well, that is progress". And we don't see how we are kept busy with nonsense while some are changing our nation from behind the scenes.
See that line you kept saying throughout the years: "Amazing the Lebanese people, war, bad economy, no jobs, etc, and yet the partying goes on all night and in style"? Eh kiss it goodbye. And you'll kiss it goodbye, with knowing it's consequences only after it's too late.

Eh alla ykoun, bel 3on.



p.s: i never said it was the right of some sect; I said the ones with the most leverage to object to this have been taken from behind. What you call nizam, after some clouds dissipate from your perception, you'll see it's only a method of control, so you produce some more dollars like a good little citizen. Enjoy it.

[taifoon]

Regulating the closure and opening times for restaurants, cafes, pubs, and nightclubs is so north korean, so baathi and so "unlebanese". If those geniuses had increasing productivity in mind, they had better start learning the basics of market economy. Nothing can be more counter productive than imposing restrictions on businesses and on people's consumption habits..

What is needed on the other hand is a general law on all lebanese lands that bans noise pollution, not only in those places but everywhere and at all times. In some restaurants and nightclubs, I have experienced a noise level of music that qualifies as biological warfare.. So, keep your hands off one pillar of our freedoms and focus your hunger for restrictions instead on the many damaged ears and nerves such destructive weapon have caused and will continue to cause our society.

[Libnene Qu7]

Thank God for this move. Seriously, Lebanese partying has gotten way out of hand. The last time I went out in Lebanon was during my visit last summer. I couldn't believe that parties started at midnight! Don't these folks have lives and things to do the next day??

I salute minister Baroud for yet another decision into inching this country ever so slowly towards normalcy. We need more people like him in power!!

By they way, Yoss, no one parties harder than New York City. And even they have a regulation to close at 2am. Furthermore, I utterly fail to see how this rule in any way violates Christian rights. Zhe2na Christian nagging on every single little thing.

[zodiac]

Great move by ministers Baroud and Marouni.. and a long waited one!!
Seriously its really odd to find places where parties starts at 2:00 AM!!!
Hope owners will commit to the new regulations!

[Yensoun]

1) What do nightclubs and bars have to do with anything Christian. In fact most of what happens in bars and night clubs is un-Christian.

A real Christian in fact would not even go to a night club to avoid the occasion of sin, since it is wrong to even put oneself in tempting situations even if one does not have an intention to sin.

A major problem in the Middle East is the WRONG, WRONG, WRONG perception that Christians are: cool, party, wear mini-skirts and drink alcohol.

These have nothing to do with Chirstianity, in fact the Christian truth calls on its faithful to adhere to a life of modesty, prudence, chastity and temperance. The daily internal battle that is the Christian truth is a demanding and fulfilling one. It has no place for frivolities.

2) It is absolutely astounding that the Lebanese live such lifestyles. It's not just the young. Across all ages there is a thick, destructive atmosphere of excess. Maybe the Lebanese living in Lebanon should all be forced to emigrate to learn how to work hard, be forced to pay bloody taxes and adhere to the rule of law. Whilst the Lebanese who have had it really tough abroad, should be brought back and should run the country.

There is nothing wrong with having fun, but the Lebanese in Lebanon really take it too far. There is so much more to life. It is really shocking when you see 18 year olds driving expensive cars and living a luxurious life. What kind of citizens will they develop into.

[totally_neutral]

Believe me...I am a Muslim and I say it, Muslims who go clubbing every saturday may be even more than Christians.. and Muslims (especially Arabs) who owns nightclubs and resto-pubs in Lebanon are many......this has nothing to do with Christian rights, it just happens to be that those places exist in Christians areas. (I know it's too wrong to say christian areas and muslim areas but I am trying to be realistic, this is how things are in Lebanon).

However, I think that the people of Gemmayze were not disturbed from the night clubs and restaurants who operate in the street as most of them have sound crashing walls..the main disturbance comes from the street, this unbelievable traffic jam and people screaming in the street and listening to loud music in their cars, this is what our fat minister should take care of and not any other thing..