Quote:
Originally Posted by Dry Ice  What would make you think twice about living in Lebanon?
1. Political atmosphere [amongst people and amongst politicians]
2. Risk of war/violence
3. Driving on the roads
4. Pollution
5. Living expenses
6. Lack of society rules/respect
7. The effect of Image/Status in society: Personal, Sectarian, Financial, Educational, Professional..
8. Lack of job opportunities or lack of professional/financial growth
9. Lack of specific recreational activities such as: arts, theater, green areas
10. Other
ps: a poll is appreciated
Thanks |
Very interesting and important poll Dry Ice :-)
I think Lebanon is both a beautiful and difficult place to live in generally due to the shortage of many things and the presence of a few negative factors,but on the other hand,there are several positive factors that I think most people would be attracted to and makes them remain as a resident in Lebanon,despite the hardships!
I voted for:
5)
Living expenses: I think the living expenses in Lebanon are quite high consider the average income of a Lebanese citizen and the services they are receiving (or actually not receiving :-D ) ... People pay alot for electricity for example, yet the electricity is cut all the time
I remember I was trying to sleep in my grandmother's small home in Dahieh this summer,and the electricity was cut from 12 AM- 6 AM...my eyes teared because I was sad there was no electricity in the sleeping hours!
I can't believe citizens aren't provided with basic,essential things like electricity and water..Water is not easily supplied either
When it's hard to get a constant supply of electricity and water,I consider this a very negative point in Lebanon,because how can citizens live comfortably if they are not fully provided with these basics that they are obediently
paying for?
6)
Lack of society rules/respect:
There are both good and bad traits in all nationalities...One of the bad traits I realized in Lebanese people is that there is no general respect for rules and in some forms of communication (verbal communication with eachother)
Like when we a Lebanese policeman standing in the middle of an intersection somewhere in Beirut trying to direct & control traffic,most drivers ignore him and his directions! Though it's a very funny sight :-D It's actually also a sad sight because that tells alot about attitudes!
And the way Lebanese people drive for example,no caring for any rules of respect for other drivers,and for example,how [I noticed] many Lebanese people curse so easily at eachother and get into fights easily for silly reasons...
That indicated that the concept of respect and dialogue isn't really valued
In addition to this,it's discouraging to see how wastas are very strong and popular in Lebanon,I feel it undermines real & fair competition in careers and makes it seem like you can't work in a good position if you choose the non-wasta way...Wastas may benefit someone,but at the same time it's harming another person (Like by unfairly favouring a candidate over another,who might be more qualified in a certain job!)
Ofcourse I don't mean to generalize but this was just my observation :-)
and lastly,
7)
The effect of Image/Status in society: Personal, Sectarian, Financial, Educational, Professional..
Unfortunately this is also a negative point :-)
If I understood this choice correctly,I find it a bit choking how one's personal/sectarian/financial/educational/professional status dominates the Lebanese atmosphere...Like I feel if someone is from a prominent family,or from a 'popular' sect (nowadays,depending on your political orientation,your sect is either popular/unpopular
),or have a pretigious income,or you work in a presitigious job; that guarentees that most people will treat you like a king/queen
Ofcourse that's found everywhere in the world,but I just feel unfortunately nowadays the Lebanese society has become more superficial and more materialistic, looking at the surface and judging people according to these things
I consider those are the 3 main negative sides in Lebanon,though there are other important issues like enviroment,security,career opportunities; but I believe all those issues we can improve easily by working together and simply changing our perspectives on eachother :-)
Regards
26th October 2008
