The Noble Lie: LEO STRAUSS; the neo-conservatives and the March 14 Leadership,

[Smith]

in a press conference GMA was asked about the political assasination of 14 march figures so hee quoted from Leo Strauss something like that "if you want to harm your ennemy kill the ennemy of your ennemy and then blame your ennemy" can someone here post the exact quotation please?

[J. Abizeid]

Originally Posted by Smith

in a press conference GMA was asked about the political assasination of 14 march figures so hee quoted from Leo Strauss something like that "if you want to harm your ennemy kill the ennemy of your ennemy and then blame your ennemy" can someone here post the exact quotation please?

Thank you for noticing that; you are right GMA did say it and he knew exactly what he was talking about.
It is no secret the Syrians were responsible for many political assassinations during their 29 years of occupation with the approval of the supreme powers they employed them back then.
On the other hand, it is obvious the assassinations of the 14 March figures starting with Hariri were designed to put pressure on the Syrians giving them a taste of their own medicine.
What’s also obvious is that the recent release of the four Generals was the beginning of a new era of putting Syria back in charge of Lebanon through the M14 camp.
Walid Jumblat knew all along, back in the seventies the Syrians killed his farther but supported them anyway during their 29 years of occupation. He said he was lying to them back then but he’s going back to them now…. That’s a simple fact that describes the M14 leadership criterion but that seems to work since their followers, (Vulgar Many) are still so many…..
I mentioned above, the good and the ugly know the truth but the bad doesn’t and doesn’t want to see it.
The M14 politicians who lost their relatives due to political assassinations were understandably outraged. They started as (bad- Vulgar many) accusing the wrong party but they realized overtime their supporters were in fact their relatives killers the (Ugly - Wise Few). Instead of joining the (Good), they decided to cash in their victim’s blood by accepting the (Ugly) deal since they felt they have nothing to lose but plenty to gain politically and financially. (Another form of the Stockholm syndrome)
I lost track of how many inexperienced and unqualified politicians came to power because of that reason. Maybe someone on this forum can give us a complete list starting with Mr. Saad…
The irony lingers in the rest of their followers who gained nothing but social hardships and remained (Vulgar Many masses) instead of supporting the (Good).

Having said all that, I can understand Leo Strauss’ vision about our defective society; he identified its imperfections and used them brilliantly; the majority of the masses are begging to be controlled and be told what to do. The (Ugly - Wise Few) shall stay in power so long the (Bad - Vulgar Many) can’t handle the virtue of the truth.
Historically speaking, the (Vulgar Many) are the ones who crucified Jesus their (Good) savior while the (Ugly) Romans were watching and laughing at them killing their best friend.

Finally I have a funny story about a major car dealer I know. He’s in the habit of calling me on Sunday to say hello and mention how much he enjoyed the Sunday mass service; during weekdays, he calls to talk about his business and his multiple court appearances because of so many clients' lawsuits against dealership. Finally I had to ask him why so many? He said because we rip them of all the time. I said why? He said: Anytime I see an idiot walking in my dealership, it is my duty is to rip him of.
I was shocked to here him say that but the more I see the more I believe…

[J. Abizeid]

Originally Posted by Smith

in a press conference GMA was asked about the political assasination of 14 march figures so hee quoted from Leo Strauss something like that "if you want to harm your ennemy kill the ennemy of your ennemy and then blame your ennemy" can someone here post the exact quotation please?

I came across this paragraph from one of my favorite books. It’s an eye opener that relates to why GMA’s vision about a secular society created for him so many enemies from the inside and the outside. And once again, the masses are to dumb to discern between their liberator and their jailer.

"Strauss was openly contemptuous of secular democracy – he stated that religion is absolutely essential for imposing moral law on the masses (or vulgar many). At the same time, he stressed, religion is to be reserved for the masses, as the ruling elite need not be bound by it. He argued it would be illogical for the rulers to be bound by religion, since the truths proclaimed by religion are in his words “a pious fraud.” Hence, secular society is the least desirable situation because it leads to individualism, liberalism, and relativism."

[needfortruth]

J.,

Thanks for all this. I feel tired of dealing with the Lebanese politics and thank God someone like you still have the energy and drive to keep 'turning on the light' for some people. I have so much to post in line with your thoughts but unfortunately only have time to write these few words. Anyway, you are doing a great job in keeping the focus on the right issue: Tawtin.

Thanks, and keep writing!

[J. Abizeid]

Originally Posted by needfortruth

J.,

Thanks for all this. I feel tired of dealing with the Lebanese politics and thank God someone like you still have the energy and drive to keep 'turning on the light' for some people. I have so much to post in line with your thoughts but unfortunately only have time to write these few words. Anyway, you are doing a great job in keeping the focus on the right issue: Tawtin.

Thanks, and keep writing!

Thanks for noticing what I’m trying to do here.
I understand where you’re coming from. I think you are more disappointed than tired…
That’s what GMA meant when he said after the June 7 elections: I’m not mad at them, I’m sorry for them….
I have a feeling GMA among others who wish well to our society are finally realizing the Straussian philosophy has its reasons and justifications. That’s what people want. Imagine opening the jail door for a prisoner who lived all his life in captivity and has adapted so such a lifestyle. You might be doing him a disservice because he doesn’t know what to do with his freedom; he feels more secured in jail; he might accuse you of kicking him out of his shelter. So why bother…

Some don’t believe my stories are true but they are!
I have another one for you I still remember since I was seven years old when I went to a private school; they had a full-size (Fargo) bus (auto car) that brought us back and forth from home. The bus used to be parked in a side garage open to the playground with the doors locked but the windows rolled down to keep it cool.
The kids got the idea how to open the bus door by having one of them stand on another’s shoulders so he can reach inside through the open window and open the door.
I used to watch them do it but never did it myself until one day, while we were inside the bus playing and having a wild time, someone started yelling (jokingly) that the teacher is on her way over. All of us started scrambling down and out for the bus. The last one slammed the door shut on one of the kid’s fingers and stated running away. I looked back and saw the poor kid crying with his hand stuck under the door.
The question is what would you have done in that case?
I decided to take action to free the victim. I managed to convince one of the kids to go back with me and let me step on his shoulders so I can do what the others have been doing to open the door except in my case my intentions were to help free that kid which I did.
Inevitably, all three of us (just the three of us no others) ended up at the principal’s office with the kid crying and his hand bleeding. When the principle asked him who’s responsible for his injury he pointed the finger at me by saying that I caused him most of his pain while I was leaning on the door trying to open it for him.

It’s up the reader to understand the moral of the story…
Hint; It’s not funny,

[orange_leb]

after all it is funny
looks like that Gebran bassil story with the ministry of telecommunication
anyways man what u wrote was fantastic , thanks for sharing (y)

[J. Abizeid]

Originally Posted by orange_leb

hehe it is funny, (may not be funny for u)
man what u wrote was fantastic , thanks for sharing (y)

I agree with you; I’d rather laugh than cry.
But believe me it’s a true story that happened to me which I’ll never forget.
Welcome to our bizarre society.

[J. Abizeid]

Originally Posted by orange_leb

after all it is funny
looks like that Gebran bassil story with the ministry of telecommunication
anyways man what u wrote was fantastic , thanks for sharing (y)

When human behavior stops making sense, I refer to philosophy and human psychology.
Human behavior is predictable (even suicide); all it takes is education and life experience.

[Mar1K]

Originally Posted by J. Abizeid

Thanks for noticing what I’m trying to do here.
I understand where you’re coming from. I think you are more disappointed than tired…
That’s what GMA meant when he said after the June 7 elections: I’m not mad at them, I’m sorry for them….
I have a feeling GMA among others who wish well to our society are finally realizing the Straussian philosophy has its reasons and justifications. That’s what people want. Imagine opening the jail door for a prisoner who lived all his life in captivity and has adapted so such a lifestyle. You might be doing him a disservice because he doesn’t know what to do with his freedom; he feels more secured in jail; he might accuse you of kicking him out of his shelter. So why bother…

Some don’t believe my stories are true but they are!
I have another one for you I still remember since I was seven years old when I went to a private school; they had a full-size (Fargo) bus (auto car) that brought us back and forth from home. The bus used to be parked in a side garage open to the playground with the doors locked but the windows rolled down to keep it cool.
The kids got the idea how to open the bus door by having one of them stand on another’s shoulders so he can reach inside through the open window and open the door.
I used to watch them do it but never did it myself until one day, while we were inside the bus playing and having a wild time, someone started yelling (jokingly) that the teacher is on her way over. All of us started scrambling down and out for the bus. The last one slammed the door shut on one of the kid’s fingers and stated running away. I looked back and saw the poor kid crying with his hand stuck under the door.
The question is what would you have done in that case?
I decided to take action to free the victim. I managed to convince one of the kids to go back with me and let me step on his shoulders so I can do what the others have been doing to open the door except in my case my intentions were to help free that kid which I did.
Inevitably, all three of us (just the three of us no others) ended up at the principal’s office with the kid crying and his hand bleeding. When the principle asked him who’s responsible for his injury he pointed the finger at me by saying that I caused him most of his pain while I was leaning on the door trying to open it for him.

It’s up the reader to understand the moral of the story…
Hint; It’s not funny,

Here's some of the morals that you can get from your story:

1- If its not your fault, don't fix it
2- why don't you perfect your job?
3- 3mol mnih w kebb bel ba7er (do good, no matter what ppl might think or say)
4- some people are not worth it

etc...

Now, it depends on what kind of a person you are to pick one.

[J. Abizeid]

Originally Posted by Mar1K

Here's some of the morals that you can get from your story:

1- If its not your fault, don't fix it
2- why don't you perfect your job?
3- 3mol mnih w kebb bel ba7er (do good, no matter what ppl might think or say)
4- some people are not worth it

etc...

Now, it depends on what kind of a person you are to pick one.

There is a spiritual level that humans reach where their personal satisfaction becomes more spiritual than materialistic.
I sincerely believe GMA is a lot happier today as a rebel who defied the superpowers and sacrificed the Presidency and its phony glamour so he can speak out his mind and defend the rights of the good and the bad alike against the powers of the ugly evil.