Monday, January 01, 2007

DPA: Political conflicts seep into Lebanon's classrooms

Middle East Features
By Pakinam Amer
Jan 1, 2007, 2:25 GMT

Beirut - Political conflict has seeped into classrooms as college and high-school students and even children take sides while Lebanon suffers under a deteriorating political standoff.

'Are you (the ruling) March 14 (Forces) or opposition? the kids at my school always ask me nowadays,' says a young veiled student aged around 15, adding that fellow students once threatened her with a stick as they asked her who she supported.

Lebanon has been witnessing political turmoil since clashes erupted between opposition forces and the government several weeks ago.

The Shiite Amal and Hezbollah movements withdrew their support from the government, freezing their parliamentary membership and urging followers to take to the street in a sit-in that has been ongoing since December 1.

In two of Lebanon's main squares, hundreds of opposition remain gathered under white tents, holding rallies every night and bringing family and friends to join in.

Their attempt to topple Prime Minister Fouad Seniora's regime and to discredit Saad Hariri - leader of Future party and son of slain leader Rafik Hariri - have met a rigid stand from Seniora's regime.

Supporters of the government also have held rallies, but their voices were always drowned by the daily festival-like protests that the opposition held in the squares in they occupy.

Children and teens have been joining in the rhetoric. Political discussions and outspoken support for certain factions have led some schools to impose a 'punishment' system in which students lose points if they 'talk politics', whether in class or on the playground.

Teachers and professors were also banned from publicly expressing their political standpoints.

'But they can't hold themselves back. The teachers tell us not to discuss politics, but they discuss it despite themselves,' says Khaled el-Arabi, a Sunni high school student, who supports the opposition.

But while many of the opposition claim it is 'healthy' to talk politics, just as many school headmasters have told the press recently that the conflicts are tearing their students apart, dividing them and sometimes leading to rowdy arguments and fights.

'It bothers me that it has affected students so much,' says Mohammed, a 16-year-old at a private college. 'We clash. In some arguments, I feel that I might lose a friend because of differences.'

Two young opposition supporters, who refused to give their names, say they have been 'disciplined' by their college professor for expressing their views. 'They don't want fights because of this,' says one.

On the first day of the opposition's sit-in, a witness said a fight erupted between young rival supporters in one of Beirut's neighbourhoods. Even young children barged in and threw stones at each another.

Observers have told local TV and radio talk shows that while being 'politicized' can be healthy in adults or college students, it is not so for children aged 10 or 12, and they back the school ban on political discussions.

Some also say the children should not be blamed, but their parents. In protests, children often simply tag along, and so come to repeat what their parents say - perhaps without full realization. Because of the protests, many have become outspoken.

Speaking to a small group of the Hezbollah 'al-Mahdi' Girl Scout, all no older than 12, makes clear they are more involved than their ages suggests.

Listing reasons why Seniora's government was 'illegitimate' and how the premier had failed Lebanese people during last summer's 33- day conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, the girls are passionate and outspoken as they state what they 'believe in'.

Using words like 'democracy,' 'a need for a clean government' and knowing the names of American foreign diplomats, the girls sound beyond their age.

Nevertheless, some say they are facing problems because of politics and lack of 'tolerance.'

Zeinab, a 10-year-old member of Hezbollah's al-Mahdi Girl Scouts, says: 'One teacher told me 'if girls like you (from Hezbollah) stop going to school, Lebanon will be free and liberated'.'

Zeinab says she has asked to be moved to a Hezbollah-dominated school because of such comments, 'and to also be among my friends.'

At another level, some argue that students - no matter how old or young - are distracted by the protests, and that the hyped political activities are ruining the school year as end-of-term exams approach.

'I'm failing some subjects because of this,' says el-Arabi, the Sunni student, explaining that he is 'a clever' student.

El-Arabi's friends, standing at his side, also say they lost marks because they have often abandoned studies in order to go watch the festival-like rallies held every day.

And a headmaster has recently told the pan-Arab al-Arabiya television that some children have used the rallies as an excuse to skip school.

© 2006 dpa - Deutsche Presse-Agentur
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Link: http://news.monstersandcritics.com/middleeast/features/article_1238567.php/Political_conflicts_seep_into_Lebanons_classrooms
http://www.aina.org/news/20070101154018.htm

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