Sawsan Maksoud:On the Edge of Fire!

On the Edge of Fire! Security is very significant. Without it we live a life plenty of fear, turbulence, and frustration. It is a feeling that makes you happy and comfortable. Moreover, it makes you feel that your life has an important value and your soul deserves tranquility. Nowadays, security in Lebanon becomes threatened due to many reasons. It cannot be avoided without cooperation, and unity. Unemployment, ignorance, and sectarianism are the three main causes of the insecurity in Lebanon. These reasons affect people and society in many ways. They cause hatred and malice; Then, violence and wars. To begin with, unemployment is an essential reason which can threat the security in Lebanon. The main cause of unemployment in Lebanon is there are few employment opportunities. It causes social and economic problems which can destabilize the security. For example, it increases illegal means of earning livelihoods. In Lebanon where unemployment is on the rise, the cases of robberies, gambling, and bribery increase obviously. Moreover, people suffer from desperation because they think that they are unable to do anything, and that their skills are very limited. Therefore, some of them immigrate to another place and the others still in their place with a spirit deprived from confidence. This can create envy and hatred in their hearts toward wealthy people, and the people who have a good standard of living. Thus, unemployment is very dangerous as like as poverty which is considered the evil of the century. Secondly, ignorance is another cause of insecurity in Lebanon. It is the substantial cause of fanaticism. Each group belongs to a social circle whose members have the same traditions, beliefs, and thoughts. Some people who are fanatic cannot accept the discrepancy, because they believe that any person out of circle is a strange one. As a result, they cannot treat him as the group members even consider him as an integrate person in their circle. Therefore, they tend to obfuscate his opinions, and treat him unkindly by disrespecting and neglecting him. This fanatic behavior can lead to many problems such as degeneration, violence, and introverts. These issues affect the society and people’s relationships. They may create malice, and aversion into their hearts toward each other’s. Consequently, conflicts will become widespread in Lebanon instead of peace and love. Thirdly, sectarianism is the primary reason of instability and insecurity in Lebanon. Sectarianism is present throughout the world. Wherever people of different religions live in close proximity to each other, religious sectarianism can often be found in varying forms and degrees. In some areas, religious sectarians now exist peacefully side-by-side for the most part. However, in Lebanon there has been conflict at various periods between sects. Sectarianism leads to wars and conflicts. Each group of people considers himself the best. Therefore, any difference can create a flame of hatred, and revenge among the sects. As a result, many innocent people die due to fanaticism and ignorance. Lastly, revenge will create into people’s hearts, and wars will spread the community. Finally, this insecurity cannot be resolved unless by cooperation and unity among people and between people and government. Besides, families should teach their children that we are all human beings like each other and we don’t differ from each other, unless by our believes . In addition, you should respect and love each other because society cannot be thrived without love and cooperation. Furthermore, government should assure jobs for people in all fields. Last but not least I want to say as Bill Clinton said, “We all do better when we work together.”