The shockwave of truth

On the eve of the 75th memorial of one of the most devastating acts in human history, when the city of Hiroshima was pulverized within seconds; I found myself looking out my window investigating a heap of smoke rising to the sky from the Beirut port area. In a mix of confusion and disappointment, I was telling my sister in law (who was carrying my one-year-old son) that there was a huge fire.

I didn't get a chance to finish my sentence before I saw the fire start turning into a mushroom cloud within less than a second right before my eyes. I started screaming: EXPLOSION! EXPLOSION! At the top of my lungs. Scurrying my sister in law and my infant son to the corridor and seeing my Wife cradling my 4-year-old and my mother in law crouching on the ground I saw the meaning of my life... how can I protect them, how can I absorb the harm of what was to come, I would have given anything then and there to know they were going to be safe; in my head, we had no chance.

Then the shockwave hit we were lucky enough to be unharmed, I ran back to my window and saw the red, orange and black cloud rising above the fire that was burning. My family was screaming hysterically, try to explain to a 4-year-old and a 1-year-old what just happened. My parents, brothers, uncles, aunt, and friends were on my mind. I grabbed my phone to make sure everyone is safe, nothing... the network and data were down.

My wife instantly took my kids to the building lobby, I stayed back still trying to reach someone, turning on the TV for answers, running like a headless chicken, trying to understand myself what had just happened.

No matter the cause of the explosion, we have all lost something dear to us this evening, some more than others especially loved ones who can never be replaced. These martyrs were the ones who protected their families and ours in that moment of weakness where we couldn't, they paid the price for us to survive and I thank and salute them from all my heart.

To our Martyr's I tell them you can rest in peace knowing you have protected us, and the shockwave you have sent has shown us as a people the truth. Lebanon cannot continue with the "defacto" business as usual attitude, it is time for a rebirth!

It is time to shed everything that was built on corruption, sectarianism, hate, greed, gluttony, carelessness, and start anew. Neither the political Leaders nor the religious leaders we have glorified since the birth of our beloved nation can save us. Only standing united with the spirit of our forefathers, who shed their blood to give us our nation; and rebuilding a system that allows us to evolve from the dregs of society we have become will be our salvation.

It's time to see the truth and Evolve, our political leaders entangled in the chaos of the regional bulsh*t, don't give a shit about us as a nation or as a people they have lined their pockets so much and we have deified them for too long that they believe they are invincible and indispensable.

Tomorrow some poor guy who signed a paper somewhere will get the blame and he won't be able to stop the avalanche that will befall him. Whereas every single one of us knows the truth, we were born with it and live by it and have neglected it for so long.

THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT US!

To them, tomorrow will be business as usual approach just like the many catastrophes we have faced and are facing.

So to those who picked up their passports today and had the luxury to think where they could probably end up to escape, I ask you to think of what you are leaving behind! One day your children will ask why you didn't choose to stay and you will have to explain that Lebanon is the heaven that we all believe in and you gave up on it.

So before you regret, let the shockwave that echoed throughout the Mediterranean as loud as Homer's Odyssey be the veil of truth that for once blinds your eyes and if not for yourself or the martyrs take a stand for your children so that if they choose to travel you know that there is always somewhere they can call home.

My two cents