Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Comedy & Graffiti: a threat to National Security in the Lebanon

While the rest of the Arab world is demonstrating for one political reason or another, the Lebanese government has brought about a more colorful reason for its people to rebel against it. Rewind to the United States in 1972 where Larry Flynt famously fought for freedom of speech and you have a more civilized version of what's happening in Lebanon today.
As other countries in the region are fighting for democracy and freedom of speech, using Lebanon as a country of example in where they want to reach in terms of free media, the Lebanese government shows that the Arab country which prides itself for its democracy is in fact as loyal to that trait as the country's drivers are to the traffic lights.

Wednesday April 25, 2012 will reveal the fate of Edmund Hedded and Rawya Al Chab, two relevant personalities in the Lebanese media and art scene. They performed a stand up comedy skit during a fundraiser in which Edmund unzips his pants exposing a very lame pair of Superman briefs.
Rawya & Edmund; Lebanon's latest "criminal duo" & zoom in to see the underwear that threatened national security
No need to Google for more information which led the young thespians to court - that was the crime they committed which may cause them to end up in jail for one month plus penalty payment. It is good to know that the result of freedom of art, expression and media is not in the form of critical reviews or Oscars but rather the sense of humor of a Lebanese judge.

In an attempt to get a bit closer to exiting the Era of Ignorance do join the protest TODAY Wednesday 25, 2012 at the Beirut Justice Palace at 9:00am and SPREAD THE WORD.

The organizers of the protest offer to sign your boxers and lingerie as well. So come prepared.

However, even if the judge has a revelation and declares what has to be the world's most laughable convicts innocent - the damage has been done. No aspiring artist or person should be condemned for expressing themselves, nor should there be a fear instilled in the youth of our country and encourage their repression. The political instability and lack of security in our homeland does the job well enough as it is, and art has always been a means of shedding light and encouraging a united front. Hedded and Al Chab will not be the last of their kind, as we clearly witnessed a few days ago when graffiti artist Semaan Khawam was prosecuted and civil activists Ali Fakhri and Khodr Salameh were held in custody and interrogated.

Semaan Khawam's Facebook Profile Picture

How does graffiti provoke National Security while our educational institutes promote segregation and student political elections where university campuses turn into high security battle grounds where any faculty member and student is exposed to danger? When was the last time someone got hit on the head by a rock because of a drawing on the wall? I can recall a few months ago when the head of security at LAU got injured in the head because of student political elections.

The art and media world, both persons and associations, should come together and form a strong front supporting our freedom to express stay soulful and honest rather than check listed by an instruction manual less creative than an IKEA catalogue, or at the very least ensure that our creative process be welcomed in the 21st Century and not categorized on the same level as a terrorist threat.

Please 'Like' the Facebook page to support Rawya & Edmund's case as internet pressure is playing a big role in showing the true voice of the Lebanese people by clicking on the link below;
http://www.facebook.com/edmondrawya

Watch the Youtube video at the link below for more information;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-SOosjT8wY&feature=youtu.be

The following link is to the Facebook event created by Semaan Khawam & other graffiti artists inviting everyone to march on Tuesday May 1, 2012 for Freedom of Expression;

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