Future Super Star: Perhaps Melhem can do miracles

BEIRUT - What is the matter with the Arabs? Is it years of frustration and defeats that have lead them over the edge where they no longer care about what happens or what will happen to them but instead they look for trivial fixation to blow off steam.

In responding to the great question of historian Bernard Lewis, What Went Wrong, one answer pops to mind: Melhem Zein and the petty show known as Superstar. This might set Dr. Lewis' mind to rest.

Melhem Zein, who has taken the Arab world by storm, might undoubtedly be a good artist with a great voice, but so what? Does he deserve people to go crazy when he was kicked out of a show that might be rigged anyway?

Is it logical for people to storm the streets and begin rioting and disturbing civil peace and even self-falgilate themselves (in the Shiite way of commemorating the martyrdom of their third Imam al-Hussein in the battle of Karbala)?

The fans of Melhem Zein were not able to break away from clichés that the Arabs often use. These fans chanted the same slogans they use to salute their feudal lord (beik) or their party president. Standing in front of Future Television's offices, they expressed support to their super hero, Zein, by repeating the famous slogan: We sacrifice our soul and blood for you O Melhem.

Taking a closer look at the heart of the matter, one might find that the Arab problem is that they do not give a damn about anything any more. They just need a father figure which they always look to.

In a way, Melhem Zein was the new Gamal Abdul-Nasser. Nasser, indeed a superstar in the context of his own time and place, gave the Arabs some unfounded pride and dignity. It was justifiable for people to storm the streets when Nasser resigned after his defeat facing Israel in 1967, but this was a time when people were so involved in the Arab-Israeli conflict that they saw in Nasser the father that was able protect the nation and vanquish its enemies.

But Zein's heroism ultimately came to an end since at the end of the day, when shows and fireworks were over, he was left with the harsh reality that Arabs are ruled by dictators who do not bother to listen to the lyrics of Zein praising the bravery of sailors and some mountainous images.

While at it, did any one notice the poor socioeconomic situation in Lebanon while Zein was taking us on one of his fantasy trip? Did anyone notice that Zein's supporters who were protesting his knockout of the competition before its final stage should have been in fact demonstrating against electricity cuts at the time?

Some might argue that tourism has always been Lebanon's best bet, but how can a tourist come to a country and living without electricity? How can one explain to a tourist that the power ration was not due to a technical problem but to a corrupt system that goes unchecked by the masses who are preoccupied by Zein's defeat?

Those who protested Zein's knockout never noticed that their country was in deep trouble. The state is virtually bankrupt and unable to settle its debts. Expected budget cuts and austirity measures will have devastating effects on the country especially the Lebanese University which is barely surviving with current budget allocations.

The economic crisis is coupled with the fact that the Lebanese political system has reached a new low.

By-election in Baabda-Aley was a new confirmation that there was a long way to go before feudal and political inheritance would vanish and allow for a true democracy to rise from the currently dominant political system.

So we call on Mr. Zein to guide us in our on-going quest to establish a democratic country.

We call on him to lead the Arab resurgence so that Arabs might be able to defeat their Zionist enemy and all "the evil forces" that seem to be manipulating the universe.

Perhaps Zein has the magic solution to the Iraqi issue. We don't know whether Zein can do miracles, but one thing is certain. Without a miracle, things will certainly look blacker in the Arab world.

Hamid Assaf is a student at the Lebanese University. He wrote this article for Alternative