The scenes of demonstrations on Beirut streets were heart-warming. It is not every day that crowds take to the street in Arab countries to challenge their governments. The Lebanese make us proud, despite their turbulent past. The Lebanese have come out of a gruelling civil war to salvage hope, but they are still fighting their demons, the demons of ethnic and sectarian turmoil. To this day, Lebanon is a powder keg, short-fused and ready to go. In the early days of the marches following the assassination of former prime minister Rafiq Al-Hariri, it seemed as if the entire country was united against Syria's presence. Martyrs' Square filled up with thousands who wanted the Syrians out. Their anger forced the government of Omar Karami out of office. Then, barely 36 hours later, the scene shifted as Hizbullah organised a demonstration of another type. This one was in support of Syrian presence. Hundreds of thousands showed up to pledge support to Syria. Their shouts got Lebanese President Emile Lahoud to ask Karami to form another government, this time with support from the Sunni community and Hizbullah. This was a fine show of democracy. It was also a risky one. The continued polarisation on the Lebanese scene may develop to the point of confrontation. As tensions run high, turmoil in the streets may rip the country asunder. As outsiders, we must not side with one party or another. But we have to voice a word of caution. What if a verbal exchange develops into a shooting? What if a bomb goes off? What if the police were to turn against the demonstrators? In a normal situation, demonstrations would be a simple expression of freedom. Knowing Lebanon's past, and how short-fused the country's security is, one wonders. Lebanon needs its democracy. It will hold free and fair parliamentary elections within weeks. Once this happens, the true representatives of the people would have every opportunity to sit together and decide which way to go, without vitriol, without mutual denigration. Lebanon has lived long enough under the cloud of sectarianism, under the horror of factional tension. It has been the scene of one of the region's bloodiest civil wars. Accusations of treason will not help anyone in Lebanon. Calling each other agents of France, Israel, or America will solve nothing.
