When I heard the news that Lebanon had won a seat on the rotating part of the Security Council (made up of five permanent members and 10 rotating 2-year non-renewable members), the first for the nation since 1954, I was going to write a piece about that delusional nationalism that Lebanese are so known for.

A nationalism that preaches that Lebanon is a special nation with some genetic superior factor. The Lebanese have long promoted a belief that Lebanon is some sort of special country - the land of the Phoenicians - that has bequeathed to the world disproportionate betterment. The Lebanese like to tout the success of Lebanese overseas as “proof” of the supposedly great genes in Lebanese. And whenever a Lebanese wins anything, the media does not just express pride in the nation’s son or daughter; but editorializes that the victory is like no other victory beforehand. For instance, if a Lebanese wins a medical award the media will portray his award as being better than all the past winners due to some fabricated rational. That such-and-such Lebanese was granted this award and his award is not only a reflection of Lebanese greatness but that is came with added regard from the award committee. The Maronite Patriarch publicly declared in an interview that Lebanese are superior to all the neighbors. Gen. Michel Aoun also once remarked that the Lebanese are “the most civilized people in the world.” A Lebanese buffoon on IB once responded to a critical post I wrote on Lebanon by writing: “WE ARE THE CEDARS, WE ARE THE PEOPLE, WE ARE THE DESCENT, WE ARE THE PHOENICIANS, WE ARE THE GREAT LEBANON.” This is how stupid Lebanese nationalism is. What kind of depraved mind issues comments like this about Phoenicians and Ceders? Many Lebanese believe Ceders are some special tree unlike no other (Ceders are not even exclusive to Lebanon) and that the Phoenicians, which never had a nation, are some special ancient people better then the Romans and Greeks. There is a reason we don’t read about the Phoenician Empire because it wasn’t “great” and neither is Lebanon.

And I put achievements in quotes because very often the things that Lebanese like to brag about are anything but. When Lebanese do not win real awards, they make them up. A casual reader of the Lebanese press will one day hear about some Lebanese winning an award in Thailand for “Best Custom Design” or some great honor like that. The Lebanese are obsessed with bestowing awards on themselves and any sane person cannot help but ask: do such journalists who write said stories actually believe what they are propagating?

And the Lebanese are now making such a big deal about Lebanon winning a SC seat. Lebanon isn’t the first Arab country to do so, and because they are so many Arab countries to cast votes an Arab country always manages to win a seat. The seats are appropriated regionally, so by default an Arab country always gets one. And Lebanon is just replacing Libya as the seat for Middle East/North Africa. So this isn’t some great honor of “Ceder” glory.

But then I decided I would not write such a tirade against Lebanese delusional nationalism (o’ wait, I just did). But in all honesty, my post was going to be entirely against Lebanese ultra-nationalism but then I read the words of the Lebanese president upon Lebanon’s placement on the Council and decided, for a change, I will say some nice things:

Sleiman said Lebanon would be “vigilant to ensure the failure of any attempt to annihilate its rights or those of the Palestinians and Arabs.”

His country would “be the spearhead for protecting its interests and those of the Arab nation, as well as the defence of human rights, and will work for the return of Palestinian refugees,” he said.

Many Lebanese, particularly Christian ones, have long sought to divide Lebanon from the Arab world and give it its own “Lebanese” identity. That Lebanon is a different, special country to have a fate separate from the rest of the Arabs. And most right-wing Christians refuse to even recognize themselves as Arabs or Lebanon as an Arab nation.

It is nice to see a Lebanese president speaking about Lebanon’s Arab identity and its commitment to Arab interests, and particularly the interests of Palestinians. Lebanon needs to see itself as part of the Arab experience and be joined with it. And all Arab/Muslim nations should champion that Palestinians.

There, one good thing. Are you happy now Dani?