A Brain Dead
A Braindead Country Called Lebanon
By: Rasha Abouzaki
Published Tuesday, June 26, 2012 http://english.al-akhbar.com/node/8933
The myth of superiority clearly has a grip on the Lebanese. They presume that they are the masters of science, civilization, and progress. But looking beyond this “chauvinist” posture, we find a country barren of any institutions that encourage achievement.
The feebleness of Lebanese scientific research could be one of the reasons for Lebanese society’s ignorance of its own characteristics and inability to evaluate its reaction and realities, locally and internationally.
In practice, Lebanon does not create scientific minds in both the physical and social sciences. Its academic curricula shun all creative elements. And if a Lebanese manages to distinguish themselves in any way, he or she is picked up by any country in the world, except their own.
Not only is Lebanon unable to produce scientific minds, it is always keen to cast them outside its geographic borders on the rare occasion of something like this happening.
Once distinguished Lebanese scientists and thinkers are outside the country, you hear officials boast about “Lebanese talent in the Diaspora” followed by “the increase in remittances from expatriates which breathes life into the Lebanese economy...” Then, a round of applause.
Research Backwardness
In practice, Lebanon does not create scientific minds in both the physical and social sciences. Its academic curricula shun all creative elements. Lebanon is no different than other Arab countries. One of the most repeated anecdotes is that the total number of books translated into Arabic from the time of Abbasid Caliph Al-Maamun (786-833 AD) until today is around 10,000 books, equivalent to what Spain translates in only one year (this has been refuted by an Al-Akhbar investigation.)
This indicator could be the gateway to understanding why Lebanon ignores a fundamental principle of the development of people and countries –
By: Rasha Abouzaki
Published Tuesday, June 26, 2012 http://english.al-akhbar.com/node/8933
The myth of superiority clearly has a grip on the Lebanese. They presume that they are the masters of science, civilization, and progress. But looking beyond this “chauvinist” posture, we find a country barren of any institutions that encourage achievement.
The feebleness of Lebanese scientific research could be one of the reasons for Lebanese society’s ignorance of its own characteristics and inability to evaluate its reaction and realities, locally and internationally.
In practice, Lebanon does not create scientific minds in both the physical and social sciences. Its academic curricula shun all creative elements. And if a Lebanese manages to distinguish themselves in any way, he or she is picked up by any country in the world, except their own.
Not only is Lebanon unable to produce scientific minds, it is always keen to cast them outside its geographic borders on the rare occasion of something like this happening.
Once distinguished Lebanese scientists and thinkers are outside the country, you hear officials boast about “Lebanese talent in the Diaspora” followed by “the increase in remittances from expatriates which breathes life into the Lebanese economy...” Then, a round of applause.
Research Backwardness
In practice, Lebanon does not create scientific minds in both the physical and social sciences. Its academic curricula shun all creative elements. Lebanon is no different than other Arab countries. One of the most repeated anecdotes is that the total number of books translated into Arabic from the time of Abbasid Caliph Al-Maamun (786-833 AD) until today is around 10,000 books, equivalent to what Spain translates in only one year (this has been refuted by an Al-Akhbar investigation.)
This indicator could be the gateway to understanding why Lebanon ignores a fundamental principle of the development of people and countries –