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Meet the ‘Invisible’ Woman Who’s Running For President
The last few decades in Lebanon have played out like a scene from some terrible post-apocalyptic film; the youth feel marginalized and helpless, women are vulnerable and lack equal institutional rights, and the elderly are poor.
In typical Lebanese fashion, the political stalemate has left us with a vacant presidential seat for over a year now, with the usual suspects lining up for their turn at the top of the Ferris wheel.
Enter Nadine Moussa, an accomplished lawyer and an avid social activist, a proud secular candidate. She has been involved in international social battles in which she championed for human rights – exemplified by her founding of the National Committee for Women’s Empowerment, as well as local battles fighting corruption and fraud – exemplified by her founding of the Lebanese Association to Prevent Corruption.
(Image via Twitter)
She is a woman of the people; she is implicitly daring in character as the first female candidate for the presidency; she is accomplished as a lawyer and an activist; but most of all, she is grossly over-looked.
“All I want is a fair chance to compete, I am not asking for more than a fair chance,” said Moussa, who has been routinely ignored by Lebanese media, her candidacy often chalked up to idealistic thinking that will never materialize.
Just last week on June 4, and in a bold move, Moussa went so far as to respond directly to British Ambassador Tom Fletcher during a talk he gave at Notre Dame University – Louaize in which he claimed that he’d met with every Lebanese presidential candidate.
“You missed out [by not visiting me.]” she told Fletcher. The UK ambassador quickly apologized for the snafu, but it remains a telling example of the kind of uphill battle Moussa faces.
During a time when women’s rights are in a grim state, it is no shock that her candidacy threatens the patriarchy and the status quo. We shouldn’t just support Moussa because she’s a woman, we should all support Moussa because our so-called leaders would rather play international politics than fight the corruption that has been robbing the state for over half a century, because our leaders design electoral laws that keep their seats warm and keep us docile, and because she has a thorough political platform that speaks to every single Lebanese person.
Listing Moussa’s plans for Lebanon would be exhausting. In a one-on-one meeting, Beirut.com spoke with Moussa at length about her vision for Lebanon and her vision for the youth. We also spoke about civil marriage, healthcare, and LGBT rights.
“There is so much we can do for Lebanon, there are areas for improvement in every single sector: healthcare, women’s rights, the electoral law, and overall the creation of a citizen’s state instead of a politician’s playground,” said Moussa, “But we have all been trained to think that this is not possible, and that Lebanon is doomed. This was done to keep all the wrong people in power.”
As far as increasing youth involvement in the state, Moussa cites it as one of her highest priorities. “It is unacceptable for all of us to stand by and watch the youth leave the country for better prospects. We are obligated to create better prospects for them right here” added Moussa, “The Lebanese people have been hoodwinked into thinking there is no other way, but I’m here to show that there can be, whether it is by creating opportunities for young entrepreneurs or simply by making time to ensure political security for the economy to be able to thrive.”
“Will my candidacy surely end the corrupt political rule that we’ve become so used to?” she added. “Maybe not, but it starts by changing the conversation rapidly.”
Today we can all be proud to have such a progressive and committed candidate. We can redirect our support towards somebody who deserves it, instead of constantly having to pick between the lesser of two evils.
As far as discounting Moussa, Gloria Steinem said it best when she said, “Any woman who chooses to behave like a full human being should be warned that the armies of the status quo will treat her as something of a dirty joke… She will need her sisterhood.”
Moussa needs the youth, the sisterhood and the brotherhood, to rally around her and show that there can be another way. Make your voices heard today, Use the hashtag #DisruptLebanon to express why you’re tired of the status quo, and why you’re ready to disrupt the current rule.
You can read a detailed account of Moussa’s platform here.
1
In typical Lebanese fashion, the political stalemate has left us with a vacant presidential seat for over a year now, with the usual suspects lining up for their turn at the top of the Ferris wheel.
Enter Nadine Moussa, an accomplished lawyer and an avid social activist, a proud secular candidate. She has been involved in international social battles in which she championed for human rights – exemplified by her founding of the National Committee for Women’s Empowerment, as well as local battles fighting corruption and fraud – exemplified by her founding of the Lebanese Association to Prevent Corruption.
(Image via Twitter)
She is a woman of the people; she is implicitly daring in character as the first female candidate for the presidency; she is accomplished as a lawyer and an activist; but most of all, she is grossly over-looked.
“All I want is a fair chance to compete, I am not asking for more than a fair chance,” said Moussa, who has been routinely ignored by Lebanese media, her candidacy often chalked up to idealistic thinking that will never materialize.
Just last week on June 4, and in a bold move, Moussa went so far as to respond directly to British Ambassador Tom Fletcher during a talk he gave at Notre Dame University – Louaize in which he claimed that he’d met with every Lebanese presidential candidate.
“You missed out [by not visiting me.]” she told Fletcher. The UK ambassador quickly apologized for the snafu, but it remains a telling example of the kind of uphill battle Moussa faces.
During a time when women’s rights are in a grim state, it is no shock that her candidacy threatens the patriarchy and the status quo. We shouldn’t just support Moussa because she’s a woman, we should all support Moussa because our so-called leaders would rather play international politics than fight the corruption that has been robbing the state for over half a century, because our leaders design electoral laws that keep their seats warm and keep us docile, and because she has a thorough political platform that speaks to every single Lebanese person.
Listing Moussa’s plans for Lebanon would be exhausting. In a one-on-one meeting, Beirut.com spoke with Moussa at length about her vision for Lebanon and her vision for the youth. We also spoke about civil marriage, healthcare, and LGBT rights.
“There is so much we can do for Lebanon, there are areas for improvement in every single sector: healthcare, women’s rights, the electoral law, and overall the creation of a citizen’s state instead of a politician’s playground,” said Moussa, “But we have all been trained to think that this is not possible, and that Lebanon is doomed. This was done to keep all the wrong people in power.”
As far as increasing youth involvement in the state, Moussa cites it as one of her highest priorities. “It is unacceptable for all of us to stand by and watch the youth leave the country for better prospects. We are obligated to create better prospects for them right here” added Moussa, “The Lebanese people have been hoodwinked into thinking there is no other way, but I’m here to show that there can be, whether it is by creating opportunities for young entrepreneurs or simply by making time to ensure political security for the economy to be able to thrive.”
“Will my candidacy surely end the corrupt political rule that we’ve become so used to?” she added. “Maybe not, but it starts by changing the conversation rapidly.”
Today we can all be proud to have such a progressive and committed candidate. We can redirect our support towards somebody who deserves it, instead of constantly having to pick between the lesser of two evils.
As far as discounting Moussa, Gloria Steinem said it best when she said, “Any woman who chooses to behave like a full human being should be warned that the armies of the status quo will treat her as something of a dirty joke… She will need her sisterhood.”
Moussa needs the youth, the sisterhood and the brotherhood, to rally around her and show that there can be another way. Make your voices heard today, Use the hashtag #DisruptLebanon to express why you’re tired of the status quo, and why you’re ready to disrupt the current rule.
You can read a detailed account of Moussa’s platform here.
1