Reporting From The Land Of Plastic Surgery

Needless to say, I think we've all been doing some major sleeping here. I'm hoping to be back more consistently, reporting from Beirut, Lebanon - my new "home" for the next year and a half or so. "Home" because the last feeling I have of this place is that of home. Let me just tell you - Lebanon is no Palestine. A lot of times it actually still feels like I'm in America - but like in LA, not the Bay Area. Clearly there is so much to talk about from the land of sectarianism, which plays a major role in everyone's daily lives here. It's actually insane how clear this sectarianism effects peoples' daily lives here in the "Paris of the Middle East."

Today I will be talking about plastic surgery in sunny Beirut. While walking the streets of Hamra and Ras Beirut, districts near the elite American University of Beirut, as well as cruising the campus, I couldn't help but notice people walking around with bandages on their noses. They kinda stand out. As I saw more and more women AND men with bandages on their noses, I realized what it was. It's not just a coincidence that tons of people randomly cut their noses at the same time, no, it's that they all decided to get their nose jobs at around the same time. And following this operation, they all decided to flaunt it.

Now, preparing for my move to Beirut, I heard about the plastic surgery phenomenon in Lebanon, I even heard that people from the region come here for their surgeries, but NOTHING would have prepared me for this sight. Tons of people, students, young adults, etc. walking around with bandages on their noses with their friends and people actually talking to them like they are normal human beings!! Not to be overly judgmental, but all I want to do when I see this is point and laugh about how ridiculous they look and how stupid I think plastic surgery is.

It's not just noses tho - huge lips with that shiny pink lipgloss that all women who inject their lips wear. Why do women who inject their lips think it's a good idea to wear that ultra-shiny gloss? It just makes them look more fake and ridiculous. And, altho Arab women are typically well endowed in the chest region, there's definitely a lot of silicone going on ... Lebanese women aren't the most beautiful Arab women, they just get work done, wear lots of make-up, and look like they're in a fashion show everyday. (So NO, my hairy, scuffed up, soccer-playing Berkeley legs don't make the cut in Lebanon.) And for the record, I will never wear heels everyday!
F that.

Apparently, overt display of these operations is not only socially acceptable in Beirut, but it is a symbol of class. I guess people aren't shy about flaunting class in this place of crazy class difference and political turmoil. Modesty doesn't seem to be a part of the upper class's vocabulary or practice. And ... some people actually wear bandages without actually having surgery because, though they can't afford surgery, they still may be able to fake their class level to the Lebanese public. Now clearly I haven't had any conversations with anyone wearing a bandage, in fact I try to avoid it cuz I'm scared of what I will say to them. Something inappropriate I'm sure.

What happened to loving our big-ass Middle Eastern noses? Not to mention, Arab men and women, with all the typical features of Arabs like big, brown eyes, nice lips, dark hair and a filled out figure, look really not right and kinda scary with their tiny new noses ...

Talk about notions of beauty. There is so much Western influence in this "Paris of the ME," I mean I can barely practice and improve my Arabic cuz most speak English (and French), but even us "Westerners" don't flaunt plastic surgery - in fact our very own Hollywood stars try to hide it. So why do the white peoples' features resonate with the Lebanese as beautiful and why is it socially acceptable to look so ridiculous?!?

Urban Outfitters Strikes Back

... this time with 100% more misappropriation! It was bad enough with the keffiyeh, but it looks like U.O. decided they needed another piece of the Middle East to capitalize upon. Enter the Allah bracelet!

Thanks to KabobFest for bringing it to attention. Now, if you've read my keffiyeh post, y'all know how I feel about the misappropriation of culture. I won't repeat everything I've said there. But I will say that I am again totally amazed. Yes, there is Christian imagery everywhere, and used in popular culture everywhere from "Jesus is My Homeboy" apparel to Madonna's "Like a Prayer," etc. It's actually gotten pretty old now. But the difference is that Christianity in America is the majority and is not equated with the same level of politics and discrimination as Islam. At a time like this, do we really need to further exoticize and disrespect a culture by putting it on sale at a store whose goal is simply to make money, without any care towards sociopolitical context?

One one hand there's the argument that it is bringing an "exotic" culture into the mainstream, de-mystifying it, making it accessible to the common person (because, you know, Muslims/Middle Easterners/"others" can't be seen as just regular people). But I don't think the majority of U.O.'s commercial audience are going to even think that far. So the essential effect is tokenization of a culture, perhaps to seem "edgy." Again, if you do not know or willingly represent the context of this item, wearing it is quite disrespectful. (As someone commented on KabobFest, you wouldn't be able to go into a bathroom with this bracelet on.) It's not because I think everyone else should avoid anything to do with Islam, but I do think there are way more respectful ways to explore it. And it doesn't involve helping Urban Outfitters make money.

Awakening the Sleeping Prince(ss)

We're BAAAACK!

A lot of stuff happened during the dearth of posts here. Wayward Middle Eastern Girls have been traveling to the homeland and back, moving around in homeland 2.0, starting new lives together, studying, not studying, thinking about studying, fighting injustice, protesting, getting laid, and eating voraciously.

To more efficiently stoke this revolution, we created a Facebook group (MySpace is so 2007). Try searching for us. It is a private group, so join us if you like. In the meantime, please feel free to peruse past entries for more brilliant insights, narratives, poetry, and political commentary.

Muah!
The Prince of Kabob

"But the children live here!"

I'm shocked, but very pleased, that this was on network news... 60 Minutes, no less. This is a very important and honest coverage of the way Palestinians are imprisoned in their own homeland (and homes!-- and how Israel is preventing peace. Must see.

It's good to see that the world, especially in the West, is (finally) starting to notice the David-and-Goliath situation in place here, the way that Palestinians are being unjustly, criminally, and often fatally mistreated by the Israeli state and some of its citizens, and that-- oh yeah-- maybe there is a reason that Palestinians are so angry.

Here's another heartening video... an Israeli citizen speaks the truth and describes his (and many of his fellow Israelis') feelings of despair at the recent Gaza attacks. Thanks to The Glaring Truth (a blog you should read) and the BBC for posting this.

Salaams, people. Have faith, stay strong.
WMEG