Ziad and the Rahbani family got me into Arabic language and culture

Hello everyone-- I'm an American lurker on your sub. I'm not of Arab descent, but I lived for a year in Jordan and for several years in Dearborn, MI, which has a large Lebanese diaspora community. I just wanted to post something about the death of Ziad Rahbani because he meant a lot to me too, even if I end up doxxing myself in the process.

My family and in particular my late grandmother have always been fans of music that had social commentary. My grandmother sang, up until the week she passed a few months ago, at a Folk music center in our city in California and did weekly singing sessions at her retirement community. Many of the songs she sung were by Americans who, like Ziad, used the lyrics of their songs to address issues of the time. Some of the artists included Pete Seeger, whose songs were influential in the Civil Rights Movement for black Americans in the United States. She and everyone in my family also always enjoyed Tom Lehrer, who passed yesterday, who wrote songs full of sarcasm that poked fun at US institutions and culture (Ziad even had a very similar voice to Lehrer).

I studied abroad in Jordan as part of my Middle East studies major to learn Arabic. When I was there, I tried my best to immerse myself in music from the region. Naturally, this led me to Fairuz, many of whose songs I still have memorized. It also led me to Ziad. I listened to all of his plays. I listened to and memorized much of his music. In the US we're generally under the impression that there's not a great degree of free speech in the Arab world, so the commentary in songs like Ana Moush Kafer and Shou hal ayyam was a bit of a pleasant surprise to me. His music could be quite funny, as in marba dalal (which I still have memorized) or poignant (bala wala chi), which also very much reminded me of the musical tradition I grew up in.

More importantly than the music itself though is that Ziad and his family have blessed me by helping me get to know and relate to people from an entirely different background than the one I gr...
Post Author: /u/InvisibleDeck
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So our "Illustrious" PM Nawaf Salam doesn't want to declare a national day of Mourning for Ziad al Rahbani. What kind of bullshit is that?

I don't get it. If Ziad of all People doesn't deserve a day of mourning for his passing who does? Ziad was and always will be one of the cornerstone of lebanese art music and culture. Aznavour's body was paraded in the elysée the empire state building was lit with the batman signal in honor of Kevin Conroy yet here not even a day of mourning for one of our greatest artistic minds. Bcz there they actually have appreciation for their legends.

Walla 3ayb.
Post Author: /u/Samer780
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Ziad Rahbani (1956 - 2025)

Can't believe it.
Rest in Power. 🕊️
Post Author: /u/opatikile
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Ziad Rahbani

There is news that Ziad Rahbani has passed away. I really used to love listening to his songs like Marba Dalal and 3ayshi Wa7da Balak. Mays El Rim's symphony is also beautiful.

I know that he had some political views that people may or may not agree with, but he was a true artist.
Post Author: /u/Remarkable_Intern230
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What's your conception and understanding of "Communists" and "Leftists" ?

I often see these terms used around here as an insult, and to some, as the worst insult you can throw at someone. Why so? What's your understanding of people who fall under one or both of these categories? What does a "communist" in 2025, mean to you, and why?
Post Author: /u/Rubbama
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Musical instruments shop around batroun?

Anyone knows a good instrument shops in batroun? Tried Google maps buy didn't get many results.

Just want to buy some strings for my guitar.
Post Author: /u/EH603
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Spanish Visa Rejection Lebanon

[removed]
Post Author: /u/Ok-Call-4358
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Prisoner George

This guy got released from prison after serving 40 years and we have people twitting that he aint christian and just a communist rat. Another annahar journalist said shu hal manzar l me2rif la shakel wla manzar.. behterim ara2 l kel and i dont mind people bashing each other but to be a journalist at a presumably esteemed press house and write such bullshit is messed up. The guy missed a life because of shooting he caused that killed 2 diplomats you cant say malla manzar especially when you look a yamama ketchup bottle💀. Baaden shu haka l zalame? Ino l aarab aabyetfarajo aala bashar aabyenbedo w aabimouto jo3?
Men l ekhir ayre b twitter lebnen anyak men twitter suriya
Post Author: /u/No-Truck5126
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Why has NDU gotten more expensive?

I mean, AUB and LAU are infamous for being expensive to the point where I've had people around me joke that you'd need to sell a limb to pay your tuition.

But at this point, universities like USEK and NDU are also reaching a point where I need to stand back and question, why??

There doesn't seem to be any visible changes to the university, so why are they taking more money from us?

If anyone can genuinely answer me this, I'm open to hear it.

P.S. If you can not provide a legitimate answer without insulting someone's financial status, then please refrain from commenting. Thank you.
Post Author: /u/Bibliorphic
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Shame on this weak government

What was supposed to be national solidarity and companionship turned into a saddening youth backstabbing catastrophe and tragedy…

The arab age categories chess championship is currently being held in Morocco. According to FIDE (Fédération Internationale des Échecs), the host federation must be able to provide visas to all the participating players. In the most unsportsmanlike manner, the Moroccan embassy turned away almost half the Lebanese delegation, refusing to issue visas to all the Shia athletes and some from other sects, expressing « you know the reason why you were rejected »

After heavy pressuring from many prominent chess figures, the Lebanese Chess Federation decided to boycott the championship and (hopefully) is engaging in formal complaints at FIDE and ACF (Arab Chess Federation) in order to retrieve costs of plane tickets and hotel bookings for the accepted players, as well as compensation for not participating.

Lebanon has already won many times a lot of titles in this championship, and it truly is a shame that politics are getting in the way of children and youth towards sports excellence. More revolting however, is the incompetence of our government in handling this situation.
Post Author: /u/KarpovSimp
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