It would be interesting to study how and why certain words and expressions become widely used at a certain time and suddenly they disappear to perhaps appear again. In the case of Obama, “change” is the word. During the Syrian presence in Lebanon, no politician would make a statement or speech without mentioning “the unity of the two tracks” or “destiny and the path” or “the Syrian alternative”. When the American troops arrived in Baghdad, the then Iraqi Minister of Information used the word “uluj”. This word became popular for a while and now we hear it no more. Recently, in most political articles and interviews, the word “harak”, meaning movement, is “a la mode”. And following the Tahrir Square demonstrations in Cairo, the word “baltaji” has entered the political lexicon in the Arab World.

Following are some observations about the word “baltaji”.

First: the Baltaji family

It would perhaps be beneficial for the March 14 supporters who are popularizing this word in Lebanon to remember that the Baltaji family is Sunni and did not participate in the attack on the demonstrators in Tahrir Square nor in the famous 7th of May 2008 in Beirut. Perhaps they might be offended by the derogatory use of this word, but who cares, their number doesn’t exceed 130 voters.

Second: the word “baltaji” in Egypt

In the Turkish language, the word refers to an axeman, or a butcher or a logger. There used to be a battalion in the Ottoman army that would use the axe as a weapon. In the Sultan Diwan, there used to be a “baltaj” who would “discipline” people if they upset the Sultan. After the occupation of Egypt by the Ottomans in 1517 and when law and order broke down, a criminal would be referred to as a “baltaji”.

Third: the etymology of the word “baltaji” according to Ibn Manzour

“Balatnahom” means we fought them and “ablata” means bankrupt or broke, which confirms that a “baltaji” is a poor man. “Balat” is the axe in Arabic, which also confirms that he is the axeman.  

Fourth: who are the real “baltajiah”?

The real “baltajiah” who attacked the demonstrators in Tahrir Square are those who ruled Egypt for more than thirty years. The real “baltajiah” in Lebanon are those warlords who committed atrocities and then procured an amnesty law for their crimes, and those who robbed and embezzled the Public Treasury and seized public property while watching Israel bombard their people. The real “baltajiah” are Western leaders who sold arms to dictators knowing well they will only be used to crush and oppress the people of this region.

Fifth: “Al Mubaya’ah”

It would be interesting for the researchers to study this word and its origin, according to Ibn Manzour again. In Islamic history, this word is a proof of a democratic tradition where people “youbayi’oun” i.e. support a ruler or a Khalif. Ibn Manzour tells us that although this word means a contract that one can romantically fantasize is a “social contract”, it could also be a sales contract where “one would sell what he has or himself” and obey … And that is “the deal”.

The roots of two words “baltajiah” and “mubaya’ah” might explain the way we are: “thugs” and “deals” do not build nations.

Considering the latest Wikilieaks revelations about discussions between Lebanese politicians and the former US Ambassadors to Lebanon, Jeffrey Feltman and Michele Sison and the accusations levied by those politicians, most of whom were supposedly friends of those ambassadors, The Monthly finds it appropriate to republish this editorial, which was published in Issue # 66, January 2008.

When “they” correct “our” history

“Why do you keep talking about the 16th and 19th centuries? What about today?”, My colleague asked. I do not think we are ready yet. But let us see…

The letter of Bani Shu’aib(1) raised nostalgic feelings among the descendants of foreign envoys who played an important role in the history of the region, including Lebanon.

Their statements reflect true stories they heard from their parents or found in family documents. They all had mixed feelings towards Lebanon. They remember sweet stories about the “beautiful country” and its “hospitable people” who received their ancestors warmly when the latter were powerful and victorious. On the other hand, they hold bitter memories of these “welcoming” zu’ama turning on their guests like ravenous wolves when defeated.

These descendants are surprised at the ability of Lebanon’s “ruling families” to appear highly “cultured” and “modern” and to simultaneously act like voracious beasts. It seems that History to them does not matter, because stories, fictive or real, will depict them as great Zu’ama, heroes definitely, and “martyrs” if needs be.The descendants of these envoys, however, have another version of Lebanon’s history.

Let us see what they say.

The descendant of Jamal Pasha (1872-1922)

“Old documents, which belonged to my great-grandfather, prove that those who were called ‘revolutionists’ and ‘reformists’ and stood against the Turks, were in fact Jamal’s followers turning against him when Turkey was defeated by the Allies. They then replaced him by France and Britain. As for those who displayed patriotic fever they most probably did that to spite a neighbor or a cousin,” he said.

“My grandfather told me once: “The Arabs have a weakness in their character that is jealousy of their countrymen who become important,” and he literally told me that “if those zu’ama forge alliances with France and Britain against Turkey in World War I (1914), the Arab nation will be defeated forever... and those who pretend to know nothing about foreign schemes are either short-sighted or have decided to sell their conscience and dignity.”

Jamal Pasha’s descendant concluded his letter, saying: “Those who called my great-grandfather the ‘Butcher’ used to kiss his…”(2)

The Descendant of Damien de Martel (1878-1940)

“My great-grandfather was not as bad as you think. He had a good sense of humor and loved women.

He fell in love with a woman who was revered by all your zu’ama.It is true that he used the game of money in the 1934 parliamentary elections, but he said: “I am doing a humanitarian job as there are no other means for Abboud Abdel-Razak, Emile Tabet and other candidates to help the poor voters and penniless journalists…”

It is also true that he meddled with the 1936 presidential elections but your Zu’ama were more than willing, since he wrote to his girlfriend: “You have always told me that our relationship should make of you a millionairess… I will not allow the candidates (Emile Eddeh and Beshara al-Khoury) to win the elections unless they lose their minds or money or both together…”

The descendant concludes the letter: “Yes, they waited in queue at his door and when the French government decided to transfer him, they abandoned him.”(3)

The Descendant of General Edward Spears

(1886-1974)

The great-granddaughter of General Spears begins the letter saying that Britney is not a relative, stating that she was very angry that the singer had a wider popularity than Edward.

She says that her grandfather was the main contributor to Lebanon’s independence. “He was the one who threatened French High Commissioner Jean Helleu and expelled him from Lebanon after the latter detained your “heroes” of Independence. He deployed many efforts for the election of your first President(4). In the mid-1960s, I met one of your zu’ama who told me that my “late” grandfather was a hero. I told him that he was still alive and that he would be very happy to receive him again or any of the Lebanese zu’ama. He declined, saying he was overwhelmed with work.”

She continues: “You left my grandfather to die alone and I will never forget that.”

Skimming through old documents and dispatches, we stopped at the beginning of the civil war in 1975.

“Please let us go back to the time of Fakhreddine I (fictive or real), as I am still confident that Fakhreddine II is the founder of modern Lebanon… and please do not try to change my convictions,” my colleague said.

(1) See The Monthly issue no.65 of December 2007 

(2) Memoirs of Jamal Pasha, translated from Turkish into Arabic by Ali Ahmad Shukri

(4) “Lebanese Presidents as I knew them”, Iskandar Riashi, title translated from Arabic.

(3) Fulfillment of a Mission (1941-1944), Edward Spears

Jawad Adra