And Woman Has Her Say...

Two questions in particular occupy the Lebanese: the first is the question of the internal situation in Lebanon, and the second is the Palestine question. "The Woman's Voice" wished to sound out the opinion of some of the leaders of the women's movement in Beirut on these two questions. Our correspondent therefore put to them the following two questions:

1 — You know that the Lebanese are not satisfied with the internal situation in Lebanon. What remedy do you propose for it? And what effective contribution can the Lebanese woman make?

2 — In the event that the secret Bloudan resolutions are carried out and war is declared in defense of Palestine, what can the Arab woman do to take a practical share in the performance of this sacred duty?

Miss Ibtihaj Kaddoura

1 — Woman throughout the world has been, and still is, a messenger of peace who carries the condition of the people to the ears of the government. It is the government's duty — if it truly represents the nation — to listen to the voice of the people, so that understanding may come about between the people and those who hold power; then each will do his duty and feel the responsibility laid upon him, whether man or woman.

2 — I keep constant vigil over the Palestine question, and I have thought of calling the Lebanese Arab Women's Federation to a general meeting, at which I would lay the Palestine question before the members and urge them to volunteer as soldiers in defense of this sacred spot of our beloved land. Between me and the members, however, stands the difficulty of reaching them, for the greater part of them are still at the summer resorts because of the delayed opening of the schools.

And Miss Ibtihaj Kaddoura said: "If we fight the Jews on the soil of Palestine, Lebanon will certainly be a base for hospitals and for the sheltering of Palestinian families. The members of the Federation will ask the government to make ready the army barracks which we took over from the French army, and which still stand unoccupied, to house the families. And our homes, cramped as they are, will be open to them. All our women and girls must be trained in modern methods of first aid, so that every woman may take an effective part in this sacred struggle."

Mrs. Heneni Tarcha

1 — Mrs. Heneni Tarcha said: "A house divided against itself falls to ruin." In my opinion the internal condition of Lebanon will not be set right so long as the people is divided against itself, so long as there is no understanding between the people and the government. I do not accuse the men of the government of a lack of sincerity, but the understanding does not exist, and that is why we find their activity turned to other than the public interest. The course that ought to be followed is for the venerable and perceptive President of the Republic, and the seasoned statesman who heads the government, to meet with the leaders of the parties and blocs and review together the problems of the country in all sincerity, setting aside the events of May 25, each man stripping himself of his personal aims. Let them examine every problem closely and hand them over to specialized committees to solve in the best manner — and let the educated Lebanese woman have her share in the solving of these problems, in partnership with the committees, for it has been proved that our women, once given responsibility, discharge it faithfully.

2 — And when I asked her what the Arab woman could do in the event of a declaration of war in Palestine, she answered: "This question was laid on the table for discussion at one of the sessions of the Lebanese Women's League last year. The members then agreed unanimously to work to lighten the calamities of the Arabs in general and of Palestine in particular — by comforting the sick, aiding the wounded, sheltering women and children in our homes, and volunteering for every good work within our power... Today we are more ardent than we were last year, and if war there must be, we are ready for everything that may tip the scale of victory to our side; and our men will see that we shall back these words of ours with deeds."

Mrs. Rose Shahfa

1 — And Mrs. Rose Shahfa, former president of the Lebanese Arab Women's Federation, answered: "And who says that the Lebanese are not satisfied with the present internal situation? The Lebanese have worked, and still work, for the independence which they now exercise — and if some mistakes have crept into this situation, the like is found in every country of the world. The Lebanese woman can, in her home and in her society, guide the men, her brothers, to the most effective remedies. Had she a share in legislation, she would have enacted a better constitution, one binding ruler and ruled alike to walk according to its texts — though the matter lies in souls, not in texts, as the word of wisdom came from the mouth of the country's President and master."

2 — "The Arab woman has a glorious history inscribed with signs of heroism and ardor. In this grave hour, when woman sees the heart of her country, Palestine, overrun by the exploiting Zionist — the terrorist Zionist — who will have nothing less than to cram into this small piece of land more than its area can hold, this great calamity weighs heavily upon the Arab woman, and she rises to answer the call of the homeland.

Woman by her nature was created to love peace and to keep far from evil, but in the face of the Palestine problem she can do nothing but rebel against injustice. She therefore bows to the secret Bloudan resolutions, urges her sons on to their support, and enlists herself for defense and service, to ward off evil from her country, her children, and her posterity..."

1 — The answer to the first question

Woman alone can undertake to administer the successful cure for Lebanon. For the ailment of the present situation in Lebanon goes back to a disposition that has become deep-rooted in the souls of the people, and it turns upon the love of office — a love that overrides all regard for the public interest. This disposition was acquired from the feudal life that Lebanon lived for generations; and since people follow the religion of their kings, this ailment has come to be almost universal, so that reform does not depend on the replacing of individuals. In fact, whenever power in Lebanon has passed to men (and I do not say women) who enjoyed great popular confidence, no sooner has the stirrup of private interests rubbed against their own than they have sunk to the level of those whose selfishness all tongues have joined in decrying.

Reform, then, must go back to educating the people anew — an education whose substance is love of the public interest.

And woman is responsible before every other human being for this education, whether in the home or in the school.

2 — The answer to the second question

No savior is left for the cradle of Christ, and the first qibla of Muhammad, but the cutting sword. And if international entanglements may stand in the way of the Arab states and bar their march on Palestine, the Arab nation as a whole will shortly take this sacred task upon itself.

As for men, the men of battle, they are many; indeed the brave Arabs of Palestine, Christians and Muslims alike — had you seen them, dear ladies, you would say with me that they are fit to spare the Arabs the whole burden of the Zionists and their backers.

But the task needs money as well — and does the motor-car run without gasoline?

And who has a better claim than woman, who holds the keys of hearts, to seize the keys of the coffers as well?

If the Arab woman in every country, with the women's associations at her head, rises to collect funds from this very day, she will be discharging the finest duty owed in this sacred struggle.

1 — I — as a new visitor — cannot judge whether the internal situation fails to satisfy all the Lebanese. Yet what we see, considering how recent our independence is, gives promise in its first signs of an expected improvement — and in every country of the world we find the party of those who approve and the party of those who oppose. This is necessary to the progress of peoples, for it is proof of the existence of the spirit of true democracy, and a means of discovering the places of error, so that men set to work on improvement.

As for the effective contribution that woman can make, in my view it should not go beyond improving education, striving to organize the programs of instruction, and attending to public cleanliness, which is one of the important foundations in the measure of peoples.

2 — I have been, and still am, an enemy of wars. But since we stand before an accomplished fact, woman's duty is like man's — his lies in the bodily struggle, and hers in the spiritual struggle, which rests on instilling the spirit of ardor into the breasts of the fighters, volunteering in the service of the Red Cross, and striving to collect relief funds to lighten the weight of misery and wretchedness upon the oppressed peoples.

Miss Afifa Saab

1 — I believe that the corruption of the internal situation in Lebanon is bound up with external factors and inherited diseases. This doubleness in the malady requires a doubleness in the cure. And I fear that this will take so long that Lebanon — in this field — will bring up the rear of the Arab peoples, despite its lead over them in civilization and culture.

As for woman, the signal service she can render is to give birth to the new Lebanon. For in the present situation the cure avails less than replacement.

2 — Most of the Bloudan resolutions are still secret. We may speak of what has been announced of them. Among the most important of what was announced: the economic boycott of the states that back Zionism; the supplying of the Arabs of Palestine with money, men, and arms; the entry of our armies into the war of rescue.

Woman's effective duty in the face of these resolutions is plain.

The boycott requires that woman renounce her luxuries, and consider herself and her family the mainstay of this boycott.

Supplying the defense with money and arms requires of her a strict economic law which she lays down for herself, applies in her home, and preaches abroad.

And the entry of our armies into the war of rescue requires her to be a rear front for first aid, supply, shelter, and the adopting of every man who will plunge into this war.

The Zionist woman has done more than this to accomplish the aggression. Let her do this much to repel it.