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