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From: Fadi A khalik
Date: 09 May 1999
Time: 11:41:37
Remote Name: 209.162.25.13
Remote User:
Here is the requested analysis:
Myth: "During the 1958 disturbances, the SSNP militia supported President Shamun, who rewarded it by authorizing it to operate legally"
Reality:
"During the 1958 disturbances, the SSNP party did not side with anybody. It was only involved in combats where its existence was jeopardized. Self Defense.
Myth: "In prison, the party underwent serious ideological reform when certain Marxist and pan-Arab concepts were introduced into the party's formerly right-wing doctrine."
Reality:
The constitution of the SSNP Party, gives the opportunity to every qualified member (Al Nadwah Al Thaqafia / The cultural Forum) to express their views and opinions and to present their case.
Some SSNP members did present ideas that were close to socialism (On the economic level only). Some of these people later left the party and others changed their minds.
The sure thing is that the principles and doctrine of the party remained.
Even today, we still have not found a reason why we should change any of our principles. (If you think we should, let me read your analysis!)
Myth: "Since the 1960s, the party has become more leftist"
Reality:
It all depends what you mean by the word: leftist.
If we take the true meaning of the word, leftist means against the status quo - revolutionary. If that is the case then the party has been a leftist movement since its early creation and up to the present. Hence, you attributing this change to the early sixties is false.
If you take any other political connotation of the word leftist then the SSNP is neither on the left nor on the right, regardless what your co-ordinates are. The SSNP put forth a clear, precise and thorough social nationalist ideology plain and simple. We don't feel the need to label such an ideology with terms that are not genuine to our people and to our socio-political history.
Myth: "But during this period the party suffered internal divisions and defections, and since then party unity has been elusive. In 1987 there were at least four separate factions claiming to be the authentic inheritors of Saadah's ideology. The two most important were led by Issam Mahayri, a Sunni, and Jubran Jurayj, a Christian. Each faction was trying to settle disputes by means of violence".
Reality: This is old news. Please update your sources.
I hope that this humble clarification of what is a myth and what is a reality regarding the SSNP will guide you in the right direction.
If you think otherwise, let me know!
Thanks, Regards
Fadi A Khalik