The following are excerpts from a TV debate on martyrdom, featuring former Lebanese minister Elie Al-Firzli, a Greek Orthodox, and Syrian journalist and researcher Imad Fawzi Shueibi. The debate aired on Al-Manar TV on February 17, 2010.
To view this clip on MEMRI TV, visit http://www.memritv.org/clip/en/0/0/0/0/0/0/2408.htm.
For more on Al-Manar TV, visit http://www.memritv.org/subject/en/116.htm.
Former Lebanese minister Elie Al-Firzli: "Religious ideology, the doctrine of faith, the yearning for martyrdom... I cannot see any justification for this longing – and to such an extent – other than the belief in a future in a world other than this. The yearning for martyrdom was one of the reasons for the qualitative leap in the conflict with the Israeli enemy."
Syrian journalist and researcher Imad Fawzi Shueibi: "This is an important aspect. In this context, I could say that the language of martyrdom is the Marseillaise of our nation at this stage. I say Marseillaise, but I don't want to be criticized for borrowing the anthem of the French revolution. I use this term metaphorically. 'Allah Akbar' was the Marseillaise of the Arabs in 1956..."
Elie Al-Firzli: '"Allah Akbar' was the Marseillaise of all the Arab conquests.
[...]
"We have to believe that all the blood that is being shed in the name of martyrdom for the sake of the great victory is the gateway to the true life – the gateway to a life of glory, nobility, and honor.
"For example... I don't want to get into a theological discussion, but our Lord Jesus, in his human aspect – we believe that he has two natures... In his human aspect, it was he who formed the passage from life in this world to life in the world to come, through the passageway of death. The road to life passes through death. When we talk about the homeland and about honor and glory, the way to achieve them is through martyrdom."
