I didn’t like the way Al-Jadeed is trying to portray Elie Mchantaf as being the racist guy out there. He did answer in a wrong way at first but then corrected himself and made a relatively good point. From a strictly business perspective, he will lose money if he allows everyone in while other beaches disregard the law and ban migrant domestic workers. However from an ethical point of view, and given the PR he has and the role-model/hero/captain figure he represents to many Lebanese, I believe he should set an example for all other beaches and resorts to follow at the expense of some financial losses.
This being said, it is the responsibility of the Ministry of Tourism to make sure ALL beaches and resorts allow migrant domestic workers and penalize those who don’t let them in. Recently, the Ministry issued a memorandum banning discrimination in the country’s private pools and beaches but that’s not enough. We need to have tourist police members at every resort making sure no discrimination is taking place; otherwise all those reports and videos are pointless.
Thanks Dany for the video!
Najib,
1- The videos aren’t pointless at all: in fact they are keeping this issue in the spotlight while many people would just forget it otherwise.
2- Mchantaf was not singled out in the report, so one cannot say that “he is being portrayed at the racist guy out there” because a few other beach owners are mentioned as well.
3- If the beach owners are claiming that is bad for business to allow immigrant workers the “right” to bathe, then it is their duty to at least attempt to educate their clientele about tolerance and seek to curb racism. Them caring only about their financial return does not justify their inactivity in that regard.
4- The responsibility is not solely on the state (reference back to point 3).
I think he’ll gain more money if he allowed it because people like me will never step a foot in any of the resorts that are racist and go to places like his instead.
you didn’t like him being portrayed as a racist?? he made a relative pt of view????? helo kteer, ana min jihti he disgusted me.
Appalling. His first reaction is the one that counts. No amount of corrections will cover that up.
And whining about losing money doesn’t paint a prettier picture but you are correct that he should use his status to make a point.
Racism cannot be justified in any way – trying to claim that he does it because other places do it and he’d lose money is the same logic (I was only following orders) that the Nuremberg Principles declared was an unacceptable defence.
And before anyone asks how I can compare the Nazis to this, please reread the statement I made about the logic. It’s a question of principles.
i dont want to come off as racist… but seriously!! we r talking about private pools!
you cannot make private establishment convey to ur needs and point of views!
u dont like it…. go else!
thow i bet if any of u were at a private pool and saw a black person going in( regardless of them being works or not) you will be staring at them making them feel uncomfortable!
no one is denying immigrant workers the “right” to bathe… just not in private establishment!
with due respect, but your attempt to not come off as a racist has failed.
We’re not talking about “Members Only” establishments, but rather so-called “Private” Beaches & Pools which actually amount to Beach Clubs where you have to pay an insane entrance fee. If it were a Members Only establishment, then anyone who wants to go there has to apply for a membership, meet a certain criteria and have the means to pay the membership fees. Even with that, if the membership criteria states “Whites Only”, then it doesn’t make it right. Additionally, maybe we need to take a moment and examine how many of these so-called “Private Beaches” came into existence. Something tells me the process may not have been too “Hallal” so-to-speak.
As for your comparison to the black person at a private school . . . may I ask, were you uncomfortable when Snoop Dog was in Beirut and clubbing it up? What’s the difference between Snoop Dog and that little black boy who wants an education? What if that little black boy attending that private school was Snoop Dog’s son or nephew? Would that make you feel better?
What pi$$es me off is knowing the number of Lebanese Ex-Pats living & working abroad, one would think, that of all people on the Planet, the Lebanese would know what it’s like to respect a foreign worker. (After all, how many “foreign workers” do we “export” on a daily basis). But NOOOOOOOOOO . . . instead, we get our panties in a twist if any Lebanese outside our borders is unfairly treated, but as for the slave labor we employ . . . who care . . . after all, we’re Lebanese and better than everyone else! Right? NOT!
Desiree – get off your Holier-Than-Thou-High-Chair because in reality, no matter the color of one’s skin or the color of one’s passport, you’re no better and of no greater value than any other person on the planet regardless of age, sex, race, ethnicity or religion.
Desiree, I take your bet. What stakes do you propose?
Your human values are as underdeveloped as your linguistic skills; I suggest you take some lessons in English.