Dominant Narratives & Ideologies - hosted by Ralph Baydoun w/George Wardini & Ronnie Chatah (Ep.410)

The Beirut Banyan

Recorded Thursday, 5 December 2024. Three days before the Assad regime's fall. An episode for Syria & Lebanon. Hosted by Ralph Baydoun (founder of Influeanswers) with George Wardini (director of PolyBlog) and Ronnie Chatah (host of The Beirut Banyan). Ralph Baydoun leads the discussion and posits 'resistance'-focused counter narratives to neutrality and sub-state disarmament discourse. The conversation includes the potential for Israeli settlements in southern Lebanon, communities allegedly abandoned by the state, liberation as a so-called just means for continued armed struggle, the Lebanese army's limits in offensive and defensive measures, and how ideology and misinformation leads to false assumptions. Make sure to check out and support Ralph Baydoun's Patreon channel: https://www.patreon.com/Perspectiveleb Follow Ralph Baydoun on IG: [at]perspectiveleb and George Wardini on IG: [at]polyblog.lebanon The podcast is only made possible through listener and viewer donations. Please help support The Beirut Banyan by contributing via PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/walkbeirut Or donating through our Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/thebeirutbanyan Subscribe to our YouTube channel and your preferred audio platform. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter: @thebeirutbanyan And check out our website: www.beirutbanyan.com Timestamps: 0:00 Intro 2:48 Up to the Litani 8:17 Ultranationalism 13:03 Settlement literature 17:25 Vulnerability 22:18 Dreams & religion 28:40 Constant war in Lebanon 30:02 Indefensible borders 37:13 Abandoned by the state 42:27 Sectarianism & sacrifice 51:45 The Syrian regime 53:47 Foreign involvement 1:00:21 Expansion & retreat 1:03:51 Liberation in itself 1:07:14 In the name 1:11:59 Warlike reasons to fight 1:14:45 The Lebanese army 1:16:41 A winning argument 1:21:51 Resistance