Words of wisdom

Rami Khouri, former editor of the Daily Star, head of the Issam Fares Institute, and fellow at nearly every institution I know, has graced the pages of the dense, literary cher d'oeuvre that is the Beirut Daily Star with another one of his masterpieces. (thanks Zahra)

Highlights:

When Lebanese politicians return from Doha, they should go straight to the campus of the American University of Beirut (AUB) to learn firsthand about an example of peaceful coexistence among living organisms that would otherwise have a tendency - even a genetic imperative - to fight and kill.

First, cats and pigeons have stopped fighting and fearing each other at AUB because they live under a clear law, or set of rules. There is an actual "AUB cats policy" that is posted on the university website. It clarifies that cats are fed and inspected regularly, are not allowed into buildings, and should not be taken on or off campus without supervision. Even cats, it seems, thrive under the rule of law - if it is explicit, clear, and fairly and consistently applied. (ummm, is the "AUB cats policy"communicated to the cats during Orientation, or just sent to them later in an email?!!)

Cats are treated kindly at AUB - students gently pet them on benches and on the grass; the wonderful lady who feeds them twice daily has a name for each cat, to which each animal responds warmly and quickly. The anonymity and alienation that many humans suffer and that often push individuals toward violence do not exist in AUB's cat universe, where there are no refugees, no stateless, nameless or homeless cats.