Kamal Salibi's crossroads less travelled by....

Pity this book is not mendatory reading for every Lebanese.
Pity it was in front of my nose for the last two years and only now did I pick it up.
Pity we didn't learn anything.
If you manage to get a copy from a library (or most logically a university library) near you, make sure to read it.
The part below is taken from the introduction to the book:

Jotham’s fable




One day the trees went out

to anoint a king to rule over them.

They said to the olive tree, “Be our king!”



The olive tree answered them:

“Must I forego my oil

Which gives honour to gods and men,

to stand swaying above the trees?”



Then the trees came to the fig tree,

“Come now, you be our king!”



The fig tree answered them,

“Must I forego my sweetness,

forego my excellent fruit,

to stand swaying above the trees?”



Then the tress said to the Vine,

“Come now, you be our king!”



The vine answered them,

“Must I forego my wine

Which cheers the hears of gods and men

to stand swaying above the trees?”



Then all of the trees said to the thorn bush,

“Come now, you be our king!”



And the thorn bush answered the trees,

“If in all good faith you anoint me king to reign over you,

then come and shelter in my shade.

If not, fire will come from the thorn bush

and devour the cedars of Lebanon.”



Judges 9:8-15

The Jerusalem Bible