"If I Were The President" - Lebanese Children Sing in Protest of Politicians' Corruption

Following are excerpts from an LBC TV program in which Lebanese children sang a song, titled "If I Were the President," to the tune of Gérard Lenorman's "Si j'étais président de la République." The program was posted on the Internet on September 25, 2013:

 

Lebanese boy Naji Al-Haj Ali: I want to say to the politicians: You have been occupying Lebanon for decades, and you have brought nothing but destruction, corruption, and violence. Just like you all flew to Qatar [in 2008], take a one-way flight out of here. Let us decide for ourselves who we want to govern us.

 

 

[...]

 

 

TV host: What do you dream of becoming when you grow up?

 

 

Naji Al-Haj Ali: I want to become the president.

 

 

TV host: You want to become the president?

 

 

Naji Al-Haj Ali: Yes.

 

 

TV host: Do you know who can become the president of Lebanon?

 

 

Naji Al-Haj Ali: The Maronites.

 

 

TV host: Only a Maronite can become president.

 

 

Naji Al-Haj Ali: Right.

 

 

TV host: And what is your sect?

 

 

Naji Al-Haj Ali: I'm not sectarian. I'm a Lebanese citizen.

 

 

TV host: Okay, we're all Lebanese citizens, but what is your sect?

 

 

Naji Al-Haj Ali: I'm not sectarian. I'm a Lebanese citizen.

 

 

[...]

 

 

The children in the studio sing, one at a time:

 

 

If I were the president of Lebanon, the poor children – Muslims and Christians – would be sent to schools free-of-charge, for the sake of the country's future, if I were the president.

 

 

I would resolve the problems of the hungry and displaced. They would be warm in winter as well as summer. They are steadfast. The world would be filled with toys, morning, noon, and night. No child would be sad if I were the president.

 

 

I would appoint a smurf as the interior minister, Mickey Mouse would head national security, and Dora would be foreign minister. Tarzan would be the justice minister, Tom and Jerry would be in transportation. Everything would change if I were the president.

 

 

If I were the president of Lebanon, Barny would become a minister for the abolition of sectarianism. He would unite people over love and compassion. He would rid us of all the hatred if I were the president.

 

 

I would meet with ambassadors and consuls in a restaurant with music and dancing, so there would be an optimistic ambiance. We would wage wars in eastern tempo, using darbuka and drums if I were the president.

 

 

If I were the president of Lebanon, I would write articles, poems, and songs. The government would convene in the open air. We all would have lots of fun if I were the president.

 

 

If I were the president of Lebanon, we children would live a life of comfort. We would laugh a lot and would play all day. There would be happiness everywhere if I were the president.

 

 

If I were the president of Lebanon, the children could play freely. There would be no fighting, no division into east and west. Lebanon would be united if I were the president.

 

 

All the children sing in unison:

 

 

If we were presidents of Lebanon, we would deal with everyone seriously, because people's lives require serious leadership. This is no child's game – we want to save Lebanon.

 

 

But I will never become the president of Lebanon, because the world is full of lies, deception, and problems. Don't count on me to make political decisions – the most important thing is that one's conscience remains a conscience.

 

 

[...]