It is important to separate politics from government

Macron loves the Lebanese but loves the French more

When French President Emmanuel Macron came to Lebanon overnight after the devastating explosion of Beirut on August 4th, it was a combination of politics and government. President Macron could possibly actually care about the Lebanese and very possibly might’ve been shocked and touched by what he saw just like the rest of us. It’s only human, right? But as the president of France, one of the most powerful countries in the world, he has a role to play. A political role and a government role. The two are close yet different. Politics is similar to business, it involves games and bullshit. You can’t be a good person and a politician, those things just don’t go together. Government is a bit different, it is problem solving your country’s issues and leading your people. The two go hand in hand but yet are different. Understanding the difference between the two is key for the Lebanese to make sound decisions in these critical times that will shape the future of the country. Dumbed down and simplified, politics involves emotion and manipulation while government involves efficiency and problem solving. President Macron most likely came to Lebanon to achieve both. The Lebanese welcomed him with open arms because finally a politician and a leader showed us that they cared and gave us a hug, literally and figuratively. It’s like the child that hasn’t received any attention from its parents. The main thing for the Lebanese to dissect from this visit is, sure, we should take advantage of this support and do anything we can to get help from President Macron to rid us of this current political class. But it is of great importance to not forget to play politics with an eye to the future of the country. When one is so desperate, one is willing to give up everything in order to get out of said desperate situation. Later though, problems arise due to a rash decision because one wasn’t thinking of all scenarios that would arise down the line. We should accept all help we can receive but we should play politics and not sell our future in exchange for instant gratification.