mawkish sentimentalism

In Sab`un, Mikha'il Nu`aymah chronicles the history of relations between Kahlil Gibran (or Jubran Khalil Jubran as we call him in Arabic) and Amin Rihani.  He tells the story on when Rihani described Gibran's writings as "mawkish sentimentalism".  I think of that term whenever I read Lebanese liberal writings on Syria, not that it is sincere.