“The righteous will flourish like a palm tree,
they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon.”
(Psalm 92:12)
It is mentioned seventy times in the Bible; King Solomon used its cedars to build his glorious temples, and the Romans built their only temple for Jupiter on its land. Moreover, it was from its coasts that the Phoenicians spread the world’s first alphabet. The word ‘Lebanon’ symbolized beauty, strength, and pride. What was it that caused this fame to be replaced with infamy? Why does the word ‘Lebanon’ appear today only in sensationalized newspaper articles heralding bombings, terrorism, corruption and grief?
One might regard the civil war as the main cause of Lebanon’s downfall, while others might blame the government. Yet as the past cannot be undone, the cause is not an issue of primary importance. There exists a spark of hope for Lebanon and a solution for its problems. This solution lies in the words of America’s thirty-fifth president John F. Kennedy. Addressing his people in his inauguration speech, he stated, “Ask not what your country can do for you–ask what you can do for your country.” For a nation to strengthen itself and improve its situation, its citizens should be eager to act on behalf of their country, not continuously searching for ways the country might benefit them.
Although the Lebanese people have expressed their love for their country, it is necessary that they continue to change those words into action as they have done during the upheaval of recent events. People are eager for a more stable and democratic government and a better economy. Nevertheless, it has nearly become a tradition for students to leave Lebanon after, or even before, graduating from university. It is true that there are relatively less job opportunities in Lebanon, but if all the highly-educated and potentially successful people were to leave Lebanon and use their skills to enrich other countries, Lebanon would never have a chance to develop its own struggling economy. Kennedy’s message was that people should not wait for the country or government to invoke great change, because, as the past years have shown, that will not happen. Instead, it is the people who have to act by exerting their time and effort into strengthening the country.
There have, however, been prominent Lebanese citizens who not only practiced the words of John F. Kennedy, but, in fact, inspired them. When Kennedy spoke these words, he was quoting the American-Lebanese writer Gibran Khalil Gibran. In “The New Frontier”, Gibran wrote, “Are you a politician asking what your country can do for you or a zealous one asking what you can do for your country? If you are the first, then you are a parasite; if the second, then you are an oasis in a desert.” Is it by chance that the nation most renowned for its national pride adopted its words of patriotic inspiration from a Lebanese writer? I think not. Apparently, just as the Phoenicians sent out the first alphabet to the world, so the Lebanese taught the peoples of the world to love their nations. Not all the gaudy splendor of the 4th of July could compare to the unparalleled devotion of the Lebanese to their homeland.
The past years have shown us the unsurpassable loyalty and commitment of one man to his nation. Our martyred ex-Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri had his devotion carved in stone for eternity with the ultimate act of sacrifice for the nation he loved. Being in a very powerful and challenging position, he chose to be the “oasis in a desert” described by Gibran. He turned away from the ‘desert’ of corruption that surrounded him and spent endless effort on rebuilding ‘the Switzerland of the Middle East’. Through his deeds, Lebanon has been partially rejuvenated, and it is through people like him that a beautiful image of hope and life is manifest amidst the horrific memories of war and destruction.
Recent events, more than ever, have shown the unity among the Lebanese people and the strength, willpower, and courage they possess. After the assassination of our martyred ex-Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri, a wave of nationalism, along with the desire for long awaited freedom, sovereignty and independence, engulfed the people of Lebanon. In millions, people, unified and fortified with the power of one goal, came to Martyr’s Square to demand their rights. Regardless of the roadblocks and warnings that had been issued, a multitudinous ocean of impassioned individuals gathered as a single entity to drive out the crippling parasites that threatened their sovereignty. The dream of an independent nation was so strong and vivid that people were willing to walk for miles to participate in the demonstrations and add their voices to the demand for independence and democracy.
Groups of students set up tents, in which they lived and slept, at Martyr’s Square demanding the truth about the assassination, which still remains a mystery. All religious sects in Lebanon were represented at the funeral of Rafik al-Hariri, showing the unity that this nation has achieved. During the demonstrations, slogans, expressing the unity between the people of Lebanon, emanated from the hearts of thousands of people. What the Lebanese are willing to do for their country is no longer an idealistic dream, but has become manifest in the driving force of a nation breaking free from an age of oppression.
Never before have this nation’s people been so devoted to one cause; so inspired by one dream. Gone but never forgotten, Lebanese instigators of national pride continue to inspire and empower the Lebanese people with their vision of what we as a nation can and will be. From Lebanon’s indomitable history, to the patriotism that Gibran taught the world; from the sacrifice of a martyred leader, to the united hearts of his noble people; The Lebanese have proven to be a perfect example for the rest of the world when it comes to devotion and loyalty to one’s country. Now it is time to bring the dream to a total completion and show the world what the Lebanese nation is capable of doing.