Definitional Paper

Forever changing and reinventing itself, Beirut has a lasting legacy in the world today.

Counterarguments and fallacies

-Beirut is not changing on her own urging.

-The legacy of Beirut is linked to the history of Beirut which is tied into the history of many other past "occupying countries."

-The city is not really reinventing itself, but rather solely rebuilding.

Now in a more coherent manner:

Beirut is a Phoenix.

Modern Mythology states that a Phoenix was this beautiful bird with gold and crimson plumage. This bird, when it was near its death, would build a nest and ignite it burning to a fiery death. From these ashes, the Phoenix would rise again.

Likewise, Lebanon is like the Phoenix. Even the coloring that some purported the phoenix to be is the color made by the Phoenicians and never copied by anybody else. The Lebanese, and the Phoenicians before them (though they are the same peoples) are in every way just like the Phoenix.

Having been destroyed eight times, and rebuilt 8 times, Lebanon has this desire never to die. After all, wouldn't other nations just leave?

Beirut is not changing just for the hey of it. Beirut has been forced into changing due to many issues including foreign occupation and civil disturbances. These events have caused Beirut to change out of necessity rather than out of want. This different is huge because if Beirut has to change solely out of necessity, this is not a good trait as the legacy is more tarnished than anything else. Furthermore, the idea of leaving a lasting legacy without mention of the role that a foreign occupying nation has played, can be very devious if read incorrectly.

Lebanon has refused to be corrupted by others. She plans to create her own destiny and fate. Like the mythical bird, the Phoenix, the Lebanese do not want to let anybody decide there fate. It is her belief that it is her legacy to create her own goals, to have her own people, and to let them believe what they want to believe. The Lebanese are great at adapting. That could be why there is so much pride in the Lebanese around the world. Though Lebanon could be destroyed, the Lebanese will never tire of talking about her endless beauty.

It seems like even if the Phoenix known as Lebanon does self-destruct, it will never be truly ever destroyed in the hearts and minds of the peoples that call Lebanon their home country. Interestingly enough the Lebanese are part of everything and everybody, but yet still struggle with their own identity as most peoples do.

Currently, Lebanon is split over religion. The Lebanese are used to carrying multiple identities and so they obviously would feel okay with identifying themselves with their religions as well as their nationality. After all, the civil war was only 16 years ago.

Lebanese struggle for its identity, this is an ad that appeared on the television a little bit ago (subtitles added for easier of understanding)

The coloring of the Phoenix also mimics that of the Phoenicians and the current day Lebanese. The Phoenix is not made of dirt and terry, but rather of gold and crimson. Colors of royalty. It is true to say that the Lebanese like to appear as if they have stepped off the cover of vogue magazine or the catwalks of Paris, but this is not a bad thing.

Like the Phoenix, also, the Lebanese do not let others just reconstruct Lebanon. This would be viewed weirdly. The Lebanese have this huge desire to control their own fates. They do not like living under somebody else's thumbs and following instruction. There is even stories of the Phoenicians killing themselves, sacrificing their lives by burning themselves to death, rather than be taken and killed by some invaders...I wish I could remember which invader this was.. If this isn't something that one could point at and say there is the clear correlation between the Phoenix and the Phoenicians then I don't know what is.

Forever rising from the ashes, the Lebanese (the modern day Phoenicians) show the world that they are something incredible. They show the world that there is something to be said about the Lebanese desire for independence.

Not allowing themselves to be killed by another, they choose to control their own fates. The rebirth of Lebanon and of the Phoenix is something that is truly speculate. Not only do they change on their own accord, but they decide to recreate themselves again appearing just as majestic, if not even more majestic than ever before.

Furthermore, the forever changing Beirut and Lebanon is a cue to the history of this vibrant city. It's historical ties are seen in the continuous revolution and rejuvenation of the city. It is refashioned out of necessity and a desire to live.

Despite the external pressures that try to forcefully melt Lebanon into another country. Lebanon refused to be pushed into this box. The Lebanese mentality for my way or the highway is something that is of huge historical importance. This is not to say that the Lebanese are so stubborn that they will not change or anything, but rather that they will never forget their history. This rejuvenation and rebuilding of Lebanon is part of the reason why Lebanon still exists and is its own country.