On Lebanon

In beginning my project, I knew that I would like to base it on

my ideas for a thesis. But how to do it? I began to turn to YouTube and Facebook for some help. I searched for anything related to Beirut and Lebanon. To my complete awe, I was a success, I found information and even was able to contact some Lebanese diaspora. These people all shared one common thread. They shared my desire to just let people know what it really does mean to be Lebanese. Being Lebanese is not just something genetically encoded in us. It is a way of life.

So many people also have these crazy ideas about being Lebanese. About what happens in Lebanon. Most believe that Lebanon is this Muslim nation. They are shocked to find out that there is a fair amount of Christians in Lebanon. When I was little, I used to tease people with trivia when they would ask where I was from. I would say that I am from the only Christian nation in Lebanon. Most would obviously respond Israel. I would say that I am from the only nation in the Middle East without a Desert. This was a bigger stumper. Most never asked. It became a game to me. Finding out factoids and teasing people. Of course this extended to other areas. Q & A was always fun growing up. But Lebanon and more specifically Beirut were my obvious obsessions. This is not to say that I do not also love the USA and Florida, I do like to tease people with factoids about the USA and Florida, especially when I travel overseas, it is just that in Florida, most would be familiar with my jokes, and besides, it becomes especially hard to slip those into a conversation. After all, here, who asks where are you from? It seems like my Lebanese-ness is the only thing that really differentiates you from me.

During my searches I found this poem. It is very much true and can express my feelings about Beirut. I do not know who wrote it as I have found it in several locations.

Granted this is a very long poem but it does express the point that I am trying to express.

Being Lebanese means that there is always some sort of variety. There is a huge amount of variety connected with Lebanon. Not only is our foods a fusion of international cuisine, but the culture is too. Only in Lebanon, during a war, do we go out dancing and to clubs. Only in Lebanon, do we party like there is no tomorrow, and live like we can live forever. Lebanese enjoy the notion of Carpe diem. This is not to say it is solely a Lebanese thing, just it is more present there. During the most recent July War, some clubs were closed and avoided in parts of Lebanon, but those in the mountains became the “it” spot where most people fled to. Furthermore, shows such as many reality TV shows remained hits. Singers and Dancers continued to work their craft. This mentality has been around since even before the first civil war and the 15-year civil war. []

My project is essentially an explanation of the Lebanese heritage. Like a fair amount of the diaspora, during the Civil War my dad left the country in search of a better life and to be able to provide for his family. This resulted in a lot of Lebanese in various, different foreign “host” nations. Some of this diaspora married fellow Lebanese. Others married natives of that host nation. These marriages resulted in children that are of dual heritage. Some physically looked Lebanese, others looked like their other half. That half being American, European, African, Latin, Asian, Australian and Lebanese. This diaspora physically may look like everybody else in that “host” nation that their parent decided to adopt as their own. This diaspora and their children never renounced their original homeland but also fully accepted and adopted this “second” nation as their own as well. I am among this group of people. I am loyal to both my nations and love them both very much.

Who are the Lebanese? Are the Lebanese Phoenician, Arabs, Martian,...? The Lebanese people are everything and more. Originally settled by the Phoenicians, this area was occupied by over 16 different peoples since the beginning of time. The Phoenicians are decedents of the Canaanites whereas the Arabs are descendants of the nomads from the Arabian Peninsula. Even the National Geographic is doing a piece on the Phoenicians and Lebanon. They have shown that the Lebanese are in fact the Phoenicians of yesteryear. Even the constitution of Lebanon does not call Lebanon an Arab state, just that the language is Arabic.

People have always had these misunderstandings of what I am. I have heard countless stereotypes and also asked a group of friends if they would mind sharing the stereotypes that they have encountered. These stereotypes are very disgruntling. But of course, the Lebanese does use their common technique when approached with this ignorance, they make a joke about it.

These stereotypes affect the perception of the Lebanese community here in the US and abroad. These perceptions vary depending on who you talk to. It is surprising how many feel believe that Lebanon is not how it is.

Lebanon is a very diverse country. I tend to focus on Beirut because it is the major hub in that region and also the majority of the people in Lebanon live in Beirut.

Sorting out ideas about what to do for my project, I began to ask some of the Lebanese about my ideas, bouncing the ideas off of them trying to find out what they thought about them. I was pleasantly surprised with how much they want to have people just understand Lebanon, and what it really means to be Lebanese. The enlightenment of the general mankind is something that most of the Lebanese seem to genuinely desire. I even have heard a lot about how much they wanted me to do a good job and teach many people about us.

Lebanon is this small nation in the Middle East. It is sandwiched between Israel, Syria, and the Mediterranean Sea. This tiny nation has such a varied history including existing for over 5,000 years and being occupied by 16 nations. It has been destroyed and rebuilt 7 times. Despite being destroyed by war, earthquakes and tidal waves, this city and country continue to prosper. It will never die. For this reason Lebanon has been given the nickname, the Phoenix. Like a Phoenix rising from the ashes, the Lebanese will never die, even when all looks doomed.

My project is aimed at showing people why I feel that Lebanon is such a remarkable country.

Lebanon may be small, but it's history is rich and it's impact on the world is immense. Lebanon, after all, is only about 2/3rd the size of Connecticut.

Beirut has been the focus of reconstruction especially since during the Lebanese Civil War the city was completely divided with the Muslims on the west and the Christians on the east. This dividing line was referred to as the “green line.” This no-mans-land is the scene of a lot of destruction and chaos. This destruction necessitated the need for a large-scale rebuilding project in Lebanon.

As I am quite sure that you can tell, the history of Lebanon is very interesting but most people don't have the appetite to digest the facts. My project will be making my narrative which discusses the history of Lebanon more digestible for the common audience. It will be a video project showing the destruction and reconstruction of Lebanon. These videos will express all what words cannot. It will show the unification of the people of Lebanon to achieve this common goal.

Depicting the survival of Lebanon through the French, Byzantine, Roman, Mamluk, Ottoman and Phoenician eras, rebuilding whenever necessary, thereby contributing to the many layers found throughout the city, eight in total as of the most recent count. My project will show Lebanon as a country of constant rebuilding and renovation. I have heard Lebanon and Beirut compared to a phoenix. This comparison is well warranted. This city and country has refused to die and thus it is amazing in and of itself.

This evolution is amazing, and scary. It is amazing because this constant self-renewal gives credence to this saying but also scary that Lebanon has been forced into rebuilding herself so many times. It doesn't sound natural until one realizes that Lebanon has been around since perhaps the beginning of time.

Lebanon is made up of two groups of people, the Phoenicians and the Arabs. The Phoenicians are Canaanite decedents whereas the Arabs are decedents of the wandering nomadic tribes. There is a genealogical difference between these two groups of people, but both have strong roots in the beginning of civilization as we know it.

Since the civil war ended, a great deal of changes over the past fifty years have taken place in Beirut, which was regarded as the “Pearl of the Middle East,” or, alternately, the “Paris of the Middle East” until the mid-1970s in which the Lebanese tried to get back their title.

Beirut regained its glory within a few years after the civil war, thanks to the efforts of Solidere, the Société libanaise pour le développement et la reconstruction de Beyrouth (in English, that's “The Lebanese Company for the Development and Reconstruction of Beirut”).

Beirut was rebuilt to a new and improved version of its former beauty. Founded on May 5, 1994 by the late Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, his group is responsible for most of the reconstruction of Beirut.

My project is about the beauty and amazing actions of the rebuilding and renovations. This is the one thing that I love to read and write about. Most don't understand exactly what I mean by it was destroyed and so I feel that if I use photo-graphical evidence to reveal the reasons behind my claim that Lebanon is truly a nation of constant evolvement and is very obviously likened to a phoenix rising from the ashes numerous times like I have mentioned before.

After all, anybody can and destroy an object, but it takes real human ingenuity to rebuild that object. What I find amazing is that this country was rebuilt not once, not twice, but 8 times. EIGHT TIMES. All in the same place. Imagine living in a city where anywhere you dig deeper than six feet you run into the history of that culture.

The rebuilding after the civil war is probably the most amazing feat of rebuilding in modern history. In 10 years, due to the efforts of Solidere, AUB, the Government of Lebanon, and various other philanthropists, Beirut was restored until it became one of the most beautiful cities in the world. It was restored to its former beauty in some aspects, and has been recreated and modernized into an even more beautiful city. Beirut is a city of rejuvenation and renewal. That is why I love it. Once you go there, you will understand.

Looking at the history of this nation and its desire not to die, its refusal to die, I cannot do anything but stand in awe.

This country, with its history and struggles, hosting many people of many different religions and cultures, succeeds in ways that nobody can even truly imagine. The government has been made to grant everybody a “fair” slice of power. The balance of power is shown even in the uppermost level with the President having to be Maronite Christian, the Prime Minister having to be a Sunni Muslim, and the Foreign Minister having to be a Shiite Muslim.

This is part of the reason for such a peaceful recovery and reconstruction. Not only were the differences between the two groups mended but they were forced to even overlook party separation and other types of divisions within the nation in order create a greater and better Lebanon.

This is what I would like to show in my project. I would not only like to explain what the war did to the country but also how the citizenry reacted and helped shape a greater future for themselves and their nation. I would like to express to all how wonderful and unique this truly is and also perhaps help explain why I truly love Lebanon.