I love you because you’re my brother.
August 13th, 2007 at 4:38 amI speak to you today as a human being and someone who subscribes to an overriding loyalty to all mankind as a whole.
I speak and write to anyone in the world who can hear this call, let us reaffirm our belief in mankind. Let us not stumble in the valley of despair, let us leave this cave of ignorance and hold hands in these days of challenge.
Yesterday afternoon I participated in a historic event, where men and women of goodwill shared their stories of hope and change. I simply asserted, I love God, therefore I love his greatest creation and that is the human being. For what is religion? Is not religion that path of righteousness to the Supreme Being? I ask those of you who may read this, what religion in the world, suffice to say, allows hatred of the other? Is not religion but fingers of the loving hand of God?
This entire website has broken the barriers of hate and has been a venue of love, tolerance, and acceptance of the other. In Montréal this past February, we brought together Lebanese Jews, Christians, and Muslims in one room, with one message and with a common conclusion- we want to see Beirut once again a playground for humanity, for all of God’s children to rejoice. Never in the last 40 years have we witnessed this bond between the Lebanese and all of the Lebanese.
We don’t seek fame or glory, all we seek is a country for all Lebanese, to show the world we can still exemplify the words of the late Pope Jean Paul II, that “Lebanon is more than a country, but a message” and it shall remain as such.
Today we see in Lebanon the emergence of almost two separate governments, Sunni-Shiite tensions now overshadowed by tensions within the respective and various Christian communities. We even witnessed the questioning of the identity of the Lebanese Armenian communities and yet still have not learned. Have the remaining minorities in Lebanon realized they are commencing towards the departure of their existence? Shall we begin working on www.thechristiansoflebanon.org anytime soon?
To the Lebanese, wake up and love the other. Your existence is contingent upon the existence of the other. The most noble and beautiful act any person can do is to help another. We protect ourselves, and we reserve our happiness and wellbeing when we reserve the happiness and wellbeing of the other.
There is a Jewish community in exile but there is also a Jewish population living in Lebanon today, yes they are living in Lebanon today. This community is much larger than 50 or 100 individuals, they have persevered in a society that denies them their freedom to exist and practice their religion openly. The Lebanese Jews have persevered in a society that generalizes their religious belonging to the shallow geo-political circumstances in the region. A community of over 1000 years.
The dangling discord in our nation strings can and should be reunited into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood where all of the children of good rally around the homeland.
This is a responsibility, not an opportunity, for all Lebanese and all mankind who are genuinely interested in peace in this world. Lebanon shall become an example for the world, that all of the children of God are brothers and sisters, that true faith is faith in humanity, not faith in the bomb or the gun. Faith in love, faith in tolerance, faith in coexistence, faith in ourselves.
A boy they called crazy,
A man of principle and persistence,
This will grow out of the flower in our hearts, we shall drink from the cup of life together, one day in Beirut, as Jews, Christians, Muslims, and all mankind. We shall sit together at the table of humanity and eat from the bread of life in Place d’Etoile (Nijmeh Square) -one day we hope to observe Shabbat and Passover in Beirut once again over the echoes of the Church bells and the call to prayer in the city’s Mosques.
We’re one people, we’re one blood, we have one destiny.
Aaron-Micaël Beydoun
Mailing List Registration, Please Click Here
Jalloul Muhammad Rashid Said,
August 13, 2007 @ 11:50 am
I feel life whenever I read such posts. I have a dream like yours Mr. Beydoun. I always dreamt of the one Lebanon, and not the many Lebanons. I always viewed Lebanon the same way the poet Jubran Khalil Jubran viewed it. He was absolutely right when he said: you have your Lebanon and I have mine…
I believe that everything in this world is possible. Every single dream has a chance to become true. Therefore, we must not abandon hope; and we ought to work hard to embody this dream. We ought to work hard to build Lebanon “The Message”. Let this NGO be a primary step for what we seek to come to life.
mohammad hassan Said,
August 13, 2007 @ 1:13 pm
i donno how they say it but:
ash3ar badane
fazee3 enta ya aaron, viva the jews in beirut
Administration Said,
August 13, 2007 @ 4:23 pm
Thank you, you know, the revolutions and the breakthroughs in this world were all resultant of just one thought or idea in the mind of a man, we can make this possible and we will perservere because we’re armed with truth, not ignorance, we’re armed with the love, not guns.
All the best,
AMB
Robert Said,
August 14, 2007 @ 12:41 pm
Aaron, khayyeh, you’ve outdone yourself with this. I have been involved in this for almost a year now and i have heard you alot but what you just wrote is just AMAZING one day bi beirut !!!
Believe in the dream and never give up!
allah ma3ak
Raffi Said,
August 20, 2007 @ 6:57 pm
It’s was a pity to hear politicians talking about Armenians as if they are not Lebanese citizens, like the rest of the sects, groups.
Armenians have been present in Lebanon even before the Moutasarrifieh era.
The Armenians built their lives back, coming out of the Genocide, known as the Genocide of the Armenians in 1915.
They played a very vital role in Lebanon’s economy, just as the Jews played a vital role in bringing up doctors, educators…
selim Said,
August 21, 2007 @ 1:54 am
ok.. let me tell u something.. i dont know why you mentioned that u may be working on the christians of lebanon anytime soon but to increase the tensions between christians and muslims who may ever read this..
anyway.. i have always supported jews of lebanon… i always say that its unfair that a jew person cant say am a jew in public.. its unfair that the keneyissit in donwtown was not restored while all building surrounding it were actually restored.. etc !
but my question for you is what is the jewish community doing to face this? the institution gives u the right to have a decent life and live normally/ why dont u go to TV and tell about urself.. u have to face ur fears..
but u must know that u should be lebanese and therefore.. belive in the lebanese cause and forget about israel being the country of jews..
good luck
Administration Said,
August 21, 2007 @ 12:58 pm
Hi Selim, welcome to the forum brother. I want to assure you, that the last of our intentions is to “increase the tensions between Christians and Muslims” and in fact, this thread as well as this entire website is trying to arouse the conscience of our Christian and Muslim brethren to understand that we must make a conscious effort to recognize the problem and ultimately rectify the situation. Quite contrary, we’re doing everything in our power to unite the Lebanese and unfortunately we can only strike that emotional chord once we make this situation relevant and applicable to others i.e. non-Jews. We seek brotherhood, we seek genuine unity and national reconciliation where all Lebanese are present, not because they are numerous or strong, but because they are simply Lebanese- partnership is the essence of good citizenship.
Thank you all for participating and joining us, this is your forum, this is your project.
Ahmad Said,
August 23, 2007 @ 7:55 pm
I,m a Lebanese Muslim, and I know that there was a big Jewish community in Lebanon, but too sad not any more, we never had a chance to talk to wone or have a good relation with one. Wish one they all come back home, because Lebanon is for his people regardless of their believes. Keep ur good work up, and I,m as a Lebanese person support ur hard work
lebanese Said,
September 22, 2007 @ 10:16 pm
Keep writting, may be one day the politician wiil heard us!!!!!!
we all know people cant do any thing!!!!
al davisaldavis Said,
November 17, 2007 @ 4:56 am
Beautifully stated, mybrother of the spirit……………let’s all keep at it.
`Hate knows that love’s a cure’…………
Joud Said,
January 14, 2008 @ 8:03 am
A Lebanese is a Lebanese, no matter what they are…
But we should bring the topic up as to help everyone Lebanese realize that Jews still exist in Lebanon…
TV is a great Idea, even though I’m not a big fan of Zaven, but it is easier and confidential to contact the people working on his show…
I’ll write the show an email right now…
I’ll reference this conversation in the email…