A word from the heart to our fellow
Lebanese Expats
I had the honor to deliver a session on Social Media and the art of using it to promote positivity taking the example of the hashtag I started in 2012 #Ilovelebanonbecause ,
this session was delivered to the distinguished lebanese expats from 25 countries participating at the Maronite Academy for this summer of 2018.
I hereby share with them few words from the heart.
I had a chance 10 years ago to leave Lebanon for a better job
opportunity abroad.
Every time I had the idea of leaving, I remembered my grandma who
used to cry when she wanted to see her 4 children who left Lebanon because of
the war.
We are at peace… why should we surrender and choose the easy way
out?
I always say that staying in Lebanon is an act of resistance.
Staying here and being productive and proactive gives your life a meaning and a
goal.
Staying here makes you feel proud because we have so much to be
proud of… not what you see in the news…
God gave us the Cedars of Lebanon / He Gave us Geita Grotto / the
Valley of saints / the Mountains of Sannine and the Amazing fertile lands of
the bekaa and south.
He gave us open seas and
snow and 4 seasons.
Do not underestimate our beautiful weather and 300 days of SUN!
Our weather is moderate and so should be our political system. We
should always live by mutual acceptance and understanding.
The bad politicians we have should not discourage us. The bad waste
crisis should not make us surrender… the refugees crisis should never affect
the country’s demographics … because all these problems are temporary and will
soon be over…
What remains is the Cedar. Saint Charbel. Our Lady of Lebanon and
Every Family struggling to make a living in this Country.
We have to fight for our Lebanon. We have to tell the world what it
means to be a Lebanese and what it takes to rebuild a country from ashes every
time and after every war.
We have to learn that Lebanese people / when left alone without any
foreign interference / can do miracles. And I believe that every one of you
(Our Expats) is a miracle / a disciple who will spread the Lebanese Culture and
Heritage of 6000 years to the world and most importantly return one day to the
land of our ancestors.
Philippe abou zeid
Aug, 10, 2018
