My fellow Lebanese, we are approaching a crucial turning point in our history, and our hard work, commitment to Lebanon’s freedom, and perseverance is about to pay off.

However, before we reach our final destination, there are several important things that we must do, as follows:

Step 1.

Lebanese living in the Diaspora, particularly Lebanese Americans must unite first.  We should set a precedent for the Lebanese people back home to follow suit. If we have learned anything from the great American model, it is that “United we stand, divided we fall”.

The Lebanese Americans have three options:

Ø      Status Quo (Do nothing): Maintaining the status quo is no longer an option. The status quo is the anti-Lebanese goal. By not acting, you are participating in the liquidation of free Lebanon, and that is precisely what the enemies of freedom and democracy want you to do.  

Ø      Lobby against the Syria Accountability Act of 2002: No true friends of Lebanon should lobby against this bill. Syria is a terror sponsoring nation and must be held accountable for its past, and when confronted and given an ultimatum, Syria will budge. This bill is the best medicine for Lebanon and Syria. 

Ø      Unite & Pull resources together: In doing so, you confirm your loyalty and commitment to a free & democratic Lebanon. Anything shy of this option is unethical, un-American, and anti-Lebanese. The best way to accomplish this is by supporting the US Committee for a Free Lebanon by financial and intellectual contributions, supporting the Syria Accountability Act of 2002, reaching out and involving the freedom loving Americans in your community, etc…. But you must act now. We simply cannot afford to wait much longer. We have tried the “good things happen to those that wait” theory, but it did not yield the best results. Now it is time to adopt the “He helps those who help themselves” concept, unite, and get results. I want to see a better Lebanon now, not 100 years from now.  

According to the famous Gestalt Theory, the “Sum of the whole is greater than the sum of its parts”. Haven't  we learned from our bitter past that division leads to more division? Haven't we learned from experience that division leads to the destruction of Lebanon? By uniting our financial, political and spiritual resources, we can do amazing things.  

Recently, we saw a glimpse of what we Lebanese Americans groups are capable of doing when they pull together & combine resources. That unity came in the form of joint ads where the top 15 Lebanese American Groups came together and denounced the September 11 attacks, and called for support for Lebanese democracy, sovereignty and independence. The joint ads are the tip of the iceberg. 

The people of Lebanon alone are incapable of confronting the terror imposed on them, but rest assured they look up to us as their Guardian Angels, and they see hope. The people of Lebanon may have been temporarily silenced, but they will rise again: You can’t hear their voices, but you can hear their souls crying. You can’t see the tears on their faces, but their hearts bleed freedom and democracy.   

Step 2. 

Lebanese living in Lebanon must unite next. We recognize that any unification attempts in the past, have been followed by intimidations, assassinations, disappearances, arrests, tortures, imprisonments, and other criminal acts committed by the Syrian regime. Take for example Kamal Joumbalat and Bashir Gemayel, whose expressions of independence from Syria led to their assassinations. And there’s Michel Aoun, who was exiled to France in 1991, and Samir Gaa’gaa who has been jailed since 1994. Not to forget the many many Ramzi Iranis, and the university students of the free patriotic movement. 

Most of the puppet politicians and some clergymen in Lebanon argue that we do not need help from the outside world (mainly the USA and the Lebanese American lobbyists). We would be insane if were not to do the opposite.  They argue that we need normal relations with Syria, and not sanctions against Syria. I say we need normal relations with all of our neighbors, but from outside our borders, not from within.  

Step 3.  

Let’s put all of our weight behind the “Syria Accountability Act of 2002” and expose the Syrian crimes committed against humanity, the world and the Lebanese people. It is about time that Syria is handed the “Madam of terrorism” trophy, the “Master of assassinations” title. The Free World and the United Nations must acknowledge the human right abuses immediately; otherwise their late actions may be irrelevant.

It is no surprise what the Syrian regime will attempt to do as a result of our unification efforts. In fact, it is almost predictable what the Syrians and their proxies will do to thwart any true national reconciliation efforts. But things have changed since 9/11, and the “Wild-Wild West” model that the Syrians enjoyed in the past is no more. To put it mildly, the honeymoon is over for Syria, “Accountability” is the name of the game, and “The Syria Accountability Act of 2002” is the cure. 

My analogy of the current one-sided Syrian-Lebanese partnership is one of Manipulation, with Syria being the manipulator, and Lebanon the one being manipulated. Such arrangements are temporary and short lived, and in the end, a more balanced relationship between the two countries is required. The genuine relationship we envision with the Syrians will be one of mutual respect, tolerance, and trust. We envision the same model with our southern neighbors, the Israelis. 

The world views the Lebanese people as violent people. If only they knew the struggles we have been through, they would be more sympathetic. Our job is to educate the world of our history, struggles and contributions to humanity, from the creation of the alphabet to the production of Chardonnay wine to the biblical Cedars of Lebanon. 

God bless the U.S.A. and God bless Free Lebanon.

© Copyright 1997-2004 United States Committee For A Free Lebanon. All rights reserved.

Would you like to comment on this article?