I was born and raised in Lebanon, a country on the East Mediterranean Sea. A country that traces its history to over 6000 years ago. It is an archeological heaven with ruins of Phoenician, Arab, Turk, and Roman empires of times past. It has magnificent sites to visit.
Lebanon's capital is Beirut most famous for being the Switzerland of the Middle East. A place where East meets West, and where the past meets the present. It has the highest mountains in the Middle East with an altitude of over 3,000 meters (9,000 feet). The winter ski centers on these mountains are only an hour's drive from the warm Mediterranean sea. In the spring you can water ski and snow ski in the same day.
Lebanon was invaded and ruled by all invaders and mighty armies of past civilizations, including Greek, Roman, Arabs, Turks, and most recently, the French (between World War I and World War II). Lebanon gained independence from France in 1943.
Lebanon's population is about 3,000,000 people. Nobody knows the exact population count or breakdown, since the last census was taken in 1943. The government thinks taking another census is too politically sensitive, since it may change the population's breakdown and thus the political balance between the various religious groups and sects of the Moslem, Jewish, and Christians.
Lebanon is famous for its mountains (the Biblical mountain of Lebanon, the "Land of Milk and Honey"). The highest mountains host one of the few remaining Cedar forests. Cedar tree lumber was used in the building of the Temple of King Solomon in Jerusalem. Most other mountains are studded with very scenic and aromatic Pine forests.
I was born it the second largest city in Lebanon, Tripoli, which is called Tarablous in Arabic, Tri-polis (three cities) in Greek, and Ter Baa'l (land of the God Baa'l) in Phoenician. It is sometimes referred to as Tripoli of the East to differentiate it from Tripoli (Libya) of the west. Tripoli is a little town of some 200,000 - 300,000 people. It is famous for many things, especially as having been a center of Arabic culture during the Islamic empires times. But, to me, the most famous thing in Tripoli, is its fortress built during the European Crusaders times by Raymond de St. Gilles (no bias for the name ? right !).
Koubbe and Haret Es-Saydeh are predominantly Christian Maronite inhabitants. Maronites are descendants of the followers of Saint Maron, the Syrian Hermit Monk, who decided to follow the Catholic church of Rome, after the split occurred between the church of Byzantium and the church of Rome in the 6th century. Koubbe is also the "winter" home of many from the mountains east of Tripoli.
I lived in Koubbe till I had to go attend college in the United States. I came to the United States, hoping to return to Lebanon 4 years later after I graduate. Even tough I came to the United States on a three-month "tourist" visa, with only $ 300 in my pocket, I managed to finish my college studies, and because of trouble in my home country, I became a Naturalized US Citizen.
I traveled and spent many summer vacations in North Lebanon, visiting my Mom and Dad, and the rest of the family.
Me, my mother, and dad
Yours trulyI believe there are people in Lebanon, especially the ones who lived somewhere else for a while, who think like I do. They have their visions of a future Lebanon. But this battle for a new Lebanon will be an exercise in futility for a long time. Let's not forget that it took the United States of America a very costly civil war, among other sacrifices, and some 100 years of peace afterward, to become what it is today.
Lebanon can be a state of mind, and does not have to be a reality. Until such time when Lebanon becomes a true modern country, which may not be during your lifetime or mine, we can just repeat what Gibran said:
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