It's tough being Lebanese
Last night, I opened my phone to see a flood of notifications across my WhatsApp groups. I can't say I was surprised – Lebanese are used to opening our phones and acclimating to the latest crisis. But this one was different; it wasn't news of a car bomb or assassination (God knows we've had so many of those), it was a video (or rather, multiple videos from different horrifying angles) of a catastrophic explosion in Beirut's port. An explosion so terrifying and captured so vividly, that it rivals Hollywood's biggest disaster films. But this was real. And this was home.
The thing is, Lebanese can't catch a break. Our parents and grandparents have endured so much: a traumatic civil war, decades of corruption, assassinations and political turmoil culminating in 2020: total economic collapse meets COVID-19 meets this. I don't know what caused the explosion (the theories are many) but the endless cycle of trauma continues. How much can one population handle? People are already starving, now their homes are shattered too? It's surreal to turn on the news and see your country making headlines. Out of all the countries in the world, why were we born into this one in particular? A country relentlessly under fire in every possible way.
It's especially tough to feel like you don't have a home, but I certainly feel that way today. I woke up this morning (after an avalanche of nightmares) feeling tremendously anxious. Although my wife and I moved to Dubai last year, knowing that we'll probably never return to Lebanon is a tough pill to swallow. But then where will we go? That's the plight of every Lebanese without a foreign passport. An uncertain future, never-ending trauma, and no answers in sight. I do know one thing though: it's tough being Lebanese.
But we carry on.
C.S.C. & H.E.C.
4 年Thank you all
Internal Medicine Physician at Private Medical Practice
4 年So Sad for this Speechless Tragedy for all the Lebanese Society, I send to you my #Solidarite with all the Lebanese Society ??
Founder & Principal Consultant at Valda Alleyne Consulting
4 年Sad to learn of this disaster! Hoping that you and the citizens of Lebanon can rise again stronger after this challenge.
Executive Director at Sokoni Advertising
4 年Dear Nadim, we hear you, and trust me, we also feel what you are feeling, except that for you it is happening right now, and again and again just the way you have so aptly described it. Perhaps you may find solace in the reality of this century that the majority of the world population is undergoing one or another form of oppression right now. In fact, we may already be at the lowest level of mutual trust as nations isolate from others and leaders are hell bent on fulfilling unknown agendas. Of course, we all know the real reason is the politics of economy, power and control; no one nation or one person is responsible, it is a system which will self destruct. It is, of course, extremely disheartening that such an enterprising country is today on the brink of bankruptcy, among other harsh and horrendous realities. I implore you to have faith as no king has ever been as powerful as the power of the Lord, the Almighty, and it is only Allah/God that can punish perpetrators and restore justice. The only prerequisite for us, all the peoples of the world, is to revert to His ways rather than relying too much on talks that never end (read diplomacy), and focus on restoring peace - peace in our families, peace in our neighbourhoods, peace in our nations and peace amongst nations. No one faith group or nation can ever be forgiven for using disproportionate force on others, whether it is militarily, economically or otherwise. Hats off t the other writers before me who are talking of helping in the crisis. Their actions, like the medics, are truly unmatched and can only be rewarded by the creator in every way. Remember that hope and optimism are the very essence of our faith and our lifesavers during these trying times.