Lebanon: Beautiful and misunderstood country. 🇱🇧
The country that has been fractured in political upheaval in Lebanon & the Middle East as the whole. The foundation of Modern day Lebanon as Greater Lebanon began under the French mandate (the French rule under Sykes-Picot accords) following the end of World War One & the fall of the Ottoman Empire.
Lebanon became an independent country in 1943. Enjoyed the economic success in the 60s, calling Beirut “the Paris of the Middle East” then 15 years of civil war (1975 to 1990) and the recent events including the economic crisis, the Covid pandemic and the Beirut explosion (which the tragic event had happened 5 months ago)
Now I want this blog post to help you understand about the country with facts so that you won’t have to believe any misconceptions about Lebanon even it doesn’t really mean that the nation does not have challenges.
Fact 1
Lebanon is mentioned in the Bible 75 times. The Bible verse I know is Psalm 92:12. You don’t have to be religious to know the facts about Lebanon being mentioned in the Holy book. The Holy Bible. “The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree. He shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon”. Ancient Lebanon.
Fact 2
Unlike any Middle Eastern country, Lebanon does not have sand. In other words, it does not have a dessert. However it does have a mountain where everyone can go skiing in winter.
Fact 3
Lebanon is half Christian, half Muslim country with religious diversity. So to say that Lebanon is a Muslim country like other Arab country is factually not correct.
Fact 4
There are many cedar trees in Lebanon. When you see the Lebanese flag, it has the Lebanese tree. Cedar or Cedrus Libani (which is scientific name).
Fact 5
The most and obvious misconception of all is Lebanon being not safe as it is “war torn country” like some of other Arab country. Well I really don’t understand why would people believe the country (Lebanon) is in war/conflict while it is not accurately true.
it’s true that Lebanon is being scarred (still being scarred) to this day from 15 years of civil war from 1975 to 1990 & that the country went through that period. That might probably explain why Lebanon had not seen to gain momentum economically by returning to that status (Beirut having a title again Paris of the Middle East) when the country & the capital Beirut was indeed the “Paris of the Middle East” when travellers around the world could come to visit the country in 1960s & early to mid 70s (1970s) as it did had financial capital before the war occurred in 1975. It was truly a tourist destination when nobody had to worry as if the country is not safe place to go. Lebanon would had been successfully economic hub by now just like other rich Middle Eastern country like the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Jordan and Qatar. Even Saudi Arabia in last few years have started to open tourism for everyone to come to visit. I wish Lebanon had that opportunity but instead, it is not like that. Not in the heyday of the 1960s & early to mid 1970s during the economic era (Paris of the Middle East).
What’s changed since that period & the war is politics. It is all got to do with the politics of Lebanon. Although I don’t have any interest in Lebanese politics, I have to say in my opinion that the political system have failed the people of Lebanon. I don’t like to be negative and bias but it is the truth. Why the politics in Lebanon are not sensible like politics here in the West (UK, Europe, USA, Canada, etc)?
The Beirut blast 5 months ago have really shocked the world. It amplifies the financial & economic problems as well political problems in Lebanon alongside the coronavirus pandemic. Corruption, fragile politics, oligarchs, Hezbollah. That’s how in October 2019, Lebanese people have been protesting against their own government.
How long will the people of Lebanon be deprived of having the government that is non corruptible & to be free of oligarchy and corruption? It’s time that Lebanon’s economy must be saved before it collapse economically and financially. The Lebanese govt have turned the beautiful country with fascinating history into a failed state.
No wonder still to this day, they haven’t formed the government & no one in the world who is the prime minister of Lebanon. I worry that Lebanon in the future could become another typical Middle Eastern country to be in war & terrible situation (which I hope & pray that should not be the case since Lebanon cannot end up like Syria, Libya, Iraq, Afghanistan and Yemen). Given Lebanon is home to many refugees from Syria and Palestinian Territories.
I even wanted to visit Lebanon just before the pandemic and the tragic incident in Beirut last year on 4th of August. Even I postponed going away aboard last year, I spent 5 months figuring out whether I can still want to go there or not (especially I have some relatives who do live there & that I am part Lebanese. Except I don’t identify myself as Arab despite I do not deny my roots since mine is African).
I have already made up my mind that my trip to Lebanon will not happen. Not this year, next year or any year at this moment. The country have suffered enough & I believe that I would wait until the economic and political situations are improved & when it does happen, I will come back to the idea of me having a interesting of wanting to go there (Lebanon).
So I have no plans to visit Lebanon anytime soon. At least it is not in war/conflict zone which anyone keeps on believing the misconception that is not safe. I will go there when there is a right time to go. Once the pandemic is declared over & the economic & political situations are improved (despite how messy is politics in Lebanon) then anything is possible. It will be long time before I start to have a interest again of visiting Lebanon.
So that is all I want to say about Lebanon. Beautiful and misunderstood country I didn’t even want to be political while at the same time, ordinary people does not have faith and trust in their own government (Lebanese government).
I hope I have cleared up any misunderstanding about Lebanon (misconception). Like I said in the first few paragraphs, the country does have challenges (political and economic) but to believe misconception would somehow automatically become truth which it shouldn’t be so. The only misconception have proved to be true sadly and unfortunately is Lebanon not being safe place to visit.
I hope one day in the future at least after Covid, I would want to see travellers coming to Lebanon since that it is service based economy to rebuild the economy that is currently not in the good shape.
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