I know from the beginning of time all peoples migrate – short distance or long distance – looking for something other than what they have, hoping for a better existence. To begin with Phoenicians were cut out for migration, being sailors and merchants, this was a given. They’re natural risk takers, sailing sometimes into total unknown. Life taking them up and down like the waves under their boats but as usual they continue through the ups and the downs. I guess this life appealed to them more than just stagnation.
Then closer to the present time: imagine going to “America” which ended up being Brazil, the West Coast of Africa, Guyana, and maybe by chance “America”.
If we take a look, they migrated just about anywhere they landed. However, wherever they did end up, they knew there was probably no going back – at least until they made “something” of themselves. Maybe they were afraid to be seen as failures. I’m not sure if this should be the reason to succeed at something.
As I understand, no one leaves their country unless forced to because of one factor or another. Your country is a part of you, who you are, who you know and you are familiar with. Your country runs through your thoughts, hopes, and dreams. Your country is where you would like to run to in times of present woe. Your country is the place you grew up and know, that is home and welcoming, and where the scents of seasons are familiar and remain the same through the years no matter what else changes. The place you run to in your dreams when you get lost in your present life.
Let’s sail across to Lebanon.
What Is Lebanon more than Where Is Lebanon?
What is Lebanon to all Lebanese – Strangely enough, I think to ask what is Lebanon to a foreigner is a lot easier – it is a place where foreigners are actually better off than in their own country.
Let’s try to see what Lebanon used to be and in many instances still is. Just a side note here, most of the Lebanese truly wanted to come back home and with the means to make a better life for themselves and if possible other members of the family. I say “if possible” because if one can venture into hardships to better oneself I don’t see why the others couldn’t. I don’t think anyone has the right to expect others to give them what they don’t want to get for themselves. However, as with everything else, we know they are exceptions to the rule that can be acceptable.
So, exactly how difficult life might have been for many who left on this venture!
First of all, many were not really fully aware of their destination.
“Side note: education is not necessarily intelligence and intelligence not used is useless.”
I think most of the immigrants felt the destination would be AMERICA.
Question is, which America? North, Central, or South?
They might also be the confusion of whether they would end up in America or Africa – they might both begin with A, but they are quite different. Now all things said and done, many times Africa was more lucrative especially if they wanted a chance to go back to Lebanon. Some went to Sierra Leone, Nigeria, Ghana…etc. and I mean etcetera – on the coast, in the middle, and any other place they landed on. Quite a migration!
I noticed that in some Lebanese, Africa mellowed their temper. I haven’t been to Africa, but maybe where they migrated was as calm as the Caribbean. Many Lebanese settled, had families, businesses, and a good life. If they couldn’t they just went back to Lebanon.
Side note: The world is mostly a global village – even if it is a huge village. I think village denotes culture, even a mixture of cultures – a blending of the past smoothly into the present. So, I don’t think we can generalize about people and their countries. I think all humans are all the same, really, just with personal preferences in food, dress, or sometimes a way of thinking. People tend to become like those around them, for example I noticed that Lebanese living in Russia for a long time become Russian in all or many aspects – even the way they look is Russian. We melt into what is around us and become part of it, inside and outside.
I think that some revert to the way they were once they go back home for a visit or permanently. Is it really all about being accepted?
In the year 2022 many Lebanese are still leaving, many against their wishes, but as usual if one cannot survive in one place “like the bedouins in the desert” one is forced to find a means to survive in another.
In conclusion, I would like to say that Lebanon is a country rare in its beauty, rare in the fact that people have learnt to depend completely on themselves, rare in the resilience of the people, however there is always a limit to everything. There is no denying when the end of the rope has been reached. I would like to hope that a next rope can be found one way or another.
God bless you Lebanon and keep you safe, Amen!