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| FEATURED EDITORIALS |
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| Originally published on Maronet.org The Need For A Lebanese Lobby By Pierre A. Maroun For centuries the Lebanese Christians, Maronites in particular, fought for freedom and independence in the Holy Land of Lebanon. It was their Patriarchs who led the troops, fought the battles, and won the wars against both foreign and domestic aggressors seeking domination over the Cedars of God. Today, Lebanon is in need of such leaders willing to lead the Maronite church against the assailants of freedom and democracy in that region. Leaders brave enough to survive the hateful storms of the anti-Christ of the Middle East and wise enough to keep the church and its followers intact. Leaders committed to the liberation of Lebanon, and leaders who the masses can trust. The Maronite Church has a moral obligation that transcends its religious Sunday services. It has an obligation to the "ethos" of its people. This obligation stems towards the preservation of Lebanon and the identity and heritage of its people. It stems towards providing a leadership which the people will support. In turn, the Maronite people have a fundamental obligation to participate in the church activities and support its objectives. This relationship must transcend all religious entities and ensures the success of each. For example, just as every Rabbi supports the Jewish cause, and every Imam or Sheik supports the Muslims or Arab causes, every Maronite priest must support the Lebanese cause. To do this successfully, the church leaders should carry out the methods used by Saint John Maron during the war against the Byzantines. The leaders of the church should adopt the people's cause and be willing to lead the fight to establish a free, sovereign, and independent Lebanon. Active groups working in the United States, with representation in Europe and Australia to lobby for Lebanon are needed. Lebanese people who are driven by convictions rather than financial gain should be selected to work in these groups. The manpower is available, but it must be used. The church is capable of leading this fight. Today is the perfect time to explain the benefits of a free Lebanon to the United States of America. Americans shares the same values and beliefs as the Lebanese, and has been confronting the same challenges since the tragic terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Today is also the time to illustrate to the US that a free Lebanon is an asset and a backing force to its war on terrorism. It is time for Lebanese to demonstrate their will and determination to preserve their heritage, traditions, and way- of-life as free people living in harmony with the rest of the free world. As free Lebanese, we are destined to join force with our natural allies in the free world to battle terrorism and to protect democracy and freedom. The world is facing the same ferocious enemy-terrorism-which the Lebanese have endured for centuries. We must all unite and work together to preserve our shared values and beliefs. To achieve these objectives, the following methods should be set up: 1- Organize our people worldwide. We must make the free world, in particular the US, aware of our economic and social importance. This includes teaching the Lebanese in Diaspora about Lebanon's unique heritage, and its exceptional role as a bridge between civilizations. 2- Encourage the United States to pass and enforce legislation, similar to the "Syria Accountability Act of 2002," aimed at holding Syria accountable for the atrocities committed against Lebanon and its people. 3- Lobby to carry out all UN Resolutions pertaining to Lebanon, including UN Resolution 520. UN Resolution 520 clearly requests the departure of all occupying troops from Lebanon, including Syria and the Iranian revolutionary guards. 4- Encourage global economic investment in Lebanon, from the US in particular, to eliminate poverty and mass migration (brain drain) of the youths. 5- Lobby the US administration to pressure the Lebanese state to deploy its Army throughout the country to safeguard its borders and to provide the necessary security for every Lebanese citizen. All paramilitary and terrorist groups currently using Lebanon for illicit activities (drug trafficking, weapon smuggling, and terrorism) must be disarmed. As free Lebanese expatriates, we must lead the fight against terrorism and oppression. We must pledge to fight until democracy prevails in our beloved country-Lebanon. Our religious leaders must help thus our churches’ bells keep ringing in the Holly land of Lebanon. Note (1) When the Byzantine Emperor invaded the region of the Levant, his army attacked the Maronites and killed 500 Monks and destroyed their monastery near the Oronotes River in Syria. However, when his troops reached Lebanon, Patriarch Saint John-Maron personally led the Maronite Marada into combat against the Emperor's army and won a decisive victory in the Amyoun area in northern Lebanon. General Moreek of the Byzantine Imperial Army was killed and buried there. The Great Patriarch then established his first seat in a convent in Kfarhay. Source: Father Boutros Daw, Tarikh al-Mawarenah al-Syiassy, wal-hadary, wal-deeny, 325-700 (The Religious, Political, and Cultural History of the Maronites, 325-700) (Beirut: Al-Nahar Publishers, 1970p 368- 370.) Pierre A. Maroun June 20, 2002 Letter presented to the International Maronite Congress. LA, California. June 20-23, 2002 |
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International Maronite Foundation The International Maronite Congress 2002 June 20-23, 2002 --------------------------------- |
