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Lebanese-Americans See Hope Flicker in Homeland

By Gregg Krupa
Detroit News
Posted on Wednesday March 23, 2005

Mass demonstrations inspire some; others say outside interference is only stoking divisions.

DEARBORN—Growing up on the battlefield that was Lebanon 25 years ago was not exactly the sort of the sugar and spice upbringing a teenage girl should know.

“There was nothing but war around me,” says Sarah Zebib of Dearborn, as she tends to customers at her Dollar Discount store on Schoolcraft in Detroit. “For the past few weeks, I have been watching the events there on Al-Jazeera. I cannot live without it.”

Like many Lebanese-Americans in Metro Detroit, Zebib is busy monitoring the continuing mass demonstrations in her homeland. In the wake of the assassination of the popular former prime minister, Rafik Hariri, on Feb. 14, opinions among local Lebanese-Americans reflect the uncertainties of current events and the complexities of Lebanon—a country comprising a hearty mix of Shiite and Sunni Muslims, orthodox Christians and an array of ethnic groups.

Some think there is greater hope now for Lebanon than there has been in decades.

For others, outside interference is only stoking internal divisions—a continuing theme in the recent history of Lebanon.

They’re scheduling events to express solidarity with the demonstrators and are debating the international calls for Syria to end its 29-year presence in Lebanon.

They say they also hope to persuade their fellow Americans that current events in the once-prosperous country, with a long tradition of democratic thinking, are as important to the goals of freedom and peace in the Middle East as the war in Iraq or the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The Congress of Arab American Organizations, a local umbrella group, is hosting a meeting at 6 tonight at the Greenfield Manor, 4770 Greenfield, in Dearborn, to discuss the issues.

“What I remember is what a beautiful country it was and that Beirut was the Paris of the Middle East, and when the civil war occurred, we were removed from it,” said Renee Ahee, of Sterling Heights, a public relations consultant. “What I’ve observed lately is that the Lebanese people have worked out—or theoretically worked out—their differences and that all occupying powers need to leave.”

Walid Mourad of Dearborn Heights, a businessman who left Lebanon 15 years ago, said he can see both sides. “People who don’t like Syria at all, and people who want to thank Syrians for their role. Maybe we disagree on the details, but I don’t see very much of a gap among Lebanese at all.”

“All of us here in the community are monitoring the rapidly escalating developments,” said Imad Hamad, Michigan director of the American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, who was born in Sidon and was traveling in Lebanon when Hariri was murdered. “There is a situation where they feel that Lebanon is becoming a gateway to address the shape of political order in the Middle East.”

When he was a boy, says John Akouri, a city councilman in Farmington Hills, his parents shielded him from much of the horrific news from their war-torn homeland. Now, Akouri says many local Lebanese are startled by a sudden glimmer of hope.

“People are supporting the move to democracy,” Akouri said. “But they also are keenly aware (of) our history and they don’t want to repeat the mistakes of the past.”

Many Lebanese say there is no doubt that the Syrians should leave. But when they hear that the United States and France are at the forefront of the effort, it stirs old, familiar concerns.

“I don’t believe so much of the Bush rhetoric about freedom and democracy in the Middle East,” Zebib said. “I think the western influence on our country is to oppress and to allow only so much freedom.”

But Joe Beydoun, an adviser to the mayor of Dearborn, looks at recent events in Lebanon and the Middle East and says, “I think it’s like the president says: Democracy is on the march, people want to live freely and democratically.”

Regardless of their points of view, many agree the current moment seems pregnant with opportunity.

Some, like the Rev. Antonio el-Feghali, who was born in Beirut and assists other Maronite priests at St. Sharbel in Warren, say it is time to reconcile Hezbollah to Lebanese society.

While the State Department classifies Hezbollah as a terrorist organization, many Lebanese, especially Shiite Muslims, are loyal to the group, saying it drove the Israeli army out of Lebanon and that social workers, educator and politicians of Hezbollah play important roles in the country.

“We want to win the hearts of Hezbollah,” el-Feghali said.

“We want to say to them, ‘We are with you, and we want to live in this country together.’”

You can reach Gregg Krupa at (734) 462-2296 or gkrupa@detnews.com.