Unity rules in Lebanese expats' heartfelt tribute to homeland

A Lebanese flag that was sent on a round-the-world trip during a campaign for national unity was signed by about 150 Lebanese living in the UAE.

Two Lebanese expatriates, Rabih Mogharbel and Khalid Khatib, based in America, decided to send the flag to obtain as many signatures, phrases and messages on it as possible from around the world.

"In an attempt to confirm our commitment to Lebanon's harmony, the six-by-four metre flag travelled the world. This flag represents all Lebanese abroad. Perhaps we should have called this project 'Min Qalbi Salamon Li Beirut' (A Salute From My Heart to Beirut).

"The initiative became a major event among hundreds of Lebanese living outside Lebanon. They saw the flag as a way to send their voices of unity to their beloved country and families in Lebanon.

"We sent the flag to Dubai, where Amal Hishmi, Rayyan Kassis and Rana Hassan organised the process of signing it. It stayed in Dubai for three days during which time 150 Lebanese signed it. It then flew to Paris. The number of signatures totalled about 1,500.

"www.lebanonexpats.org sponsored the event," Mogharbel said.

www.lebanonexpats.org is a non-partisan and non-sectarian group. It is dedicated to building channels of communication between Lebanese expatriates and their motherland.

"Many people got involved in the process. The flag started its route from Michigan in US on April 13 (coinciding with the events of April 13, 1975) in a United for Lebanon Campaign held in Detroit.

"The campaign came in response to Lebanese Member of Parliament Bahia Hariri's call for national unity. From Michigan, the flag had stops in Windsor, Ontario and Montreal in Canada.

"It then made its way back to Washington DC, where it had a stop at the Hariri Foundation in Washington. Later it made a stop in Brazil at the Lebanese Club in Brasilia, the capital. After Brasilia the flag flew to Dubai," Mogharbel said.

In Paris the flag had a stop at the late Rafik Hariri's residence, where many Lebanese came to show their support for national unity.

"Middle East Airlines sponsored my trip to Beirut. I would like to add that Lebanese ambassadors, businessmen, professionals and scholars signed the flag. One phrase that caught my attention on the flag stated 'You can take me out of Lebanon but you cannot take Lebanon out of me.'

"We hope to have the flag and the messages raised next to Rafik Hariri's tomb so that all the Lebanese and visitors to the tomb can see how the assassination united us on a global level. Together we can create the future," he said.