Lebanon now finds itself embroiled in the tumultuous whirlwind of a mini-regional conflict, laden with the longstanding repercussions of war. This nation was not created for annihilation and devastation; rather, it was meant to be a bastion of peace, reconciliation, coexistence, love, tolerance, security, and a cradle for beauty, art, thought, and culture. Lebanon resembles a mosaic in its diverse social fabric, once a beacon of coexistence within a unified homeland where allegiance to the nation surpassed all other affiliations. Such sentiments resonate through numerous intellectual, artistic, and literary works, capturing the essence of Lebanon’s past and the drastic changes of recent decades. Among the most profound of these expressions are the songs of the iconic artist Fairuz, who recently turned 90. Unfortunately, the Lebanese people were unable to celebrate this milestone, as the cacophony of destructive conflict drowned out any celebration. However, let us revisit some of Fairuz’s poignant songs dedicated to Lebanon, envisioning a homeland that prioritizes unity over religious and sectarian divisions, and that must be shielded from the perils of conflict and war. She sang of Lebanon, the cherished homeland: “My homeland, oh you the mountain of the blue clouds / my homeland, oh you the moon of dew and lilies / oh houses of those who love us / Oh soil of those who were buried before us.” She also expressed her concern for her nation in the same song: “My homeland, oh you the gold of the lost time / my homeland, you showed up from the lightning of poems / I am a poem on your door that was written by the stubborn wind.” One particularly lesser-known song, “The Bird is Back,” highlights the natural beauty and peaceful coexistence of life in Lebanon, contrasting sharply with the destructive nature of conflict: “The bird is back to nest in the bricks / And the iris is back to bloom again. / School is back; children, snow and holidays.” The song starkly outlines the impact when this tranquility is shattered by war: “They said a lot, they wrote a lot… They said the roaring homeland is destroyed / The homeland of the time that taught and built / And the world wept, the world wept.” Nevertheless, the song concludes on a hopeful note of renewal and recovery: “But we’ll be back, we’ll be back, we’ll be back! / We’ll be back from fires, back from streets / Destroyed by canons, we’ll be back, we’ll be back!” And then, Lebanon reemerges, or rather is reborn: “And the true Lebanon is coming; the Lebanon of simplicity is coming.” Fairuz’s music transcends religious and sectarian lines, captivating Arabs across the world who are indifferent to her religious beliefs or sectarian identity. All they recognize is her ability to unite Lebanese people through her art, in a homeland that should always be the priority. Yet, some fail to grasp the depth of her lyrics, which warn: “Woe to a nation in which sects have multiplied and religion has decreased / And woe to a divided nation where everyone calls out, ‘I am a nation.’” Fairuz was also among the first to pay tribute to the Lebanese National Army, an institution that has steadfastly preserved Lebanon’s unity. In 1962, she saluted them in song: “May you be well, O soldiers of Lebanon, O father of the well-named arms.” She is Fairuz—and we salute her in her nineties. —Wahid Abdel-Meguid (translated by Asaf Zilberfarb)
Give the gift of hope
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