Al-Rahi: We Can’t Survive if we Have Loyalties Abroad
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi has described Lebanon’s pluralism as a “treasure” but warned against what he called “the illness of loyalties” to other countries both in the East and West.
At a ceremony held in his honor in the city of Cleveland in the U.S. state of Ohio on Monday, al-Rahi said: “Pluralism is a big treasure for Lebanon and what distinguishes Lebanon is its plurality.”
“But we have another illness which we should courageously announce. It is our loyalty to outside Lebanon,” he lamented. “I don’t understand how a person could be Lebanese and have loyalty abroad?” al-Rahi asked.
“We can’t live and have loyalties abroad both in the East and West,” he stressed in a stop on his pastoral visit to the U.S.
Al-Rahi addressed the international community and the U.S., saying “Lebanon is the door to the East … where all religions and cultures meet.”
“That’s why we hope that no one would asses Lebanon based on the 10,452-sq-km (territory) but rather on its fundamental role in the Middle East,” he added.
Earlier in the day, he held a mass at Saint Maroun church.
In Chicago a day earlier, the patriarch urged Lebanese expatriates to register to vote at embassies abroad to preserve the demographic balance among Lebanon’s sects.
“If you don’t register, we will be out,” Al-Rahi told members of Chicago’s Maronite community.
11 October 2011, 12:40
70
As to the soul-less politically dead Christian Sunnis whose soul balloons are continuously pumped with fart and their masters in Hariri Mafia, they have and continue to survive BECAUSE OF their loyalties to every enemy of Lebanon, be it Syria at the peak of its occupation, or Israel always. tasakko3 forever.
11 October 2011, 13:01
02
monseigneur rahi is back in the "context".
dont confuse them.
11 October 2011, 16:53
20
Look who's giving lessons about loyalty, a man whose loyalty is to another man sitting in the Vatican.
Please church people (and all other clergy of other religions) we know where your loyalties are so for Christ sake shut up!!!
11 October 2011, 18:50
20
We want to be part of The Arab world, if you guys don't like it leave us
11 October 2011, 18:53
03
How come Israel survives with loyalties to the west???? The East will only destroy us but if we play our cards right the West will be our saviours!
11 October 2011, 18:58
20
We want to be part of The Arab world, if you guys don't like it leave us
11 October 2011, 19:32
20
if only some christians and some sunnis wouldn't be loyal to zionist entity.
betting on a wrong card
11 October 2011, 21:15
02
Musliman , What is the arab word ? What is the meaning of Arabs ? For us arabs are Jarab , is That what you Want to be part of ?? nô thanks , but you CAN go And join them ya mahazzab .
12 October 2011, 00:50
02
I agree here with AlRai. Although most lebanese sects have allegiances to varying degrees to foreign countries, None comes close to Hezbollah who have dragged the whole Shiite community to the full tutelage of the "Al Wali Al Faqeeh" and to the service of the Iranian supreme leader.
AlRai should have pointed this to Hezbollah leaders when he visited the South and the Bekaa, NO ALLEGIANCE TO IRAN!
Maybe next time.
12 October 2011, 01:05
00
@ musliman and le phenicien
u are from the same chapter of a comic book,like u are the same "intelligent" person.
12 October 2011, 07:52
02
False equivalency. You can't possibly equate loyalties to an armed militia who's intent on hijacking the Lebanese society and culture to deliver to Iran and Syria, with Western alliances that advocate independence, democracy and freedom. Lebanon under Hezbollah is a pariah state ruled by an armed gang. Lebanon without Hezbollah can join the rest of the civilized world.
and oh, before I forget, Le Phenician: you are a racist prick.
12 October 2011, 09:39
00
It sadens me to read to comments of some very sick people on this site. It poses the question: do these people really deserve a country. I dont believe so
