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A greeting of peace from Tripoli, Lebanon
an article by Vanessa Bassil, Common Ground News Service (abridged)
On the occasion of the International Day of Peace, on September
21st, young artists took the stage at the Cultural League Theatre in
the hot spot of northern Lebanon in Tripoli, the second largest city
in the country. They showed their beautiful, non-violent talents and
performances to the community through dancing, music, acting,
and drawing, and they reminded everyone that despite the ongoing
conflict, there is still a place for peace. . . 
click on photo to enlarge
The Media Association for Peace (MAP) . . . organized the event
through its MasterPeace club. MAP is a platform for people coming
from different backgrounds to gather in a place that unites their
similarities, ambitions, and goals. It is a place for youth to be active
citizens and for journalists to be responsible professionals.
During the event, the audiences as well as the performers were
ecstatic to see a peace celebration being held in their town. One of
the attendees said: “It is time for the world to know that we are not
a city of war.” Symbolically, the event was very meaningful to the
people of Tripoli with the messages of hope that it carries to
Lebanon and the world. It was an opportunity for young artists from
this agitated town to prove that they do not support violence.
Barrak Sabih, an art teacher at the local association Cross Arts
which assisted in the event’s organization, performed a Lebanese
folk theater known as “Hakawati Albalad” (storyteller of the town).
He used traditional forms of art to remind the audience that peace
was a need of all people at all times. The young Syrian singer
Ahmad Dandashi, who is living in Tripoli, as well as the local 9-
year-old Jad Sabih, who is a star from the popular TV show Arabs’
Got Talent, performed several songs with their gifted voices. Then,
artist Ahmad Naji, from the local musical group “Lahza” (one
second), played traditional pieces on his Oud, reminding everyone
about the amazing classical music of Lebanon that unites all
Lebanese despite their differences.
Furthermore, far away from the violence, drugs, guns, and prison
that stress Tripoli society, amazing break dancers jumped on stage
to surprise everyone with their incredible flexibility, strength, and
well-designed choreography. The Lebanese rap band “Men l Ekher,”
(from later) formed by three rappers from different towns in Tripoli
made sure to take part of this celebration to perform their unique
rap and hip hop songs about unity in Lebanon. They made the
audience sing with them while creating an amazing atmosphere of
engagement, excitement, and fun. One of the band members, Issa
Naaman, shouted passionately during the performance: “A greeting
of peace from Tripoli to Lebanon!” Naaman was responding to the
video messages screened at the beginning of the celebration, when
journalists from around the country presented a “greeting of peace
to Tripoli” from their regions.
At the end, “the flame of peace” that was carried all over Lebanon
by the tenor Gabriel Abdel Nour finally arrived in Tripoli on the
International Day of Peace. The celebration gave hope to the locals
who want peace, and it gave a chance to youth to express their
hopes for the future. . .
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DISCUSSION
Question(s) related to this article:
How are you celebrating Peace Day?,
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Latest reader comment:
It is difficult to find extensive listings of the many events celebrating the International Day of Peace around the world. An exception is the United Religions Initiative which lists events for the IDP 2014 by their affiliates in Kenya, Uganda, Ghana, Nigeria, Nepal, Sri Lanka, India, Pakistan, Bulgaria, Russia, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, United States and the Philippines.
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