Lebanon, Religions, and Map

Some of you have asked me to present a map of Lebanon with emphasis on religious affiliation. Many Lebanese usually avoid conversations revolving around religious affiliations these days primarily because it reminds many of the countries deadly 15 years civil war was driven by sectarian shifts between Lebanon's 18 recognized religious affiliations, including the Sunnis, Shiites, Druze, Maronites, Jews, Armenians, etc. For a country two-third the size of Connecticut and with only 3.8 millions residents, the ethnic and religious diversities may be too much to handle when you have continuous foreign intervention. We must be very hard to get over!

I believe the civil war was a shameful chapter of Lebanon's past and one that should never be forgotten for it not to be brought to light again. I have always wondered whether the Lebanese would have been better off if their country was predominantly mono-religious and mono-ethnic as is the case in Israel, Saudi Arabia or Jordan. Having lived in the States for seven years now, I realize that Lebanon's competitive edge is its ability to encompass so much diversity. America is this way too. Everyone is different is his or her own way. Yet America has succeeded in getting people to learn from and accept one another without loosing oneself. And as was the case in Lebanon, people's willingness to accept one another came at a heavy price in the land of Columbus. Diversity breeds creativity, tolerance, progressive thinking, and openess. Lebanon's ability to reach out to the Arab world and the West simultaneously while never giving up on its own traditions and values is what differentiates the land of the cedars from its neighboring countries. You can see this 'melting pot' culture in every aspect of the lives of the Lebanese from music, to eating and working habits, to dress code ,etc.

My family lives in the predominantly blue region northeast of Beirut also known as Mount Lebanon. Rabieh (the hill) where my parents live is around 10 to 15 miles from downtown Beirut. Bickfaya, my hometown, also in Mount Lebanon is around 20 miles from Beirut and around 5 miles from Rabieh going North.