"Right now we have to think of our country." - Rafik Hariri
It's now passed a year since the demise of the former Lebanon prime minister Rafik Hariri.
A popular leader and a strong figure in Lebanon and among the Lebanese political scene, his death caused a huge uproar in Lebanon. It was evident from the reaction of the Lebanese public during his funeral and obituary (as seen from broadcasters like Al-Jazeera, CNN and BBC showed it).
What is it about Hariri?
He was a self-made billionaire. A Sunni muslim. And he became prime minister (twice) for Lebanon, which during his time was a war-torn country strifed with various problems and turmoils. Lemme sum' it up by quoting from Hariri's official website:
" Mr. Hariri was born in Sidon, Lebanon, in 1944, to parents who were dedicated to their three children, Rafic, Shafic, and Bahia. Mr. Hariri studied at elementary and secondary schools in Sidon, and pursued university studies at the Arab University of Beirut, majoring in commerce. He moved to Saudi Arabia in 1965 in search of a better life, working there as a school teacher, and as an accountant before starting his business as an entrepreneur, which took him very far thanks to his hard work, perseverance and ethics. He was able to build and deliver a hotel in Taef, Saudi Arabia in six months, a task rather impossible. There he married Mrs. Nazik Audeh Hariri and are parents to seven children and now seven grandchildren. Mr. Hariri is a philanthropist, a self-made man who built his businesses single-handedly on the basis of his reputation as an honest, credible and trustworthy partner in all his endeavors. He believes that trust is the most important asset that guides people, personal and business relations alike. He is also renowned for his efficiency and dedication to his work and to every cause he champions as his quick rise in Saudi Arabia shows.A popular leader and a strong figure in Lebanon and among the Lebanese political scene, his death caused a huge uproar in Lebanon. It was evident from the reaction of the Lebanese public during his funeral and obituary (as seen from broadcasters like Al-Jazeera, CNN and BBC showed it).
What is it about Hariri?
He was a self-made billionaire. A Sunni muslim. And he became prime minister (twice) for Lebanon, which during his time was a war-torn country strifed with various problems and turmoils. Lemme sum' it up by quoting from Hariri's official website:
Mr. Hariri began his involvement in the political and economic life of his country long before he became prime minister. As a Lebanese businessman living in Saudi Arabia, he was concerned about the ongoing strife in Lebanon and he played a behind-the-scenes role as a mediator, advisor and promoter of cease-fires and agreements to end the civil war. He invested his time and contacts in the Arab world and outside to bring peace to his war-torn country. In 1982 for example, after the Israeli invasion, his firm, Oger Liban, became actively involved in the removal of destroyed buildings, the opening of streets and roads littered with roadblocks and sand bags, which paved the way for the resumption of normal life in the Lebanese capital." (Rafic Hariri, Late Prime Minister of Lebanon, 2005)
How many leaders are like Hariri? Billionaires who actually give their damnest to serve, sacrifice and spearhead their country into a better path and future? More so those who are leaders of nations that faces difficult problems such as Lebanon during his time. I don't know...............
And I can't say much about Hariri himself, as I don't know lot of stuff. As I came to know about Hariri through the media and the news, so I'm sharing my own opinion. What stroke me about Hariri's character was that first of all, he's a self-made billionaire. That must have been a super effort by Hariri to achieve since he started business and gain wealth from scratch (and I admire these kind of people who became super rich from being not soo rich, and yet when they become rich they still remember who they are). And from some writings, he's known as Mr. Lebanon. Hariri helped build his country into becoming into what it is today. Also a well respected man. Supposedly a close friend of Jacques Chirac and also with Tun Mahathir Mohamad.
Now, there are various (conspiracy) theories regarding the 'assasination' of Hariri. The major one is that Syria is linked to it. From what I understood, there's been tension and fury b'ween Lebanon & Syria since before (and it's another totally different story from here).
But from the feeling I have (and as with some of the theories), I believe that Israel and Mossad are behind the death of Hariri. It was done probably to create more uneasiness and tumultuos scenario in the Middle East. For me, I find Hariri's death as similar as that to the death of Elie Hobeika.
I can't really judge for or on Hariri, I know only so little. If there's one who's got the right to judge him whether he was right or wrong or whether he chose the correct path or the bad path, then it's only God who can judge Hariri.
But what is important is that, since Hariri was an oustanding figure and leader, we should all contemplate on the positive achievements and attitude that Hariri strived on to make himself but more so his country and fellow Lebanese citizens better and lead a better and prosperous life (so we can improve ourselves in life in that sense).
Now, there are various (conspiracy) theories regarding the 'assasination' of Hariri. The major one is that Syria is linked to it. From what I understood, there's been tension and fury b'ween Lebanon & Syria since before (and it's another totally different story from here).
But from the feeling I have (and as with some of the theories), I believe that Israel and Mossad are behind the death of Hariri. It was done probably to create more uneasiness and tumultuos scenario in the Middle East. For me, I find Hariri's death as similar as that to the death of Elie Hobeika.
I can't really judge for or on Hariri, I know only so little. If there's one who's got the right to judge him whether he was right or wrong or whether he chose the correct path or the bad path, then it's only God who can judge Hariri.
But what is important is that, since Hariri was an oustanding figure and leader, we should all contemplate on the positive achievements and attitude that Hariri strived on to make himself but more so his country and fellow Lebanese citizens better and lead a better and prosperous life (so we can improve ourselves in life in that sense).
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