The derailed, Syrianized and Iranianized Maronite Patriach Bchara Al Raei Al Raei will be visiting the USA tomorrow for 19 long days. Let us as patriotic diaspora Christian Maronites in particular and free Lebanese in general be loud, courageous witnesses for the truth and say to this man of cloth a big NO for all his denounced and shameful pro-Axis of Evil stances and rhetoric.

Let us tell him with no hesitation, fear, or shame that we the Christian Maronites adore peace, fear Almighty God, hail coexistence, advocate for democracy and acceptance of others, and accordingly we cannot support killers and murderers or keep a blind eye on human rights' criminal atrocities in neighboring Syria or in any other county all over the world.

Let us be what we are and what we proudly have been for 7,000 years: a people of love, peace, faith, devotion, and openness.

Let this arrogant, conceited and estranged Patriarch take note that a Maronite noble and faithful clergyman is not recognized, respected or honored by us the Maronites when he against all our deeply rooted history, culture, faith and education supports the terrorist Hezbollah's arsenal of terrorism, destruction and invasions, stupidly sides with the evil Syrian regime, shamelessly advocates hatred and sickening grudges against other religious denominations in Lebanon, blesses Hezbollah's oppressive and occupational government in Lebanon, opposes the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, does not witness for the truth no matter what the hardships are, does not honor the sacrifices of our great martyrs, and is not meek, loving, forgiving and humble.

We call on all our brothers and sisters, the American Lebanese in the USA to completely boycott all religious and social events that Patriarch Al Raei will be involved in during his pastoral visit to the USA and to loudly make their stances be heard all over.

Meanwhile, we hail the righteous and courageous stance that the USA administration has taken by not giving Al Raei any opportunity to meet with any USA official.

Al Raei by siding with terrorism and terrorists is negating all Maronite history.

It is worth mentioning that the Maronites made Lebanon their homeland since the 4th century after converting its native inhabitants to Christianity. They were identified by it, and it was identified by them; they were and still are one entity. The Maronite people were always hopeful, faithful and strong believers in the Christian Catholic doctrine. They made victories of defeats, joy of sorrow and hope of despair. The Maronites successfully created Maronite nation with hard work and a great deal of faith and sacrifices, by fulfilling its four basic pillars, a land, a people, a civilization and an independent political entity. They constantly fight for what was theirs, and never ever surrendered to despair.

Fouad Afram Boustani (the Maronite historian) described the Maronite denomination as, a faith of intelligence, an identify of life, a solid belief in Catholicism, a love for others, an ongoing endeavor for righteousness, a mentality of openness on the whole world, and on its different civilizations, and a vehicle for martyrdom. The Maronites established the state of Lebanon and made it an oasis for the persecuted in the area. They believed and practiced multiculturalism and pluralism. They created with the help of other minorities in the Middle East the unique nation of Lebanon.

We call on Al Raei to repent and be what he should be, a good and righteous shepherd. With him and for him we ask Almighty God to:

Help us live in peace and harmony with ourselves and others.

Lead our steps into the righteous paths and grant us the strength of endurance and hold us back from the sin of hurting or hating others.

Grant us the graces of love, meekness, humbleness, transparency, honesty and forgiveness.

Maintain our hearts and minds pure, and free from hatred, grudges and selfishness.

Constantly remind us that vengeance is evil and forgiveness is a Godly grace.

Help us not to allow vengeance to take control of our lives.

United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon encouraged on Thursday Lebanon to invest in its natural resources that are located in areas that are not under dispute, reported As Safir newspaper on Saturday.

It revealed that Ban "surprised" the Lebanese delegation in New York by bringing up the issue of U.N. Security Council resolution 1559, especially regarding the disarmament of all armed groups in Lebanon.

He reportedly informed President Michel Suleiman that Lebanon has not yet implemented that aspect of the resolution, to which the president replied that the implementation of the resolution is linked to resolution 1701.

He told the U.N. chief: "Lebanon should first implement resolution 1701 and then ask us about 1559."

The two officials had discussed in New York the issue of Lebanon's maritime border and its dispute with Israel over the matter.

Governmental sources told As Safir that Lebanon will soon present a draft law on its oil and gas resources and exclusive economic zone.

Tensions between Lebanon and Israel have recently escalated over the dispute over the maritime borders between the two sides in light of the discovery of offshore oil and gas in the Mediterranean.

My WYD experience is one I am sure to remember. The power of the experience is overwhelming and transports one to a deeper spiritual realm. In Madrid, Spain, two million people from across the world joined together before Pope Benedict XVI to profess their faith and pray together. 42 degree heat could not deter the crowds. On the Thursday, the Pope’s first blessing was due. Everybody gathered, chanting and praying, asking God to bless them through the Pope’s arrival.

Our pilgrimage was a tour through France, Portugal and Spain, stopping at many religious sites and opening our hearts to the will of God in our life. There are a few sites that remain particularly prevalent in my memory: Lourdes, Fatima and, of course the grounds of the WYD Vigil in Madrid.

Lourdes: There is a beautiful message inscribed on the taps in Lourdes: “Wash your face and cleanse your soul”. The sentiment stands out because it transcends a physical explanation of religion and encourages a deeper self-examination. The quote teaches that religion is about more than a combination of acts, religion is about the conscience and the decisions we make every day. The Lourdes baths present an opportunity for healing. There were many people with disabilities that visit Lourdes in the hope that they will be healed. A friend of mine said that when you come out of the baths you feel “ready”. You’re not sure what you’re ready for but whatever God asks of you, you will do. You get a feeling of spiritual healing as though the opportunities for growth and good are constantly renewable and endless.

Fatima: We arrived in Fatima at about 9pm. It was still not dark yet. At about 9:30pm, when it does get dark, there is a procession on the grounds of the apparition. There were so many people faithfully holding candles and praying for the intercession of Our Lady of Fatima. I was particularly moved by the faithfulness and love of the people gathered around us. There were people everywhere trying to get to the front of the procession to kiss Our Lady. I had never seen such a strong desire to be close to God. I have often, at concerts for famous popular culture bands, seen people pushing to touch the hand of their favourite celebrity but this was the first time I had seen people pushing, with the same energy, to kiss a statue of Our Lady. It clearly demonstrates the continuing relevance and influence of faith.

Madrid: Madrid was extremely hot. There were lines to get anywhere during WYD and yet people did not complain. Most people standing in the line next you instantly became your friend and bonded with you over common ground: the love of God. People everywhere were living out the mysteries of faith and promoting the joys of religion. The Pope’s message is one that will live on: Pope Benedict the XVI reminded all the youth present that they were called to reflect God’s love, be morally strong and stay “firm in the faith”. The message was inspiring and reinforced that the youth of today are the future of our church tomorrow.

A little knowledge that acts is worth infinitely more than much knowledge that is idle. (Kahlil Gibran)

Both Logic and reality tell us that not even one sane person can dream that a meek sheep can fight a lion or even defend himself in a bid not to be devoured. This very simple fact is totally ignored by the Free World and the majority of the Arab countries when occupied Lebanon's dilemma is the issue. The whole world knows with no shed of doubt that Lebanon is still an occupied country and that the occupiers are Syria, Iran and their proxy armed terrorist militias, with Hezbollah in the forefront.

In 2005, Syria was forced to withdraw her occupational army from Lebanon after 28 years of barbaric oppression and inhuman atrocities against all the Lebanese people. But since then, nothing really has positively changed with regard to reclaiming independence and sovereignty by the Lebanese authorities. On the contrary, everything on all levels and in all domains has been getting worse and worse. In reality, the whole country, her ruling bodies, officials and people have all been hijacked and are being held as hostages.

During the era of its occupation, Syria evilly dissected Lebanon, divided its multicultural communities, killed, imprisoned or sent into exile all patriotic leaders and intellectuals who opposed its ironic and criminal hegemony. At the same time, Syria�s secret intelligence services armed the 13 Palestinian refugee camps and made them outlaw-Mafiosi mini-states. In conjunction with the Iranian mullahs, Syria erected Hezbollah's mini-state and armed its militia with a huge and deadly arsenal that became not only a threat to the Lebanese, but also to all the Arab and Middle East countries.

Hezbollah's 70.000 thousand full time armed (mujahedeen) men took over Lebanon after Syria was forced to withdraw her army, while thousands of Syrian secret intelligence service agents remained free and active all over the country. Meanwhile, Syria left intact four military bases under the camouflaged pretext of Palestinian resistance, one of them (Al Naemi base) is a few kilometers from Beirut international Airport.

The majority of the Lebanese people (from all denominations) who kindled the torch of the Cedars' Revolution won two parliamentary elections since 2005, but could not rule or put into office a free president, house speaker, army chief or any high-ranking official because Syria and Iran through their armed proxies aborted all peaceful and democratic endeavors, and militarily invaded and controlled most of the Lebanese regions. In last January, Hezbollah toppled the coalition government by force and intimidation and formed its own, while the whole world carelessly watched and did nothing besides empty rhetorical releases and statements of condemnation.

The irony lies in the fact that the US government has labeled Hezbollah, in its State Department report of 2008, as the world's most effective terrorist organization. The report said that Iran remains the most active state sponsor of terrorism, including supporting terrorist groups such as Hamas, Hezbollah and Palestinian Islamic Jihad. According to the same report, "Iran's involvement in the planning and financial support of terrorist attacks throughout the Middle East, Europe and Central Asia had a direct impact on international efforts to promote peace, threatened economic stability in the Gulf, and undermined the growth of democracy". It singled out the Qods Force, an elite branch of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), as the Islamic republic's main means to cultivate and support terrorists overseas. The Qods Force gave "weapons, training and funding" to Hamas and other Palestinian anti-Israeli groups, Lebanon's Hezbollah, as well as Iraq-based militants and Taliban fighters in Afghanistan. (http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2008/nea/119120.htm)

One wonders how can the US, the mightiest military and financial power in the whole world, officially recognizes the serious and great dangers of Iran and its terrorist proxy ,Hezbollah, while expecting the Lebanese people and their patriotic leaders and parties to tame, control, disarm this terrorist organization and reclaim alone their country�s confiscated independence?

It is worth mentioning that Hezbollah from day one of its creation by Iran in 1982 and up until now has been a serious and deadly threat to all the civilized and Free World countries. As such, it is not merely Lebanese problem, but rather a serious problem, grave threat and challenge to global peace, stability and democracy. Hezbollah's essence and spiritual, cultural and political foundation are totally derived from the Iranian mullah's doctrine of �Wilayat Al-Faqih�.

The main pillars of this doctrine are zero tolerance for all others who are of different faiths and cultures and who do not fully submit to their control. It is a blatant rejection of the civil, democratic and free societies; a systematic, tireless effort to export the "Wilayat Al-Faqih", and impose it on the whole world through "Jihad" (holy war), deeply rooted hatred for the Western democracies and cultures, staunch enmity and hostility towards the US and Israel, all with a suicidal mentality. One of its prime aims is to destroy Israel and �liberate� the Holy city of Jerusalem.

Therefore, Hezbollah is an Iranian militant organization on all levels and by every definition. Its Iranian mission, terrorist activities and objectives have become crystal clear, not only to the Lebanese people who are suffering on a daily basis from its oppression, intimidation and dictatorship, but also to the majority of the Arab states, US, Canada and Australia. This intimidation, fear mongering and illicit fundraising activities also extend to many European, African and South American countries.

Hezbollah has nothing to do with resistance, liberation or any actual patriotic Lebanese or Arabic causes by any means. In reality, Hezbollah is an Iranian militant brigade, a division of Iran's notorious Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC). (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_Revolutionary_Guards_Corps)

According to dozens of well documented and trustworthy reports, Hezbollah continues to run a vast, well organized and extremely sophisticated global network of drug trafficking, crime, terrorism and arms trafficking, infiltrating many Arab states, Israel, Mexico, Canada, Australia, United States, Europe, South America and numerous previous Islamic states of the USSR.

Since 1982, Hezbollah has systematically been devouring the state of Lebanon, destroying her military, judicial and financial institutions, crippling her legislature and democratic government and fragmenting and terrorizing her delicate social fabric, all the while solidifying the terrorist infrastructure and Iranian-modeled institutions of its mini-state and scattered cantons.

What is unfortunate and shameful, is that the Free World and surrounding Arab countries, are not showing enough determination, transparency, seriousness or persistence in dealing with Hezbollah. the most dangerous terrorist organization in the whole world, while they openly admit that Hezbollah and its Iranian masters are taking a very active criminal role in killing the Syrian and Iranian people who are revolting against the al-Assad and the Iranian mullahs� dictatorial regimes.

In conclusion, Lebanon is an occupied country by all international means and legal criteria. The occupiers are the two Axis of Evil countries, Syria and Iran, with their armed proxies spearheaded by the terrorist Hezbollah. Simply and openly we strongly believe that the Lebanese people are not any more capable of freeing their country on their own while all the governing bodies and officials do not represent them but the occupiers. In this context, it is time for the Free World and Arab countries to courageously step in directly or through the UN and do something about this barbaric occupation and use all their available resources including force to free Lebanon and end its people�s oppression.

Life has been quite hectic???

I often think about you & the great achievements that you have done [you share through Emails] & still delivering on much higher level every day of the year I admire your energy immensely;

Elie, someone like yourself will never grow old, may you always be blessed with great health & super agility, keep on kicking those heels ;);)..

Love to catch up very soooooonnnnn... Fadwa XX.

**

Hello Elie,

My name is Karen White and I am a writer for Weekend Notes, which is a website that offers readers ideas of things to do around Sydney.

I have published a story on the Lebanon Carnival at Darling Harbour that you have organised and this is the link to the page that it appears on -
http://events.weekendnotes.com/lebanon-carnival-at-darling-harbour/

My articles regularly receive thousands of clicks so I hope that we are able to help bring further awareness to your organisation.

It would be very much appreciated if you could also post a link to the article on your website for your readers to see.

I wish you the very best for your Carnival and for your organisation.

regards,

The Smiths were unable to conceive children and decided to use a surrogate father to start their family. On the day the proxy father was to arrive, Mr. Smith kissed his wife goodbye and said, 'Well, I'm off now. The man should be here soon.'

Half an hour later, just by chance, a door-to-door baby photographer happened to ring the doorbell, hoping to make a sale. 'Good morning, Ma'am', he said, 'I've come to...'

'Oh, no need to explain,' Mrs. Smith cut in, embarrassed, 'I've been expecting you.'

'Have you really?' said the photographer. 'Well, that's good. Did you know babies are my specialty?'

'Well that's what my husband and I had hoped. Please come in and have a seat !.

After a moment she asked, blushing, 'Well, where do we start?'

'Leave everything to me. I usually try two in the bathtub, one on the couch, and perhaps a couple on the bed. And sometimes the living room floor is fun. You can really spread out there.'

'Bathtub, living room floor? No wonder it didn't work out for Harry and me!'

'Well, Ma'am, none of us can guarantee a good one every time. But if we try several different positions and I shoot from six or seven angles, I'm sure you'll be pleased with the results.'

'My, that's a lot!', gasped Mrs. Smith.

'Ma'am, in my line of work a man has to take his time. I'd love to be In and out in five minutes, but I'm sure you'd be disappointed with that.'

'Don't I know it,' said Mrs. Smith quietly.

The photographer opened his briefcase and pulled out a portfolio of his baby pictures. 'This was done on the top of a bus,' he said.

'Oh, my God!' Mrs. Smith exclaimed, grasping at her throat.

'And these twins turned out exceptionally well - when you consider their mother was so difficult to work with.'

'She was difficult?' asked Mrs. Smith.

'Yes, I'm afraid so. I finally had to take her to the park to get the job done right. People were crowding around four and five deep to get a good look'

'Four and five deep?' said Mrs. Smith, her eyes wide with amazement.

'Yes', the photographer replied. 'And for more than three hours, too. The mother was constantly squealing and yelling - I could hardly concentrate, and when darkness approached I had to rush my shots. Finally, when the squirrels began nibbling on my equipment, I just had to pack it all in.'

Mrs. Smith leaned forward. 'Do you mean they actually chewed on your, uh...equipment?'

'It's true, Ma'am, yes... Well, if you're ready, I'll set-up my tripod and we can get to work right away.'

'Tripod?'

'Oh yes, Ma'am. I need to use a tripod to rest my Canon on. It's much too big to be held in the hand very long.'

Mrs. Smith fainted