By Sandra Kaltoum -

If you have recently run into Luke Foley, Leader of the NSW Opposition, chances are he has pulled out his iPhone and shown you photos of his recent trip to Lebanon. If you have been lucky enough to witness his excitement at recalling the sacred and beautiful sites he visited in a country so many of us have a cultural affinity to, while smiling encouragingly as he struggles with the names of villages like Zgharta, then you would have also witnessed his strong admiration for the country and its people, both those in Lebanon and those in Australia.

I recently met with Mr. Foley to discuss his trip to Lebanon, to learn more about the things he saw and his perceptions of the country from political, cultural and religious standpoints. Mr. Foley spent six days in Lebanon, from 20-25 April this year. He recalls that the spring weather was beautiful. Crisp with a little snow still visible on the mountain tops in the north, “I’m sure it’s all melted now though” Mr. Foley says, almost proud that he caught the last sight of the contradicting weather that exists in such a small country.

Mr Foley draws comparisons between the village in NorthernIreland where his wife grew up, Augher, also affected by civil war, and Lebanon. He laments the devastating effects that political insecurity can have on a country and its people, but remarks that the Lebanese diaspora, particularly those in Australia, remain ever-vigilant and concerned about the welfare of Lebanon. He remarks that “there is a strong political movement even among the diaspora who keenly stay up to date with the political situation in Lebanon and join parties in Australia to show there support for political improvement overseas”. He contrasts this with his observations of the Irish diaspora who, through their devastation, have turned away from political involvement in Ireland.

While in Lebanon, Mr Foley visited many political leaders. “I will be very disappointed if somebody I didn’t visit becomes the President of Lebanon,” he jokes. Despite his humour, he is sincere about his wishes for improvement in Lebanon’s political situation and agrees with me when I remark that the lack of a president is damaging for the morale within Lebanon and the perception of Lebanon internationally.  He met withSheikh Amine Gemayel,Dr Samir Geagea, General Michel Aoun MP, and MrSleimanFrangieh MP. He also met former Prime Minister Saad El Hariri, Justice Minister Ashraf Rifi, Foreign Minister GebranBassil, Speaker NabihBerri, Future Movement MP Kazem El Kheir, Lebanese Forces MP FadiKaramas well as visiting numerous other political figures and Mayors.

Mr Foley also acknowledged the strong connection between the Lebanese people and their religious beliefs. This strong connection was reflected in Mr Foley’s itinerary. Mr Foley met with the Patriarch of Lebanon, Mar Bechara Boutros Al Rai, the Grand Mufti of Lebanon Sheikh Abdel-LatifDerian and Sheikh Ali Fadlallahas well as visiting numerous religious sites including the Church of St Charbel. He celebrated mass at “Mar Ramanous” and visited the shrine of the late former Prime Minister, Rafic Hariri.  He mentioned that he attended one lunch with both Muslim Sheikhs and Orthodox Priests at El Minieh. He remarked, “The interactions between people of different faiths was a great sign of the harmonious future that awaits Lebanon”.

On the last day of Mr Foley’s visit, 25 April, he attended an ANZAC Day service at the Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery with the Australian Ambassador, Mr Glenn Miles. The experience was a reminder for Mr Foley of the sacrifice that Australian soldiers have made all over the world.

If you ask Mr Foley whether or not he will visit again, the standard reply is “Definitely, I cannot wait to take my family with me to Batroun.”

If you would like to see photos of Mr Foley’s trip, follow this link:https://www.facebook.com/LukeFoleyNSW/videos/622516224582878/

Stella Young passed away on 6 December 2014. Stella was a 32-year-old comedian and journalist who lived with a disability. She had osteogenesis imperfect: a genetic disorder characterised by bones that break easily, often from little or no apparent cause. She described herself as short statured and lived most of her short life in a wheelchair. However, despite living with what many of us would classify as a harsh disability, Stella had a positive spirit and challenged our perceptions of life and how it should be lived. 

Stella hated pity – mostly because it was very unnecessary. She did not believe that she needed to be pitied. She enjoyed life, despite its difficulties and criticised people who only saw disability through the eyes of their able-bodied selves. It is heart wrenching to hear some of the experiences Stella recounts in her articles. They make me question the insensitivity of society generally towards any difference. 

In an article entitled “We are more than the sum of our genes” Stella recounts an incident on public transport. A woman approached her: "Excuse me," she said. "Do you have Osteogenesis Imperfecta?" When Stella confirmed that she did, the lady responded, "I was pregnant with a baby with OI and I had a termination." Then, after a moment, she took a deep breath and said, "I made the right decision." 

This incident highlights the common perception that a life lived with a disability is a life not worth living. Stella challenged this perception every day. She did not set out to be people’s inspiration but, because of the example of her life, it was inevitable that people looked to her for comment on issues of life and often respected and esteemed her opinions. 

Stella Young

I am sure we have all heard it said by someone that if they were pregnant and they knew their child would be born with a disability, they would terminate their pregnancy. Stella’s example highlights the immense value and dignity of all human life: every child, no matter their disability, has the right and potential to lead a great and fulfilling life. Although Stella says that the choice is for the parents, she highlights that her life is worth living and, as the title of the article says, “we are more than the sum of our genes”. It is inspiring to hear of somebody who was not shamed by social expectation and dared to stand up for what she believed in. 

Stella also spoke out against euthanasia. She sympathised with those that wanted to “die with dignity” however she also rightly pushed the onus onto us to ensure that those that feel helpless are given the opportunity to truly “live with dignity”. In her article, “Disability… a fate worse than death,” Stella comments on the parallels between those born with disabilities and those who develop debilitating illnesses over time. She remarks that although life is not easy when we rely on others, “perhaps what we should be asking is, if these services and supports were guaranteed, and we could be assured that we wouldn't become dependent on our family members for assistance, would people still see disability as a fate worse than death?”

Issues of life and death are highly divisive. Any view needs to be analysed with sensitivity. I am glad that Stella was brave enough to voice her view and that, particularly in recent commentary, this view has been widely respected. 

I know that Stella often joked that she did not want to inspire people… but, without a doubt, she has inspired me. 

Every year, many migrants return to Lebanon to celebrate life with their families abroad and rejoice again in the culture and vibrant hospitality that the Lebanese spirit encapsulates. My recent trip to Lebanon reinforced my love for the country that has influenced my values and contributed to my understanding of culture. However, on this trip more than others, I was also alerted to the controversies that have plagued Lebanon’s past and create fear about Lebanon’s future. 

My recent trip was supported by the Maronite Foundation in the World. The trip was organised in honour of the late Mr Antoine Choueiry and was overseen by the trip’s patroness Mrs Rose Choueiry. The Maronite Foundation has adopted a mission of service to the Lebanese communities. Their objective is fulfilled by programs aimed at ensuring that those that migrate from Lebanon do not forget their mother country. A continued connection between Lebanon and its diaspora is encouraged by ensuring that migrants register for Lebanese citizenship. Registering in Lebanon enables effective political, social and economic successes to continue in Lebanon with the assistance of Lebanon’s global citizens. 

Twelve youth from Australia, chosen by the Maronite Foundation, were given the opportunity to travel to Lebanon to reconnect with their Lebanese heritage, enjoy and appreciate the beauty of Lebanon and truly understand the importance for Lebanon of our continuing connection with it. We were joined by a further 52 Maronite young people from 19 different countries. For two weeks we toured Lebanon and formed strong bonds between each other and the mother country. 

Upon arriving, we were informed that the first day of the tour, which had originally included a trip to Zahle and Baalbeck, had been rearranged. Due to political instability, we were to visit Tannourine for the day instead. I found this news very confronting. ISIS had come into Lebanon and the Lebanese army were employing great efforts to ensure the safety of the Lebanese people. This event, which occurred so soon after our arrival, opened my eyes to the continuing political struggles that Lebanon faces; struggles that are perhaps exacerbated because Lebanon is one of the few Middle Eastern countries with a high Christian population. This set an interesting tone for the rest of our trip. It reminded us that Lebanon is in need of foreign assistance. I also observed theincreasing apathy of the Lebanese people in the face of turmoil, as a response to the growing political tensions both within and surrounding Lebanon. 

Our trip consisted of very beautiful travels around the country. No expense was spared to ensure we were truly immersed in a once in a lifetime cultural experience. We visited so many places includingTannourine, Kfifan, Batroun, Beirut, Jeita, Harissa, Faraya, Chouf, Jezzine, Annaya, Diman, Becharre, the Qadisha Valley and Byblos. Each place stirred in us feelings of both religious affinity and cultural attachment. 

There was also an educative element to the trip. We were privileged to hear from a wide array of respected and highly knowledgeable speakers, all of whom expressed their passion for Lebanon and the role that the diaspora can play in shaping Lebanon’s future. The ideas that resonated most with me came from Mr Michel Edde, Mr Samir Brikho, Mr Pierre Choueiry, Mr Marcel Ghanem, Mr Michel Mouawad and Mr Laurent Aoun.

 Mr Michel Edde, previous Lebanese Minister and founder of the Maronite Foundation, spoke of the challenges Lebanon faces as a result of its position in the Middle East. The discussion shed light on Lebanon’s historical context and the current geographic influences that subtly affect Lebanon’s policy and development.

 Mr Samir Brikho, CEO of AMEC, discussed the natural resources that Lebanon is yet to take full economic benefit of. I was particularly intrigued to learn that Mr Brikho did not believe Lebanon should fully utilise its natural resources at present, as the political climate in Lebanon was too shaky and profits from the natural oil and gas may end up in the wrong hands.

 Mr Pierre Choueiry, the late Antoine Choueiry’s son, spoke about the legacy that his father had left behind and the empire that his entrepreneurship, love of Lebanon and dedication built.

Mr Marcel Ghanem spoke about the Arab Spring and consensual democracy.

Mr Michel Mouawad spoke about the current political climate in Lebanon and the various incidences throughout history that have influenced this climate.

Mr Laurent Aoun spoke about the contribution that many members of the diaspora make to the Lebanese economy. He commented that Lebanon’s economy is helped substantially by the money that migrants inject back into the nation. Laurent lamented that, although this money did assist many in Lebanon, the wealth we contribute does not have a lasting effect because it is not invested. He suggested that the money should be invested in Lebanese projects, particularly in the villages, to create jobs and generate a sustainable and continuous income for Lebanese residents. 

All the speakers had very inspiring and unique ideas.

On our trip we also had the privilege of being addressed by the Maronite Patriarch, Mar Bechara Boutros Al Rai, who further emphasised the necessity for the diaspora to register in Lebanon and the role that youth should play in the Maronite Foundation’s mission. 

The trip was truly an unforgettable experience. I would like to thank Professor Fadia  Ghossayn, the President of the Maronite Foundation in Australia and Mrs Hiam Boustani, Director of the Maronite Foundation in Lebanon, for their efforts and hard work in ensuring the project’s success. I would also like to thank Father Hady Mahfouz and Father Fadi Kmeidwho hosted us while we stayed at the University in Kaslik (USEK). 

On my last trip to Lebanon I was reminded of all the reasons I love Lebanon. I was also told that this love should manifest itself in a greater interest in Lebanon’s political, economic and social affairs. For that reason I have registered in Lebanon. Sajil Ma Tajil. 

Miss Sandra Kaltoum with Prime Minister Julia Gillard at the National Policy Forum that was held in Canberra from the 3rd to the 4th of May.

The Forum consists of 60 people and meets to discuss Labor policy.