“Lebanon is a small country that produces nothing, except Lebanese people.�

Lebanese people are everywhere. Throughout the world, the Lebanese culture, sense of family and our strong ambition has helped us flourish in all parts of the world. Lebanese people have high educational levels and significant intelligence to the rest of the Arabs; this is due to Lebanon’s geographical location on the Mediterranean Sea and its history as a connection between the West and the East. This connection has brought openness and prosperity to the Lebanese people. What many people do not understand is that Lebanese people have made a huge impact worldwide. It's true they say that Lebanon is just a small country, but that doesn't mean it has little importance.

Plagued with old, as well as new religious conflicts it has never asked to be a part of, egotistical, useless leaders leading an equally useless corrupt government, and a population whose superficial minority surpass the most kindhearted and generous people you can ever meet, our country was never given a chance to shine the way only the Lebanese know it can shine. Lebanon managed to glow despite previous destructions and it will glow again despite the current problems.

“Lebanon is a small country that produces nothing, except Lebanese people.�

Well, Lebanese people are known all over the world…who hasn't heard of

* Carlos Ghosn - (also known as Carlos Gaune, from the Lebanese “Ghosn” family), Lebanese Brazilian-born CEO and President of Renault and Nissan Motor, nicknamed the “Cost Cutter”.
* Salma Hayek, Mexican actress (Lebanese father and Mexican mother)
* Shakira, born to a Colombian mother of Catalan descent and an American-born father of Lebanese Catholic descent. Shakira, which means “grateful” in Arabic (شاكرة), is named after her paternal grandmother.
* Gibran Khalil Gibran – greatest poet and writer, “The Prophet” translted into many languages which spread into the word.
* Elie Saab - fashion designer on international standards.
* Georgina Rizk - Miss Universe 1971

In addition to many well-known people who have contributed and helped in prosperous actions they have done, just like:

* Elias J. Corey - Chemist, Nobel Prize in Chemistry (1990)
* Georges Harik - former Director of Googlettes (department of Google Inc). His team was responsible for the product management and strategy efforts surrounding many starting Google initiatives. Harik was also the co-developer of the technology behind AdSense, the first engineering manager of the Google Search Appliance, and the co-author of the original product plan for the AdWords Online system.
* Gabriel Yared, international composer of operas and very well known movie sound tracks.
* Joseph Barbera & William Hanna, Hanna-Barbera (Lebanese pronunciation: Hannah & Berbere) Creators of the Tom and Jerry, The Flintstones, Scooby-Doo, Yogi Bear and many other world renown cartoons that have pinned us to our couches on Saturday mornings–and other times of other days.
* Khalil Ghattas- Lebanese businessman, founder of GAT oil.
* Nicolas Hayek - the ‘father of Swatch’ and CEO of Smart.
* Edmond Safra - founder of Republic Bank of New York and Banco Safra in Brazil, born in Aley, Lebanon
* Jacques Nasser - ex-CEO of Ford Motors, born in Lebanon.

It's just an endless list if we wish to continue talking about Lebanese people. Hence, this is a proof that Lebanon produces Lebanese people, and for that we are proud to be Lebanese. We have reached where few could reach. All the Lebanese living abroad want to come back and the Lebanese who are in Lebanon envy the ones who are living abroad not realizing what it means to live away from Lebanon. Lebanese love Lebanon not just because it is their country, but because it is the country of every Lebanese. It welcomes every exile freethinker, independent mind of the Arab world. And as Gibran have said: “Lebanon is an arena for men from the West and men from the East.� Gibran believed in Lebanon and described the Lebanese as victorious wherever they go and are loved and respected wherever they settle.

In You have your Lebanon and I have my Lebanon, Gibran quoted:

“I say to you that you are achieving nothing. If you knew that you are accomplishing nothing, I would feel sorry for you, but you know it not.� Gibran then is not sorry for us, for Lebanese people whether in Lebanon or abroad they have already achieved a lot. The world believed in our potentials, Lebanese believe in their own potentials, and there we are floating and spreading and Lebanon has produced LEBANESE PEOPLE, who are simply proud to be.