Sunday morning we went to the center to meet with MP Yassine Jaber. The Nabatieh native and former Minister of Economy and Trade has an office in the center where he can be found every Sunday, unless he is traveling, and welcomes people from the community to come speak with him. I think this is great. That kind of open accessibility (and time sacrifice) is impressive and can have a real impact on his ability to represent the interests of the region. I don’t know if this is common for Lebanon or not, but can you imagine if politicians in the United States did this?
He spoke about his desire to provide more opportunities for the local people, especially the youth, to learn tangible skills and be engaged in interactive activities. The community is dynamic and embraces opportunities when they are offered but until the center was created there were few options. His personal and financial commitment has made a real impact on the community and he sees the center having a growing presence. We talked about plans for our new joint project at the center, the long-term possibilities for the center’s development and he took the time to answer some of my many questions about the history of the region.
Unfortunately as we talked the rally in Beirut was turning into a riot, and my return to the city was delayed until the crowds subsided. Discussing the protests and the controversy surrounding the Danish cartoons of the Prophet Mohammad with some of the people at the center was an edifying experience and I think gave each of us a more informed and open perspective. It also reinforced the importance of dialogue. While the dialogue started and ended with some opposing views, I gained a greater understanding and respect for those stances through the discussion. It was a great dialogue. That is exactly what is so crucial and wonderful about the project we will be starting in Nabatieh, about all of the iEARN projects, is that they facilitate open dialogue, the sharing of ideas and a respect for the perspectives of others.