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Rather, the founders of this house, led by the late great thinker Grant Al-Solh, were aware that Lebanon’s independence could only be safeguarded and strengthened by the preservation of the unity of its people, the freedom of its people, and the arabism of his belonging. They did not approach “Dar Al-Nadwa” as a hall that encompasses intellectual, cultural, scientific and artistic activities only, nor as a platform for intellectual, political and economic conferences, literary seminars, poetry evenings and art exhibitions, but as a platform for launch of initiatives that seek to preserve independence with all its components.
Therefore, it was not by chance that the founders of Dar al-Nadwah emerged who held parliamentary and ministerial positions that distinguished themselves in their performance, behavior and transparency from the rest of the ruling class. He also refused to be a member of his club, the “corruption club” that led the country to what it had achieved. The example of the current chairman of the Dar Al-Nadwa board of directors, former minister and deputy Bishara Merhej, is the most brilliant example.
Rather, it was not a coincidence that the “Cultural Movement in Antelias” and its brother “Dar Al-Nadwa”, and in the hands of national intellectual and cultural institutions from all over Lebanon, the “Lebanese Trade Union Meeting”, whose monthly statements were carried out in the nineties of the last century, the Lebanese fear stealing their dreams and aspirations By the coalition of military arms and brutal capital that took power in the post-war phase and exhausted the resources and people of the country and their energies, without any supervision or control.
It was also no coincidence that the “One Lebanon Youth” program was launched from “Dar Al-Nadwa”, which aimed to provide the youth of post-war Lebanon, and all of Lebanon, a platform through which to get to know each other. and interact. Rather, know the characteristics of their homeland, which the war prohibited most of them. His overwhelming knowledge was the annual camps, youth seminars and art exhibitions, and in particular the Independence Trip to Rashaya Castle on Independence Day, every year for 15 years, when thousands of Lebanese youth gathered from all your governorates, reconnecting your present with those glorious days. From the struggle of his parents and grandparents against the Mandate, and every year his famous “Independence Division” depart from the castle in defense of the unity and independence of Lebanon, especially in the face of the Zionist colonial project that he establishes with his armies miles from Rashaya Castle.
It was also not a coincidence that the first practical initiatives that Dar Al-Nadwah incubated in cooperation with associations such as “Al-Huda Youth” were the organization of a blood donation campaign from the people of the western part of the capital to the people. from the eastern part that suffered the “war of abolition” that was established that day (1990) in Ashrafieh, Al-Matn and Kesrouan, and the slogan of the campaign was, at that time, “Let’s make the blood that want a barrier between the Lebanese, a bridge of unity between them ”. It is the motto that still moves the people of “Dar Al-Nadwa” until now.
Social concern was never absent from the activities and activities of “Dar Al-Nadwa”. In the early 1990s, it hosted committees to support formal education and support the Lebanese University, and its people participated in cooperation with the General Union of Workers and civil organizations in launching the 100,000-year march in November 1987. , where the children of Beirut and Lebanon stand on either side at the Mathaf junction, to remove with their fingernails the sand barricades that were erected as barriers between the Lebanese.
In this context, “Dar Al-Nadwa” used to pay tribute on “Labor Day” (May 1) to workers and trade unionists of all currents, as well as on “Teacher’s Day” to teachers from all schools. , without forgetting the monthly lunch in which many men were welcomed. Lebanon and its outstanding women in a beautiful tradition that was later spread by many institutions.
As a culmination of this interest, a founding body of the Economic and Social Forum, including leading human rights economists and trade unionists, was launched from “Dar Al-Nadwa”, proposing to the popular movement ideas for a road map out of the current terrible experience. Activities related to children and their concerns were an important part of the activities that the home hosted and organized the associations related to children (plays, exhibitions and concerts), among which the “Al-Hoda Care Society Social ”, in addition to the healthy activities supervised by the Lebanese Health Association.
And because freedom was for the founders and people of the house a value that could not be neglected, and it is one of the characteristics of Lebanese life, and because dialogue is the highest form through which people interact. From different visions, Dar Al-Nadwa was a platform for dialogue for multiple different opinions and ideas, so it did not close its door on The Face of a Thinker, Writer or Writer, rather it opened its door to everyone, provided it is respected the other opinion and the traditions of dialogue and the principles of ethical treatment are respected.
And because the people of Dar al-Nadwah were aware that the independence of Lebanon, as well as the independence of all Arab countries, could only be achieved with popular Arab solidarity in the first place, and solemnly if the intention was found. of the rulers, so “Dar al-Nadwa” Dar al-Uruba al-Hadhariya was carrying its concerns, problems and intellectual concerns by welcoming great thinkers. From the Maghreb and East of the Arab world, in addition to its cooperation with important intellectual institutions such as the Center for Arab Unity Studies and similar national organizations.
In the same context, the issues of the nation figured prominently in the “Dar al-Nadwa” activities. By his mercy, the Arab National Forum was inaugurated in (May 1992), which was chaired for years by the late academic Dr. Muhammad al-Majzoub, and through its programs the forum tried to translate its clear motto: “Lebanon A Must Arabism, and Arabism is a Lebanese necessity. ”Through the“ Pioneers of Arabism in Lebanon ”program, and its late historian Saqr Youssef Saqr coordinator, the forum was able to travel through all Lebanese neighborhoods, defined by two major revivals of their children who shone in their time, and they tried to hide their achievements for reasons that no one hides.
The same happened with Palestine, which the house has considered since its inception as a central issue for Lebanon, as well as for all Arabs. It witnessed numerous activities, seminars and activities of bodies and institutions related to Palestinian concern, and also embraced the “civil campaign in support of Palestine and the nation’s problems”, since its creation in 2002, to confront the siege of Palestine. usually. Especially in Gaza, as in Iraq in the face of the blockade and the war in it, and from where the flights began to break the air blockade over Iraq, with two planes in 1999 and 2003, and the preparations for the trips to break the siege began. to Gaza, both by sea and by land. And its participants. Rather, the founding member of the house, Dr. Hani Suleiman, was injured in a confrontation with the Zionist army aboard the Turkish ship “Marmara”, in the “Freedom Flotilla” to break the siege of Gaza, in June 2010.
In most of the preparations for national conferences and international meetings for Palestine, the people of “Dar Al-Nadwa” played a large part, until their fame spread to the level of the great Arab nation and among many of the free people of the world.
As for the young Arabs, they were very lucky in the “Dar Al-Nadwa” program. In cooperation with Arab personalities and organizations, in particular the “Omar Al-Mukhtar Education Center” in the Bekaa, and under the auspices of the Arab National Conference, the idea of Arab national youth camps was launched in 1990, and the number has reached so far thirty A camp was held in more than ten Arab countries, where some of its graduates reached advanced ranks in their countries.
The house also hosted a symposium “Intellectual Communication for Arab Youth”, since 2010, which was organized by the International Arab Center for Communication and Solidarity and the Arab National Forum, in which about 50 young women and men participated, so that the number at the last symposium reached 250 participants, and was named after the late Dr. Salah Al-Din al-Dabbagh, head of the Arab National Forum, was held on the anniversary of the Egyptian-Syrian unity, on the 21st and 22nd February 2019, on the eve of the spread of the Corona pandemic.
And because independence, according to the founders of “Dar Al-Nadwa” and its people, is not just a memory we celebrate, but rather a method of practice and relationships that they are excited about. Dar Al-Nadwa has been subjected to a severe financial and media blockade, he could not have resisted it had it not been for the capable and honorable who gave him their support. It is limited and permanent, and had it not been for the free media professionals, they would have opened some of their platforms for some of their activities, not being indifferent to the malicious campaigns to which the “house” is exposed, in such or Whichever side, some of them are suspicious directed at their national, national and international choice, and some motivated by envy and anger at their success.
As the late great historian Dr. Kamal Salibi described Lebanon as “a house with many houses”, “Dar Al-Nadwa” made sure that it was also a miniature image of Lebanon, that is, “a house with many houses” , provided that the roof of all these houses is the homeland, its independence, freedom and Arab identity. And justice is in its dependencies.
* Lebanese writer and politician
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