A Portrait of a Slate Minister By Mazen Abboud
A Christmas card was my gateway to the World of the slate minister Pierre Amine Gemayel.
The few words on that card of 2000 opened a pass to know a gentleman of almost my age.
This Young man was indeed Pierre El Gemayel. I knew him authentic with a sense of humor, a developed listening skill, & a humanitarian approach to gaze the universe. He used to perceive the World around him through his heart, a heart full of love & dedication. It was indeed his key to the universal Soul Language.
Then Pierre, the young became a parliament member & the PM turned into a prominent national opposition figure. All this took place rapidly & without affecting the young man authenticity.
Then the time of change began with the 14th of February & ripened partly by the 14th of March. & the young man appeared as a main player on the ground & a co maker of the cedar revolution, a revolution that marked the modern Lebanese & Middle Eastern History.
As a matter of fact, it was the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafiq El Hariri that awakened the Lebanese old democracy. For some International Decision Makers, the assassination of HARIRI was also the bridge upon which the democracy is to cross from the northern border to the southern border of the Mediterranean Sea. Pierre, who was enthusiastic to the change, responded & became workaholic to build the Lebanon of his dreams, which were ours also… Then Pierre became Minister. However, his new responsibilities did not distance him from his old peers nor had a negative effect on his authenticity & warmth. The Man that he was did not stop to be a loving baby. For him the heart was the passage to Freedom, truth & Liberation.
I cannot forget his voice echoing in the Sultan Restaurant in Beirut a few days ago, this strong voice that targeted the American Lebanese business men & women of the Renaissance Association urging them to keep the Lebanon in their hearts, to work for it & to get back whenever possible. Sheikh Pierre has gone.
However, He will be always remembered as a man of universal language who knew how to communicate with the vivid hearts of authentic people regardless of their political affiliation.
Pierre Amine Gemayel was indeed a wonderful man that we all lost. Lebanon lost a will developed pure & loving baby man…
Life For my Slate Friend was only for those who understood its simplicity, & charm. He has never hosted hatred or wickedness.
I knew Minister Gemayel as loving as the sun, as truthful as the sword, as calm as the country summer night, & as vibrant as a winter storm.
This Article was written by Mazen Abboud