What if we could write about small-scale initiatives, interventions, and joint activities between Lebanese and Syrians that often go unnoticed or uncovered by the media? I believe that these questions, if answered, can offer a new perspective on the presence of the Syrian refugees in Lebanon.
In this issue of the supplement, as in previous ones, Lebanese and Syrian writers, human rights activists, artists and journalists discuss topics related to displaced Syrians and the communities that host them. They pay particular attention to the emotional, humanitarian, cultural and artistic dimensions of the situation, which shape what we see and hear in Lebanon; they examine mutual stereotyping, discrimination and cooperation.
In fact, this supplement is a tool for change. It is an «Agora,» or meeting-place, for highlighting peaceful, nonviolent and non-discriminatory approaches to community-building with displaced persons. By doing our best to show a few of the many positive stories and initiatives, we realize how much we need, now more than ever, a way of looking at the world that taps the potential in all of us.
Lebanon has shouldered the burden of the Syrian crisis for several years and is showing the world how to remain resilient and relatively stable. It has stumbled, too, but we can all learn from those missteps. During this festive season, I invite you to look around your own community for positive stories of resilience, sharing and compassion. And I invite you to be part of this effort to foster a peaceful, inclusive society, free of fear and violence.