[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 12]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 17217]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




               70TH ANNIVERSARY OF LEBANON'S INDEPENDENCE

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MARCY KAPTUR

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, November 15, 2013

  Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of the Lebanese 
American communities in our district, who are celebrating the 70th 
anniversary of Lebanon's independence. On November 22, 1943, Lebanon 
obtained its independence from France. Shortly thereafter, Lebanon 
became a founding member of both the United Nations and League of Arab 
States. Signaling its commitment to the idea that human rights were 
global and that it was ready to be a full partner in the post World War 
II world, Lebanon participated in the drafting of one of the UN's most 
distinguished documents--the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
  The United States and Lebanon have been blessed by a historically 
strong friendship, owing in part to the emigration of Lebanon's sons 
and daughters. They embraced America and followed the words expressed 
by the poet Kahlil Gibran, that ``To be a good citizen is to 
acknowledge the other person's rights before asserting your own, but 
always to be conscious of your own.'' The contributions of those early 
immigrants and those who followed helped to build our nation.
  Since 1965, over 135,000 new immigrants have come from Lebanon. Ohio 
has one of the largest Lebanese American communities in our nation and 
our citizens are richer for it. The Lebanese community willingly shares 
its culture and values; the result has been innumerable contributions 
to the arts, sports, medicine, politics, education, science and 
industry. In fact, Toledo, Ohio became the first major city in America 
to elect a citizen of Lebanese ancestry to the position of Mayor, Mr. 
Michael Damas who served with distinction.
  As one of the world's early cradles of civilization, Lebanon has 
persevered, both suffering hardship and sharing in prosperity. 
Remarkably, the spirit of its people shines through. I join the people 
of Lebanon, those of Lebanese ancestry around the world, and the 
Lebanese American community in celebrating Lebanese Independence Day.

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