Thread by @Syria_Irl

When showing the film Lost in Lebanon at the UCD Centre for Human Rights last week, we received this very sad and very beautiful message from a Syrian man who came to Ireland via Lebanon, which was read out that evening

'In spite of all the wounds and torments, still strong and coherent, and I can say to you "HELLO".

Because, I am the hope that does not die despite all attempts to bury it.
I am the shout of a live and tormented conscience, its echo is heard by the universe'

'I am the grandson of the first human.
I am the son of that land which is the cradle of the civilizations and first alphabets, the land of the prophets, its soil is the purity and its pure air is healing.'

'I will tell you some of the suffering of my compatriots in Lebanon, which we love so much and consider it a brother country'

'We have been forcibly abandoned by the barbaric killing machine from our homes after we lost the father, the mother, the brother, the sister, the son, the daughter, the neighbor, the friend'

'How much I wished I fell with them, my wife & children. The life after them is just nonsense ... hoping to have some security & some safety. But, what a disappointment, it was a big shock! There is no great security & no safety, but fear beyond the fear and loss beyond the loss'

'Aaaaah! How many vampires are there! You may think that what you will hear is exaggeration, but there, a pregnant woman died at the door of the hospital because she does not have the money to give birth to her child'

'There, families were displaced from their homes because they could not pay the rent.
There, kids ate the waste food because the aid was completely stolen.
There the hope for a bright future was lost for children who did not find a school. Children, whose eyes were full of hope'

'There at the gates of the UN the Syrian was hit & insulted
There at the gates of the IOM he poured gasoline on himself & burned himself after all doors closed, after no help offered
There youth & men are handed over by Lebanese state to criminal regime in Damascus to kill them'

'There soldiers of the Lebanese Army & its security services launch malevolent campaigns against unarmed refugee camps, & arresting men & elders without any pity for screaming terrified children or crying women.
There, we have been used & exploited to the fullest'

'A country ruled by gangs in the name of the law that killed us, displaced us, starved us, wasted our dignity and stolen us. They have laws that have been legitimized specially for them to cover their crimes and injustice against us, and even against their own people'

'You would laugh or be surprised if I tell you that the Syrians are accused of contributing to the increase in the rate of cancer and increase in the rate of air pollution. Yes, so said by their ministers on television and social media with all their brazenness and stupidity'

'I don't want your tears, because I will tell you about something beautiful & wonderful has happened.
We despite oppression & injustice & despite the worst circumstances that can not be imagined by the human mind, are steadfast until the sun of victory over the tyrants shines'

'We are here now in your wonderful country, we have come to you with a message of love & peace & you embraced us with so much love & compassion. Honestly, we didn't expect all that! What a wonderful people you are, I learned from you the true meaning of the word homeland'

'In my country our tyrannical rulers planted inside our heads that my soul, my money and my children and all I have are for the country and a redemption for its soil, while they grab for themselves and their children countless resources and money'

'They want my son to be killed in the worst way in redemption of the homeland & rewarded with a solemn funeral crowned with flowers & to write on his grave martyr while his mother's heart burns with each breath, while their children have fun & enjoy themselves in this "homeland"

'They did not teach us that the homeland is the one which preserves my dignity & my rights, & cares about me & my children & their happiness.
They did not teach us that the homeland gives infinitely.
They did not teach us that the homeland is a father, a mother and a true friend'

'Never ever never! Just now I knew that they made the homeland to be like vampires, scaring and terrifying everyone. Yes, it is so, that homeland.

'When I started to feel that this magnificent country Ireland that is indescribable is my homeland, I thought that I have a bit of hypocrisy or exaggeration or delirium. But I found out that this is a fact I live, not a false dream that comes and leaves anytime.'

'I see the beautiful Syria,the elegant Syria, the loving Syria here, so different to that bereaved country we were forced to leave.I wash my hands with Levantine jasmine perfume to shake hands with you who stretched your hands out & pulled us from drowning in a sea of darkness'

'I stretch my hands out to embrace you and kiss your heads and shout with a voice heard by the whole world "I love you".
Come on and look at the faces of my children to know how much joy and hope you have planted'

'Come on to see their smiles and laughs and playing,
Come on and see how well-educated and well-brought up they are, who were threatened with loss and deprivation there, and then, open my chest and look at my heart and how much love and delight for you is there'

'This is some of what I have, my name is H. a Syrian national and an Irish passionate.
Let me finish and say:
May God save this wonderful country and its gentle and respected people.
I love you'

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