El Hariri died today. The ex-Prime Minister of Lebanon was assasinated today. When I found out this afternoon I was in complete and utter shock. I seriously didn’t know what to say or do with myself. You’d think I wouldn’t care about a politician. This is different though. It’s different because it means a number of things for my country. In my eyes a number of bad things.

This has seriously upset me, as I’m sure it has a number of other Lebanese the world over, and it’s done so for a number of reasons. For me Rafik El Hariri was the first Lebanese politician I actually knew anything about. I guess the reason behind that was because he was the first Prime I became aware of after the war. My dad knew him as they were both raised in the same neighbourhood in the small city where I was also born, the city of Saida. As a ‘child of the town’ as we’re called in Lebanon, my dad obviously liked him regardless of what actions he took and what situations he got into as Prime Minister of the country. My mum was more sceptical at times and angry at other times.

However undeniably the thing that every single Lebanese person will agree on right now , is that his death is ultimately a very bad thing for country. The reason is we don’t really have a simalar figure like him, which his strength of character. Whether you liked him or not, one thing was very clear, he was the main person responsible for bringing Lebanon back on the map. Bringing it back to a place of acceptance. Instrumental in it’s rebuilding. Apparently and I wish I could remember who told me this story, but during the 80s, during the war, various consultancies in New York (I work for a consultancy) were commisioned to do some work. When asked what they were doing, they replied ‘On rebuilding downtown Beruit’. They were commissioned by Rafik.

He was responsible for putting over 20, 000 students through school and University (4 of my cousins are part of that list).

Oh don’t get me wrong I know the man wasn’t a saint. I can fully appreciate that his intentions weren’t always pure. I know he made mistakes. However he won’t be remembered for his mistakes. He’ll be remembered for what he brought to the country of Lebanon and he’ll be remembered for being assasinated.

May brings about the elections. I’m 25 years old and I’ve never voted. I think I know when my next trip to Lebanon will be.

Rest in peace.

Rafik El Hariri 1944 - 2005