Salim Baz

Yesterday, I watched, online, a scene from the graduation ceremony of my friend Salim Baz as a Doctor in Finance from a university in London. This event concerns me for several reasons, of which I will mention two. The first is the insistence of this brilliant young man that the scope of his academic work be the land of Lebanon, this same Lebanon in which most of the eyes of its people are now abroad, or looking abroad. I know the temptations to which he was exposed; these temptations or their illusion are driving many people away. Salim has kept off every temptation with the appeal of the witnessing love on which he was brought up. Say with me that this is a ticket of hope that reveals that our homeland holds confident appointments with life and joy. As for the second reason, it is that he has abided by a condition I set for him prior to his embarking on completing this major. In order for him to travel, I had required him that he should master all the hymns we sing in our Church, absolutely all of them. Salim has completed his studies both in his major and in what demonstrates that the Church is the soul of our life. I am greatly delighted with you.