A home for everyone

One striking feature about the Lebanese–Brazilian community is how divided they are on the topic of the land of their forefathers. Older Lebanese–Brazilians or those whose families emigrated in recent decades tend to be deeply attached to their mother country. They will follow the news and have opinions about the region, even if they have little physical interaction with it. In contrast, many of the younger members of the community — often third or fourth generation — feel, at most, ambivalent toward their roots. While they recognize the struggles of their ancestors, they have little interest in the culture of Lebanon or even identifying as Lebanese. Many, in essence, have forgotten about Lebanon. This reflects negatively on Lebanon. Clearly decades of crises have strained links with the diaspora. As one third-generation Lebanese–Brazilian who was young during the civil war put it: “At that time the information flow was cut completely.