Re-Visiting Gibran…

Tonight in Lebanon, Salma Hayek will be hitting the red carpet for the Beirut premiere of her new film The Prophet–an animated adaptation of Khalil Gibran’s classic book. Gibran was born in Lebanon in 1883 and emigrated as a young man to Boston–where he penned The Prophet in 1923. Tonight’s premiere at Beirut Souks’ Cinemacity will mark the first time that Lebanon has hosted the world premiere of any film. Since I’ve long been a fan of Gibran–and loved visiting his mausoleum and museum in Lebanon–I’m excited to see this new film (plus my friend voices one of the characters). While most Gibran quotes disseminated on Twitter and Facebook read as feel-good spiritual aphorisms, they paint an incomplete portrait of Gibran’s life, politics, and work. For instance, Gibran was often incredibly critical of his homeland. Take, for example, the lines of his poetry below–in which Gibran makes a scathing attack on his “countrymen.”

Knowledge is a light, enriching the warmth of life,
And all may partake who seek it out;
But you, my countrymen, seek out darkness and flee the light,
Awaiting the coming of water from the rock,
And your nation’s misery is your crime.
I do not forgive you your sins, for you know what you are doing.

Humanity is a brilliant river singing its way and carrying with it the mountains’ secrets into the heart of the sea;
But you, my countrymen, are stagnant marshes infested with insects and vipers…

Fear not the phantom of death, my countrymen,
For his greatness and mercy will refuse to approach your smallness;
And dread not the dagger, for it will decline to be lodged in your shallow hearts.

I hate you, my countrymen, because you hate glory and greatness.
I despise you because you despise yourselves.
I am your enemy, for you refuse to realize that you are
the enemies of the goddesses.