TED-Making peace is a marathon
http://www.ted.com/talks/may_el_khalil_making_peace_is_a_marathon.html?utm_source=email&source=email&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=ios-share
创造和平是场马拉松
在黎巴嫩，每年都有一个枪声不同于人们司空见惯的暴力场景中的枪声：布鲁特国际马拉松的发令枪响。在这个感人的演讲中，马拉松发起者梅·哈里（音译） 讲述了她为何相信26.2英里的长跑比赛可以把几十年来因政治和宗教原因支离破碎的国家团结在一起，哪怕每年只有这么一天。
我来自黎巴嫩 我相信跑步改变世界 我知道我这个说法也许费解
你知道，黎巴嫩是一个曾被 漫长血腥的内战摧毁的国家 实际上，我不明白为什么毫无文明可言的“内战” 和”文明的“居然是同一个单词（civil：内战的，人民的，文明的） 黎巴嫩北与叙利亚接壤，南邻以色列和巴勒斯坦 甚至此时此刻我们的政府 也还是分裂动荡的 这么多年来，这个国家 因政治和宗教原因支离破碎 但是，每年有一天 我们真正地站在一起 那就是我们举办马拉松的时候
我曾经是一个马拉松运动员 长跑不仅有利于身体健康 也促进我思考和拥有远大梦想 我跑的越远 我的梦想也更加远大 直到一个不幸的早晨 我在训练时被一辆公交车撞了 我昏迷不醒，几乎丧命 在医院呆了两年 进行了36次手术后才能够重新走路
我从昏迷中醒来时 就意识到我再也不能像以前那样跑步了 所以我决定，即使我自己不能再跑步了 也要让别人有跑步的机会 所以在医院病床上 我开始让我的丈夫帮我记笔记 几个月后 这个马拉松赛事诞生了
也许在车祸之后却组织一次马拉松 听起来很奇怪 但在那时候，即使在我最脆弱的时候 我需要远大的梦想 我需要做一些事来忘记身体的疼痛 我需要找寻一个值得期盼的目标 我不想自怨自艾，也不想被怜悯 我想通过组办这样一个马拉松 我可以回报社会 搭建连接外面世界的桥梁 邀请马拉松选手们来黎巴嫩 以和平之义跑步 在黎巴嫩组织一个马拉松 绝对不像在纽约这样 如何介绍跑步的理念 给一个长期濒临战争的国家 如何让那些曾经互相斗争 和残杀的人 聚在一起并肩奔跑 不仅如此，如何说服人们 跑26.2英里（42公里195米，马拉松全程距离） 当他们连“马拉松” 这个词都不熟的时候 所以我们不得不从零开始
有将近两年时间，我们走遍了整个国家 甚至访问边远村庄 我见了来自各行各业，各种各样的人 有市长，非政府组织人员，小学生 政客，民兵，穆斯林，基督教信徒 上到国家总统，下至家庭主妇 我了解到一件事 行胜于言，只有用行动去践行诺言，人们才会相信你 很多人被我的个人经历感动 他们也回应分享他们的故事 是真诚和透明把我们聚在一起 我们彼此有着共同的语言 就这样口口相传传播开了 信任建立后 每个人都想成为马拉松的一员 来向世界展示黎巴嫩和她的人民 的本色 还有他们对和平安宁的生活的渴望
在2003年10月，6000多名 来自49个不同的国家的马拉松选手 汇聚在了起跑线上，个个踌躇满志 当发令枪响起 这次的枪声象征着和谐奔跑 而不是一味的战争
马拉松赛在不断壮大 国内的政治问题也继续激化 但不管我们面对什么灾难 马拉松都能把我们的人民紧紧的团结在一起 2005年，我们的总理被暗杀 整个国家停顿不前 所以我们组织了一次5000米的”团结向前跑“的运动 超过六万人聚集在起跑线前 人们统一穿着没有任何政治口号的白色T恤 那是马拉松的一个转折点 人们开始在把它看做 一个促进和平团结的平台
从2006年到2009年，我们的国家，黎巴嫩， 经历了动荡的几年 侵略，更多的暗杀 这些都使我们的国家更加迫近内战 国家再次四分五裂 严重到议会解散 整整一年没有总统也没有总理 但我们一直有马拉松比赛
（掌声）
通过马拉松，我们知道 政治问题都可以克服 当反对派决定 封锁城市中心的一部分道路 我们协商改换马拉松路线 抗议政府者变成了 我们的场外啦啦队 他们甚至组织果汁供应站
你们知道么，这个马拉松真的成为 同类赛事中佼佼者 它得到来自 黎巴嫩人民和国际社会的认可 2012年11月，超过33000名 来自85个国家地区的选手 汇聚在起跑线前 但这次，他们挑战了 狂风暴雨的天气 道路都被积水淹没了，但没人想错过 如此庆祝国庆的马拉松赛事 的绝佳机会
贝鲁特马拉松联合会（简称BMA，贝鲁特是黎巴嫩首都）已经扩大 我们有各种各样的成员，有年轻人，老人 有残疾人，有智障者， 有盲人，精英人士，业余马拉松爱好者， 甚至怀着孩子的孕妇 主题包括了环保， 乳腺癌，对黎巴嫩的爱，和平 或者仅仅单纯为跑步而跑
女权也是这里的其中一个主题 第一届呼吁女性权利仅限女性参加的年度赛事 几星期前刚刚落下帷幕 共有4512位女性参加，其中包括总统夫人 这才仅仅是一个开始
谢谢大家
（掌声）
BMA大力支持慈善组织和志愿者 他们帮助重建黎巴嫩 我们为他们的事业集资 并鼓励其他人捐助 给与和为善的文化 是十分有感染力的 陈规已被打破 变革者和未来领导人 已经出现 我深信这些是未来和平的基础
BMA已经成为这一地区备受尊敬的赛事 许多该地区的政府官员们 像是伊朗，埃及，叙利亚 纷纷要求我们的组织来帮助他们成立 类似的运动赛事 我们现在是中东地区最大的跑步赛事之一 但最重要的是， 在这个长期支离破碎动荡不安的地区， 它是一个支持希望和促进合作的平台 从波士顿到布鲁特，我们团结一致
（掌声）
在黎巴嫩过去10年 从国家马拉松或者从国家赛事 到小区域赛事，我们看到 人们在为一个更好的未来奔跑 毕竟，谋求和平不是短跑， 而更像一场马拉松
谢谢大家
I come from Lebanon, and I believe that running can change the world. I know what I have just said is simply not obvious.
You know, Lebanon as a country has been once destroyed by a long and bloody civil war. Honestly, I don't know why they call it civil war when there is nothing civil about it. With Syria to the north, Israel and Palestine to the south, and our government even up till this moment is still fragmented and unstable. For years, the country has been divided between politics and religion. However, for one day a year, we truly stand united, and that's when the marathon takes place.
I used to be a marathon runner. Long distance running was not only good for my well-being but it helped me meditate and dream big. So the longer distances I ran, the bigger my dreams became, until one fateful morning, and while training, I was hit by a bus. I nearly died, was in a coma, stayed at the hospital for two years, and underwent 36 surgeries to be able to walk again.
As soon as I came out of my coma, I realized that I was no longer the same runner I used to be, so I decided, if I couldn't run myself, I wanted to make sure that others could. So out of my hospital bed, I asked my husband to start taking notes, and a few months later, the marathon was born.
Organizing a marathon as a reaction to an accident may sound strange, but at that time, even during my most vulnerable condition, I needed to dream big. I needed something to take me out of my pain, an objective to look forward to. I didn't want to pity myself, nor to be pitied, and I thought by organizing such a marathon, I'll be able to pay back to my community, build bridges with the outside world, and invite runners to come to Lebanon and run under the umbrella of peace. Organizing a marathon in Lebanon is definitely not like organizing one in New York. How do you introduce the concept of running to a nation that is constantly at the brink of war? How do you ask those who were once fighting and killing each other to come together and run next to each other? More than that, how do you convince people to run a distance of 26.2 miles at a time they were not even familiar with the word "marathon"? So we had to start from scratch.
For almost two years, we went all over the country and even visited remote villages. I personally met with people from all walks of life -- mayors, NGOs, schoolchildren, politicians, militiamen, people from mosques, churches, the president of the country, even housewives. I learned one thing: When you walk the talk, people believe you. Many were touched by my personal story, and they shared their stories in return. It was honesty and transparency that brought us together. We spoke one common language to each other, and that was from one human to another. Once that trust was built, everybody wanted to be part of the marathon to show the world the true colors of Lebanon and the Lebanese and their desire to live in peace and harmony.
In October 2003, over 6,000 runners from 49 different nationalities came to the start line, all determined, and when the gunfire went off, this time it was a signal to run in harmony for a change.
The marathon grew. So did our political problems. But for every disaster we had, the marathon found ways to bring people together. In 2005, our prime minister was assassinated, and the country came to a complete standstill, so we organized a five-kilometer United We Run campaign. Over 60,000 people came to the start line, all wearing white t-shirts with no political slogans. That was a turning point for the marathon, where people started looking at it as a platform for peace and unity.
Between 2006 up to 2009, our country, Lebanon, went through unstable years, invasions, and more assassinations that brought us close to a civil war. The country was divided again, so much that our parliament resigned, we had no president for a year, and no prime minister. But we did have a marathon.
(Applause)
So through the marathon, we learned that political problems can be overcome. When the opposition party decided to shut down part of the city center, we negotiated alternative routes. Government protesters became sideline cheerleaders. They even hosted juice stations.
You know, the marathon has really become one of a kind. It gained credibility from both the Lebanese and the international community. Last November 2012, over 33,000 runners from 85 different nationalities came to the start line, but this time, they challenged very stormy and rainy weather. The streets were flooded, but people didn't want to miss out on the opportunity of being part of such a national day.
BMA has expanded. We include everyone: the young, the elderly, the disabled, the mentally challenged, the blind, the elite, the amateur runners, even moms with their babies. Themes have included runs for the environment, breast cancer, for the love of Lebanon, for peace, or just simply to run.
The first annual all-women-and-girls race for empowerment, which is one of its kind in the region, has just taken place only a few weeks ago, with 4,512 women, including the first lady, and this is only the beginning.
Thank you.
(Applause)
BMA has supported charities and volunteers who have helped reshape Lebanon, raising funds for their causes and encouraging others to give. The culture of giving and doing good has become contagious. Stereotypes have been broken. Change-makers and future leaders have been created. I believe these are the building blocks for future peace.
BMA has become such a respected event in the region that government officials in the region like Iraq, Egypt and Syria, have asked the organization to help them structure a similar sporting event. We are now one of the largest running events in the Middle East, but most importantly, it is a platform for hope and cooperation in an ever-fragile and unstable part of the world. From Boston to Beirut, we stand as one.
(Applause)
After 10 years in Lebanon, from national marathons or from national events to smaller regional races, we've seen that people want to run for a better future. After all, peacemaking is not a sprint. It is more of a marathon.
Thank you.
(Applause)I come from Lebanon, and I believe that running can change the world. I know what I have just said is simply not obvious.
You know, Lebanon as a country has been once destroyed by a long and bloody civil war. Honestly, I don't know why they call it civil war when there is nothing civil about it. With Syria to the north, Israel and Palestine to the south, and our government even up till this moment is still fragmented and unstable. For years, the country has been divided between politics and religion. However, for one day a year, we truly stand united, and that's when the marathon takes place.
I used to be a marathon runner. Long distance running was not only good for my well-being but it helped me meditate and dream big. So the longer distances I ran, the bigger my dreams became, until one fateful morning, and while training, I was hit by a bus. I nearly died, was in a coma, stayed at the hospital for two years, and underwent 36 surgeries to be able to walk again.
As soon as I came out of my coma, I realized that I was no longer the same runner I used to be, so I decided, if I couldn't run myself, I wanted to make sure that others could. So out of my hospital bed, I asked my husband to start taking notes, and a few months later, the marathon was born.
Organizing a marathon as a reaction to an accident may sound strange, but at that time, even during my most vulnerable condition, I needed to dream big. I needed something to take me out of my pain, an objective to look forward to. I didn't want to pity myself, nor to be pitied, and I thought by organizing such a marathon, I'll be able to pay back to my community, build bridges with the outside world, and invite runners to come to Lebanon and run under the umbrella of peace. Organizing a marathon in Lebanon is definitely not like organizing one in New York. How do you introduce the concept of running to a nation that is constantly at the brink of war? How do you ask those who were once fighting and killing each other to come together and run next to each other? More than that, how do you convince people to run a distance of 26.2 miles at a time they were not even familiar with the word "marathon"? So we had to start from scratch.
For almost two years, we went all over the country and even visited remote villages. I personally met with people from all walks of life -- mayors, NGOs, schoolchildren, politicians, militiamen, people from mosques, churches, the president of the country, even housewives. I learned one thing: When you walk the talk, people believe you. Many were touched by my personal story, and they shared their stories in return. It was honesty and transparency that brought us together. We spoke one common language to each other, and that was from one human to another. Once that trust was built, everybody wanted to be part of the marathon to show the world the true colors of Lebanon and the Lebanese and their desire to live in peace and harmony.
In October 2003, over 6,000 runners from 49 different nationalities came to the start line, all determined, and when the gunfire went off, this time it was a signal to run in harmony for a change.
The marathon grew. So did our political problems. But for every disaster we had, the marathon found ways to bring people together. In 2005, our prime minister was assassinated, and the country came to a complete standstill, so we organized a five-kilometer United We Run campaign. Over 60,000 people came to the start line, all wearing white t-shirts with no political slogans. That was a turning point for the marathon, where people started looking at it as a platform for peace and unity.
Between 2006 up to 2009, our country, Lebanon, went through unstable years, invasions, and more assassinations that brought us close to a civil war. The country was divided again, so much that our parliament resigned, we had no president for a year, and no prime minister. But we did have a marathon.
(Applause)
So through the marathon, we learned that political problems can be overcome. When the opposition party decided to shut down part of the city center, we negotiated alternative routes. Government protesters became sideline cheerleaders. They even hosted juice stations.
You know, the marathon has really become one of a kind. It gained credibility from both the Lebanese and the international community. Last November 2012, over 33,000 runners from 85 different nationalities came to the start line, but this time, they challenged very stormy and rainy weather. The streets were flooded, but people didn't want to miss out on the opportunity of being part of such a national day.
BMA has expanded. We include everyone: the young, the elderly, the disabled, the mentally challenged, the blind, the elite, the amateur runners, even moms with their babies. Themes have included runs for the environment, breast cancer, for the love of Lebanon, for peace, or just simply to run.
The first annual all-women-and-girls race for empowerment, which is one of its kind in the region, has just taken place only a few weeks ago, with 4,512 women, including the first lady, and this is only the beginning.
Thank you.
(Applause)
BMA has supported charities and volunteers who have helped reshape Lebanon, raising funds for their causes and encouraging others to give. The culture of giving and doing good has become contagious. Stereotypes have been broken. Change-makers and future leaders have been created. I believe these are the building blocks for future peace.
BMA has become such a respected event in the region that government officials in the region like Iraq, Egypt and Syria, have asked the organization to help them structure a similar sporting event. We are now one of the largest running events in the Middle East, but most importantly, it is a platform for hope and cooperation in an ever-fragile and unstable part of the world. From Boston to Beirut, we stand as one.
(Applause)
After 10 years in Lebanon, from national marathons or from national events to smaller regional races, we've seen that people want to run for a better future. After all, peacemaking is not a sprint. It is more of a marathon.
Thank you.
(Applause)
创造和平是场马拉松
在黎巴嫩，每年都有一个枪声不同于人们司空见惯的暴力场景中的枪声：布鲁特国际马拉松的发令枪响。在这个感人的演讲中，马拉松发起者梅·哈里（音译） 讲述了她为何相信26.2英里的长跑比赛可以把几十年来因政治和宗教原因支离破碎的国家团结在一起，哪怕每年只有这么一天。
我来自黎巴嫩 我相信跑步改变世界 我知道我这个说法也许费解
你知道，黎巴嫩是一个曾被 漫长血腥的内战摧毁的国家 实际上，我不明白为什么毫无文明可言的“内战” 和”文明的“居然是同一个单词（civil：内战的，人民的，文明的） 黎巴嫩北与叙利亚接壤，南邻以色列和巴勒斯坦 甚至此时此刻我们的政府 也还是分裂动荡的 这么多年来，这个国家 因政治和宗教原因支离破碎 但是，每年有一天 我们真正地站在一起 那就是我们举办马拉松的时候
我曾经是一个马拉松运动员 长跑不仅有利于身体健康 也促进我思考和拥有远大梦想 我跑的越远 我的梦想也更加远大 直到一个不幸的早晨 我在训练时被一辆公交车撞了 我昏迷不醒，几乎丧命 在医院呆了两年 进行了36次手术后才能够重新走路
我从昏迷中醒来时 就意识到我再也不能像以前那样跑步了 所以我决定，即使我自己不能再跑步了 也要让别人有跑步的机会 所以在医院病床上 我开始让我的丈夫帮我记笔记 几个月后 这个马拉松赛事诞生了
也许在车祸之后却组织一次马拉松 听起来很奇怪 但在那时候，即使在我最脆弱的时候 我需要远大的梦想 我需要做一些事来忘记身体的疼痛 我需要找寻一个值得期盼的目标 我不想自怨自艾，也不想被怜悯 我想通过组办这样一个马拉松 我可以回报社会 搭建连接外面世界的桥梁 邀请马拉松选手们来黎巴嫩 以和平之义跑步 在黎巴嫩组织一个马拉松 绝对不像在纽约这样 如何介绍跑步的理念 给一个长期濒临战争的国家 如何让那些曾经互相斗争 和残杀的人 聚在一起并肩奔跑 不仅如此，如何说服人们 跑26.2英里（42公里195米，马拉松全程距离） 当他们连“马拉松” 这个词都不熟的时候 所以我们不得不从零开始
有将近两年时间，我们走遍了整个国家 甚至访问边远村庄 我见了来自各行各业，各种各样的人 有市长，非政府组织人员，小学生 政客，民兵，穆斯林，基督教信徒 上到国家总统，下至家庭主妇 我了解到一件事 行胜于言，只有用行动去践行诺言，人们才会相信你 很多人被我的个人经历感动 他们也回应分享他们的故事 是真诚和透明把我们聚在一起 我们彼此有着共同的语言 就这样口口相传传播开了 信任建立后 每个人都想成为马拉松的一员 来向世界展示黎巴嫩和她的人民 的本色 还有他们对和平安宁的生活的渴望
在2003年10月，6000多名 来自49个不同的国家的马拉松选手 汇聚在了起跑线上，个个踌躇满志 当发令枪响起 这次的枪声象征着和谐奔跑 而不是一味的战争
马拉松赛在不断壮大 国内的政治问题也继续激化 但不管我们面对什么灾难 马拉松都能把我们的人民紧紧的团结在一起 2005年，我们的总理被暗杀 整个国家停顿不前 所以我们组织了一次5000米的”团结向前跑“的运动 超过六万人聚集在起跑线前 人们统一穿着没有任何政治口号的白色T恤 那是马拉松的一个转折点 人们开始在把它看做 一个促进和平团结的平台
从2006年到2009年，我们的国家，黎巴嫩， 经历了动荡的几年 侵略，更多的暗杀 这些都使我们的国家更加迫近内战 国家再次四分五裂 严重到议会解散 整整一年没有总统也没有总理 但我们一直有马拉松比赛
（掌声）
通过马拉松，我们知道 政治问题都可以克服 当反对派决定 封锁城市中心的一部分道路 我们协商改换马拉松路线 抗议政府者变成了 我们的场外啦啦队 他们甚至组织果汁供应站
你们知道么，这个马拉松真的成为 同类赛事中佼佼者 它得到来自 黎巴嫩人民和国际社会的认可 2012年11月，超过33000名 来自85个国家地区的选手 汇聚在起跑线前 但这次，他们挑战了 狂风暴雨的天气 道路都被积水淹没了，但没人想错过 如此庆祝国庆的马拉松赛事 的绝佳机会
贝鲁特马拉松联合会（简称BMA，贝鲁特是黎巴嫩首都）已经扩大 我们有各种各样的成员，有年轻人，老人 有残疾人，有智障者， 有盲人，精英人士，业余马拉松爱好者， 甚至怀着孩子的孕妇 主题包括了环保， 乳腺癌，对黎巴嫩的爱，和平 或者仅仅单纯为跑步而跑
女权也是这里的其中一个主题 第一届呼吁女性权利仅限女性参加的年度赛事 几星期前刚刚落下帷幕 共有4512位女性参加，其中包括总统夫人 这才仅仅是一个开始
谢谢大家
（掌声）
BMA大力支持慈善组织和志愿者 他们帮助重建黎巴嫩 我们为他们的事业集资 并鼓励其他人捐助 给与和为善的文化 是十分有感染力的 陈规已被打破 变革者和未来领导人 已经出现 我深信这些是未来和平的基础
BMA已经成为这一地区备受尊敬的赛事 许多该地区的政府官员们 像是伊朗，埃及，叙利亚 纷纷要求我们的组织来帮助他们成立 类似的运动赛事 我们现在是中东地区最大的跑步赛事之一 但最重要的是， 在这个长期支离破碎动荡不安的地区， 它是一个支持希望和促进合作的平台 从波士顿到布鲁特，我们团结一致
（掌声）
在黎巴嫩过去10年 从国家马拉松或者从国家赛事 到小区域赛事，我们看到 人们在为一个更好的未来奔跑 毕竟，谋求和平不是短跑， 而更像一场马拉松
谢谢大家
I come from Lebanon, and I believe that running can change the world. I know what I have just said is simply not obvious.
You know, Lebanon as a country has been once destroyed by a long and bloody civil war. Honestly, I don't know why they call it civil war when there is nothing civil about it. With Syria to the north, Israel and Palestine to the south, and our government even up till this moment is still fragmented and unstable. For years, the country has been divided between politics and religion. However, for one day a year, we truly stand united, and that's when the marathon takes place.
I used to be a marathon runner. Long distance running was not only good for my well-being but it helped me meditate and dream big. So the longer distances I ran, the bigger my dreams became, until one fateful morning, and while training, I was hit by a bus. I nearly died, was in a coma, stayed at the hospital for two years, and underwent 36 surgeries to be able to walk again.
As soon as I came out of my coma, I realized that I was no longer the same runner I used to be, so I decided, if I couldn't run myself, I wanted to make sure that others could. So out of my hospital bed, I asked my husband to start taking notes, and a few months later, the marathon was born.
Organizing a marathon as a reaction to an accident may sound strange, but at that time, even during my most vulnerable condition, I needed to dream big. I needed something to take me out of my pain, an objective to look forward to. I didn't want to pity myself, nor to be pitied, and I thought by organizing such a marathon, I'll be able to pay back to my community, build bridges with the outside world, and invite runners to come to Lebanon and run under the umbrella of peace. Organizing a marathon in Lebanon is definitely not like organizing one in New York. How do you introduce the concept of running to a nation that is constantly at the brink of war? How do you ask those who were once fighting and killing each other to come together and run next to each other? More than that, how do you convince people to run a distance of 26.2 miles at a time they were not even familiar with the word "marathon"? So we had to start from scratch.
For almost two years, we went all over the country and even visited remote villages. I personally met with people from all walks of life -- mayors, NGOs, schoolchildren, politicians, militiamen, people from mosques, churches, the president of the country, even housewives. I learned one thing: When you walk the talk, people believe you. Many were touched by my personal story, and they shared their stories in return. It was honesty and transparency that brought us together. We spoke one common language to each other, and that was from one human to another. Once that trust was built, everybody wanted to be part of the marathon to show the world the true colors of Lebanon and the Lebanese and their desire to live in peace and harmony.
In October 2003, over 6,000 runners from 49 different nationalities came to the start line, all determined, and when the gunfire went off, this time it was a signal to run in harmony for a change.
The marathon grew. So did our political problems. But for every disaster we had, the marathon found ways to bring people together. In 2005, our prime minister was assassinated, and the country came to a complete standstill, so we organized a five-kilometer United We Run campaign. Over 60,000 people came to the start line, all wearing white t-shirts with no political slogans. That was a turning point for the marathon, where people started looking at it as a platform for peace and unity.
Between 2006 up to 2009, our country, Lebanon, went through unstable years, invasions, and more assassinations that brought us close to a civil war. The country was divided again, so much that our parliament resigned, we had no president for a year, and no prime minister. But we did have a marathon.
(Applause)
So through the marathon, we learned that political problems can be overcome. When the opposition party decided to shut down part of the city center, we negotiated alternative routes. Government protesters became sideline cheerleaders. They even hosted juice stations.
You know, the marathon has really become one of a kind. It gained credibility from both the Lebanese and the international community. Last November 2012, over 33,000 runners from 85 different nationalities came to the start line, but this time, they challenged very stormy and rainy weather. The streets were flooded, but people didn't want to miss out on the opportunity of being part of such a national day.
BMA has expanded. We include everyone: the young, the elderly, the disabled, the mentally challenged, the blind, the elite, the amateur runners, even moms with their babies. Themes have included runs for the environment, breast cancer, for the love of Lebanon, for peace, or just simply to run.
The first annual all-women-and-girls race for empowerment, which is one of its kind in the region, has just taken place only a few weeks ago, with 4,512 women, including the first lady, and this is only the beginning.
Thank you.
(Applause)
BMA has supported charities and volunteers who have helped reshape Lebanon, raising funds for their causes and encouraging others to give. The culture of giving and doing good has become contagious. Stereotypes have been broken. Change-makers and future leaders have been created. I believe these are the building blocks for future peace.
BMA has become such a respected event in the region that government officials in the region like Iraq, Egypt and Syria, have asked the organization to help them structure a similar sporting event. We are now one of the largest running events in the Middle East, but most importantly, it is a platform for hope and cooperation in an ever-fragile and unstable part of the world. From Boston to Beirut, we stand as one.
(Applause)
After 10 years in Lebanon, from national marathons or from national events to smaller regional races, we've seen that people want to run for a better future. After all, peacemaking is not a sprint. It is more of a marathon.
Thank you.
(Applause)I come from Lebanon, and I believe that running can change the world. I know what I have just said is simply not obvious.
You know, Lebanon as a country has been once destroyed by a long and bloody civil war. Honestly, I don't know why they call it civil war when there is nothing civil about it. With Syria to the north, Israel and Palestine to the south, and our government even up till this moment is still fragmented and unstable. For years, the country has been divided between politics and religion. However, for one day a year, we truly stand united, and that's when the marathon takes place.
I used to be a marathon runner. Long distance running was not only good for my well-being but it helped me meditate and dream big. So the longer distances I ran, the bigger my dreams became, until one fateful morning, and while training, I was hit by a bus. I nearly died, was in a coma, stayed at the hospital for two years, and underwent 36 surgeries to be able to walk again.
As soon as I came out of my coma, I realized that I was no longer the same runner I used to be, so I decided, if I couldn't run myself, I wanted to make sure that others could. So out of my hospital bed, I asked my husband to start taking notes, and a few months later, the marathon was born.
Organizing a marathon as a reaction to an accident may sound strange, but at that time, even during my most vulnerable condition, I needed to dream big. I needed something to take me out of my pain, an objective to look forward to. I didn't want to pity myself, nor to be pitied, and I thought by organizing such a marathon, I'll be able to pay back to my community, build bridges with the outside world, and invite runners to come to Lebanon and run under the umbrella of peace. Organizing a marathon in Lebanon is definitely not like organizing one in New York. How do you introduce the concept of running to a nation that is constantly at the brink of war? How do you ask those who were once fighting and killing each other to come together and run next to each other? More than that, how do you convince people to run a distance of 26.2 miles at a time they were not even familiar with the word "marathon"? So we had to start from scratch.
For almost two years, we went all over the country and even visited remote villages. I personally met with people from all walks of life -- mayors, NGOs, schoolchildren, politicians, militiamen, people from mosques, churches, the president of the country, even housewives. I learned one thing: When you walk the talk, people believe you. Many were touched by my personal story, and they shared their stories in return. It was honesty and transparency that brought us together. We spoke one common language to each other, and that was from one human to another. Once that trust was built, everybody wanted to be part of the marathon to show the world the true colors of Lebanon and the Lebanese and their desire to live in peace and harmony.
In October 2003, over 6,000 runners from 49 different nationalities came to the start line, all determined, and when the gunfire went off, this time it was a signal to run in harmony for a change.
The marathon grew. So did our political problems. But for every disaster we had, the marathon found ways to bring people together. In 2005, our prime minister was assassinated, and the country came to a complete standstill, so we organized a five-kilometer United We Run campaign. Over 60,000 people came to the start line, all wearing white t-shirts with no political slogans. That was a turning point for the marathon, where people started looking at it as a platform for peace and unity.
Between 2006 up to 2009, our country, Lebanon, went through unstable years, invasions, and more assassinations that brought us close to a civil war. The country was divided again, so much that our parliament resigned, we had no president for a year, and no prime minister. But we did have a marathon.
(Applause)
So through the marathon, we learned that political problems can be overcome. When the opposition party decided to shut down part of the city center, we negotiated alternative routes. Government protesters became sideline cheerleaders. They even hosted juice stations.
You know, the marathon has really become one of a kind. It gained credibility from both the Lebanese and the international community. Last November 2012, over 33,000 runners from 85 different nationalities came to the start line, but this time, they challenged very stormy and rainy weather. The streets were flooded, but people didn't want to miss out on the opportunity of being part of such a national day.
BMA has expanded. We include everyone: the young, the elderly, the disabled, the mentally challenged, the blind, the elite, the amateur runners, even moms with their babies. Themes have included runs for the environment, breast cancer, for the love of Lebanon, for peace, or just simply to run.
The first annual all-women-and-girls race for empowerment, which is one of its kind in the region, has just taken place only a few weeks ago, with 4,512 women, including the first lady, and this is only the beginning.
Thank you.
(Applause)
BMA has supported charities and volunteers who have helped reshape Lebanon, raising funds for their causes and encouraging others to give. The culture of giving and doing good has become contagious. Stereotypes have been broken. Change-makers and future leaders have been created. I believe these are the building blocks for future peace.
BMA has become such a respected event in the region that government officials in the region like Iraq, Egypt and Syria, have asked the organization to help them structure a similar sporting event. We are now one of the largest running events in the Middle East, but most importantly, it is a platform for hope and cooperation in an ever-fragile and unstable part of the world. From Boston to Beirut, we stand as one.
(Applause)
After 10 years in Lebanon, from national marathons or from national events to smaller regional races, we've seen that people want to run for a better future. After all, peacemaking is not a sprint. It is more of a marathon.
Thank you.
(Applause)
