Canada Day: Gratitude for a Free Nation and Hope for a Sovereign Lebanon
Elias Bejjani/July 01/2026
“Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.” (Psalm 33:12)
As Canadians celebrate Canada Day from coast to coast to coast, I join millions of citizens in expressing gratitude for a nation that has become a beacon of freedom, democracy, pluralism, and human dignity. For my family and me, this celebration carries a special meaning. Since immigrating to Canada in 1986, we have experienced firsthand the blessings of living in a country where the rule of law prevails, human rights are protected, and citizens are empowered to pursue their aspirations in peace and security. Canada welcomed us not merely as immigrants, but as future citizens and partners in building a prosperous society. It offered us opportunities, stability, and a sense of belonging. Here, diversity is embraced as a source of strength, and freedom is not a slogan but a living reality. On this occasion, I am reminded of the words of Holy Scripture: “Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever.” (Psalm 107:1) And:“Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.” (Psalm 33:12). These verses capture the profound gratitude I feel toward God for the privilege of calling Canada home.
Yet while celebrating Canada’s freedom and sovereignty, my thoughts inevitably turn to Lebanon—the homeland of my birth, a nation I continue to love despite its long and painful ordeal. The contrast between the Canadian experience and the Lebanese reality could not be more striking. While Canada flourishes under democratic institutions and national sovereignty, Lebanon has spent decades struggling under successive occupations and foreign domination. Armed Palestinian organizations once transformed large parts of the country into military strongholds outside state authority. This was followed by the Syrian occupation, which imposed political, military, and security control over Lebanon for nearly three decades, undermining its institutions and suppressing its independence.
Although the Syrian military withdrew in 2005 following the Cedar Revolution and the sacrifice of Lebanon’s sovereignty martyrs, true independence remained elusive. Iran quickly filled the vacuum through Hezbollah, its most powerful proxy in the region. Today, Hezbollah functions as a state within the Lebanese state. Armed, financed, and directed by the Iranian regime, it monopolizes decisions of war and peace, undermines state institutions, and subordinates Lebanon’s national interests to Tehran’s regional agenda. For decades, Hezbollah has dragged Lebanon into destructive wars and conflicts that the Lebanese people neither chose nor approved. It has participated in regional military campaigns, most notably in Syria, while maintaining an arsenal that stands above the authority of the Lebanese government and armed forces.
The consequences have been catastrophic: political paralysis, economic collapse, international isolation, mass emigration, and the erosion of state sovereignty. Millions of Lebanese have paid the price for policies imposed by an armed organization whose loyalties extend beyond Lebanon’s borders.Yet despite these tragedies, the Lebanese people’s aspiration for freedom remains unbroken.
Lebanon’s history is one of resilience. Time and again, its people have demonstrated extraordinary courage in defending liberty, coexistence, and democratic values. They deserve a country governed by one constitution, one legitimate authority, and one national army—not by competing centers of power or foreign-sponsored militias. The future of Lebanon can only be secured through the full restoration of sovereignty, the exclusive authority of the state over all weapons, the independence of national decision-making, and the reaffirmation of the principles that once made Lebanon a beacon of freedom in the Middle East.
As we celebrate Canada Day, I also reflect on the words of the Prophet Isaiah: “Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed.” (Isaiah 1:17) And the promise found in Scripture: “Love and faithfulness meet together; righteousness and peace kiss each other.” (Psalm 85:10). These values—justice, freedom, peace, and human dignity—are not only the foundation of Canada’s success. They are also the values that must guide Lebanon’s rebirth.
Today, I offer my heartfelt thanks to Canada for the opportunities, freedoms, and security it has provided to my family and to countless others who arrived seeking refuge from oppression and instability. At the same time, I pray for Lebanon: that it may finally be liberated from all forms of foreign domination, whether direct or indirect; that it may reclaim its sovereignty and independence; and that it may once again become a homeland of freedom, peace, prosperity, and hope.
May God continue to bless Canada. And may God grant Lebanon the freedom, sovereignty, and peace for which its people have struggled and sacrificed for so long.
“So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” (John 8:36)
Happy Canada Day.
