### Lebanon: Fifty years after the start of the civil war, the weight of the past on the young generations
On April 13, 1975, a tragic event in Beirut marked the beginning of the Lebanese civil war, a conflict that shaped Lebanese society in a deep and lasting way. While the country commemorates the fiftieth anniversary of this tumultuous period, a fundamental question arises: how is the memory of this conflict transmitted to contemporary generations, and what lessons do they learn from it?
#### A complex and busy past
The Lebanese civil war was the result of a confluence of historical, political and social factors. The arrival of Palestinian refugees from 1948, following the creation of the State of Israel, exacerbated the tensions already present in a multi-confessional Lebanese company. The Cairo agreements in 1969, which institutionalized the presence of the PLO in Lebanon, even more weakened the fragile stability of the Lebanese state. This context opened the door to a fifteen -year -old conflict, marking the memory of a country still today struggling with its injuries.
Despite the official end of hostilities in 1990, through the Taëf agreements, the lack of transitional justice has left an indelible footprint. The former militia leaders reintegrated into the political fabric, while truths on past atrocities remained largely buried under the silence. This situation raises critical questions about how history is taught in Lebanese schools.
#### Teaching history: a delicate issue
In Lebanon, the teaching of history is often considered a taboo subject. The educational curriculums stopped in 1943, on the eve of independence, leaving aside a pivotal period, rich in lessons. In the absence of consensus on how to approach civil war, the young generations are deprived of a critical understanding of past events, which could lead them to reproduce the errors of their predecessors.
In this context, family and community accounts take over, often tinged with ideological biases and unresolved trauma. These elements, far from promoting constructive dialogue, can strengthen sectarian divisions and indoctrination. What then happens if Lebanese youth remains vulnerable to the manipulation of collective memory?
#### Initiatives for peace: voices of the past
Faced with these challenges, a hundred former activists have decided to come together within the association “Fighters for Peace”. Composed of representatives of various political edges, this initiative aims to break the cycle of violence by raising awareness among young people with the dangers of indoctrination. Interventions in schools are intended to encourage reflection on armed engagement and the search for peaceful solutions.
The testimonies of figures like Rima Tarabay, Daoud Faraj and Badri Abu Diab illustrate the desire to transform their past into a reconciliation tool. Their dramatic journeys offer a new narration, inviting to look beyond sectarian affiliations to understand shared humanity.
#### reflect on the future
By approaching today the memory of the Lebanese civil war, we wonder about the means by which a society can exceed its trauma. How to build a future where history lessons could galvanize a real dialogue between communities? What educational approaches can be developed to prevent history from repeating itself?
Lebanon is at a delicate crossroads. The absence of a shared historical account represents an obstacle to reconciliation. The experiences of veterans, through initiatives like “Fighters for Peace”, could offer a powerful antidote to collective forgetting. By giving back to the sufferings of yesterday and encouraging empathy, it is possible to aspire to a Lebanon where peace is not only a dream, but a tangible reality.
In this path strewn with pitfalls, responsibility is based on the shoulders of all – citizens, educators, and political leaders. The quest for a united and peaceful Lebanon requires a collective conscience of past errors and a commitment to build a solid future on peace foundations.