As Lebanon’s new government focuses its efforts on rebuilding itself, addressing numerous political, military, security, and social crises, and implementing administrative, judicial, and diplomatic appointments—of which only the security sector has been addressed so far—the country remains entangled in other critical and pressing issues.

The issue of disarming Hezbollah remains a top priority on the agenda of the new administration, amid growing concerns over developments in southern Lebanon. Israel appears to be attempting to impose a new reality, hinting at a potential withdrawal in exchange for some normalization measures. At the same time, the situation in Syria continues to impact Lebanon on multiple levels—militarily, security-wise, socially, and demographically—exacerbating the already complex refugee crisis.

Moreover, Lebanon’s financial and economic distress persists, with no effective solutions in sight. Even patchwork attempts have failed, and the country remains under mounting pressure from international financial institutions, which have set deadlines and conditions for reform. Depositors are left at the mercy of banks, forced to beg for access to their own money in a slow and agonizing drip.

While these challenges dominate the national discourse, another dimension of Lebanese identity remains vibrant: its cultural scene. Successive governments have continuously overlooked Lebanon’s cultural landscape, failing to recognize that no nation can thrive without a strong national cultural foundation. Yet, despite these challenges, Lebanon’s cultural heartbeat remains strong, driven by youthful energy and creative vitality, offering a glimmer of hope for the future.

Forget about ministries or official institutions—individual initiatives are the true champions here. Regardless of hardships, they persist, organizing exhibitions, festivals, and events that allow people to momentarily escape the struggles of daily life and immerse themselves in a cultural feast filled with the arts.

One such initiative is the Lebanese Book Festival, organized by the Cultural Movement in Antelias (El Metn district) for the past 42 years. The festival includes a book fair, panel discussions, and tributes to notable Lebanese figures. This year’s edition saw an unexpected surge in attendance, surprising even the organizers, despite the prevailing economic crisis, financial hardship, and rising printing and book costs.

Antelias’ book fair marks the beginning of a series of upcoming cultural events, including the Arab Book Fair, which is set to take place in two months. The event was originally scheduled for last December but was postponed due to the Israeli war on Lebanon.

Having closely followed and participated in the Antelias Book Fair for years—whether through book signings, discussions, or tributes—I was struck by the impressive number of publishing houses present and the signing of nearly 120 books covering a wide range of topics, from politics and biographies to philosophy, religion, fiction, poetry, and theater.

In an era dominated by social media, cultural events like book fairs and festivals have faced declining interest. Today, "everything" is available on a small screen, and when that no longer suffices, artificial intelligence is called upon to create the desired experience.

It is said that French President Charles de Gaulle was once criticized for seating the esteemed intellectual André Malraux to his right at cabinet meetings instead of his prime minister. His response was legendary: "It is me sitting to his left."

The idea that culture is the foundation upon which nations are built is not a luxury or a passing whim. I have emphasized this time and again:

The intellectual mind is a reflection of the divine—though perfection belongs only to God. The intellectual embodies the collective conscience in its entirety, without compromise.

The intellectual mind is the ultimate seeker of knowledge, never flaunting it, but rather knowing how to channel it into a vision that transcends time and space.

The intellectual mind possesses a structured, methodical mind—sometimes chaotic in its brilliance—capable of synthesizing vast knowledge in an instant and presenting insights that even the pioneers before them could not.

The intellectual mind delivers words that may shock at first, but ultimately serve as a guiding truth, cutting through ignorance, emotion, or vested interests.

The intellectual mind understands history, society, the arts, and human relations not just on a surface level, but in a profound, vertical manner—crafting a narrative that bonds both the land and its people.

The intellectual mind is open to all perspectives, engaging in debate armed with reason, logic, and deep knowledge. It is not the pretender whom Imam Ali warned against, fearing ignorance disguised as wisdom.

And finally, the intellectual mind knows when silence speaks louder than words and when withdrawal commands more presence than mere visibility.

Will these principles find their way into the agenda of Lebanon’s new authorities? Perhaps then, they may begin to combat corruption, dismantle sectarian power-sharing, and bid farewell to the entrenched political culture of self-serving elites—the same poisonous culture that has long defined Lebanon’s past and present.