S\u00e3o Paulo \u2013 They are in all walks of political, economic and social life in Brazil. Many, truly many, are in prominent positions. One example is the largest city in South America, S\u00e3o Paulo, whose mayor, Gilberto Kassab, is of Lebanese origin. The same may be said about the current Brazilian minister of Education, Fernando Haddad, the personal physician of president Lula, cardiologist Roberto Kalil Filho, and the most famous wedding organizer in Brazil, businesswoman Vera Sim\u00e3o, all whose roots are in Lebanon.<\/p>\n
Whatever the area of operation, the characteristic that brings them together is the entrepreneurial talent and respect for values like ethics and respect to others, above all other objectives. Together, every day they write a story of work and, mainly, of pride for their origins.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn my veins flow safihas and kibbehs,\u201d guarantees Roberto Kalil Filho, president Lula\u2019s doctor and the director of the Cardiology Centre at the Syrian Lebanese Hospital. Such passion for his roots causes the cardiologist, to date, to follow a lesson he was taught by his mother: \u201cAlways hold your head up high to face problems with dignity and succeed in life.\u201d<\/p>\n
Apart from Kalil, other prominent Brazilian doctors of Arab origin are Adib Jatene, the most famous Brazilian cardiology surgeon, and Riad Younes, a specialist in lung cancer who got here at the age of 16, escaping the civil war in Lebanon. And he helped generate international projection for the S\u00e3o Paulo Cancer Hospital. <\/p>\n
Also from Lebanon came the relatives of Education minister Fernando Haddad. \u201cMy father came to Brazil in 1947. He was the last one to come to Brazil to meet his family,\u201d said Haddad.<\/p>\n
Apart from that, public men like the president of the Federation of Industries of the State of S\u00e3o Paulo (Fiesp), Paulo Skaf, are proud to speak about their Arab origins. Ahead of the main union of industries in the state that answers to 33.9% of the GDP of Brazil, Skaf explains that his talent for business comes from the crib.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Arab tradition and the talent for trade is part of my roots. I started working at a very young age, assisting at shops during Christmas,\u201d he said. \u201cMy first important sale was at the age of 14, when I got a good commission for the sale of some real estate on Paulista Avenue. To my father and me, the sensation was one of fulfilment, and he showed the check I got as commission to his friends, very proud,\u201d he recalls. <\/p>\n
Another successful businessman, the Marketing and Expansion director at Ri Happy Brinquedos, a chain with 94 units in 17 states in the country, Ricardo Sayon is also proud of being of Arab descent. \u201cThe first immigrants were heroes,\u201d said Sayon. \u201cI love Arab culture. We express solidarity, emotion, passion. We are capable of fighting for one cent and then paying a thousand times more just to help a friend, for the pleasure of it,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n
What remained of this personal and professional heritage for the owner of Ri Happy? Two important lessons learnt from his father and closely followed to date. \u201cHe says that principles and relations are above business and that all definite decisions must be postponed to the next day, so there is time to ponder and act calmly,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
It is values like this that businesswoman Vera Sim\u00e3o refers to when she talks about her Arab origin (her father was Lebanese and her grandparents on her mother\u2019s side were also from that country). \u201cAt home, I learnt the importance of ethics, correctness, respect for people and sincerity in business,\u201d she said. Responsible for establishing the first wedding sector fair in the country, Casar, in 2002, Vera has been working in the event area for 30 years. And she feels she is part of a victorious story, which began with the arrival of the first immigrants and is celebrated today in the National Day of the Arab Community. \u201cI feel as if I had lived many lives, all those that came before. I bring this story in my DNA,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n
Such a rich history serves as raw material for artists. The same who, with sensitivity and talent, made different references into art. This is the case with writer Alberto Mussa, from Rio de Janeiro, who is the author, among other works, of The Enigma of Qaf<\/i>, The Pendular Movement<\/i> and Elegbara<\/i>, published by Record. The author\u2019s origins are in the pages of his books. And they greatly influenced him. \u201cMy grandfather on my father\u2019s side, born in Lebanon, was an educated man. He had an enormous library and spoke ten languages,\u201d he explains. <\/p>\n
Another illustrious representative of the community, artist and professor Ferres Khoury, also brings in his productions the influences he had. \u201cIt is good being a son of Lebanese, having made contact with other cultures inserted into Brazilian culture,\u201d says the artist, who uses Arabic calligraphy as an artistic model. In life, Khoury says that he owes to his father the care he takes when opening his home up to friends. \u201cHe liked being well treated, establishing close ties with people,\u201d he said, referring to a tradition that, way beyond his family, became engraved in an important page of the history of Brazil.<\/p>\n
*Translated by Mark Ament<\/b><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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