Simply put, Lebanon Times Magazine is a story. The story of Nabil El Habbaki and Julia Nader, two people with both the courage to seek new challenges, and the vision to create an initiative that brought together people of diverse backgrounds and cultures and built a sense of community.
As such, their story is the legacy of a civilization that, long before Columbus, fared the globe in search of new horizons, and until today, continue to enrich the world with waves of educated and professional immigrants everywhere. Lebanon Times Magazine has not only bridged the resident and immigrant arms of a tiny country spanning across the globe, but most importantly reconciled East and West, countering and denying a “ clash of civilizations”. The Magazine has both brought Lebanon to Houston and connected Houston to Lebanon and the world.
Amazingly, this connection has been achieved by a coverage of every day concerns and issues, with features encompassing guests and topics ranging from the grass root events and the interests of the Arab American community in Houston through the happenings of individual lives (such as birthdays, dinners, graduations, funerals, store openings, Christmas gatherings etc..) to extend to the local American community with a coverage of current medical and social issues. The Magazine also broadened its reach beyond local concerns to the World Lebanese Union WLCU connecting to the Lebanese Diaspora in Latin America and beyond.
Fear of what is different limits and divides. What differentiates Lebanon Times Magazine from most similar publications is its open minded approach towards all people and all topics. Lebanon has been and still is a country open to all people. The Magazine is an image of that country and culture: its diverse coverage and versatility range from hosting a birthday to Mayor Turner of Houston, to congratulating the Qatari Consul on national holiday, to the Greek Orthodox Celebration of Christmas and Easter, to the local Iftar dinner & Festival. No doubt that since its first issue and for the past ten years, Lebanon Times has carried a critical message of tolerance, acceptance, and togetherness to the vibrant community of Houston and to the world.