Slim Carlos of Chihuahua, Carlos of Lebanon…..
“In 1902, Julián Slim Haddad, father of Carlos Slim Helú, arrived in Mexico from Lebanon, all alone and 14 years of age, speaking no Spanish. He was escaping from the yoke of the Ottoman Empire, which at the time conscripted young men into its army; mothers therefore sent their sons to exile before turning fifteen. …… Carlos Slim's mother, Doña Linda Helú, was born in Parral, Chihuahua. She was the daughter of José Helú and Wadiha Atta, Lebanese immigrants who arrived in Mexico at the end of the 19th century, and after traveling through several cities in the Mexican Republic, decided to settle in the capital city. José Helú brought the first Arabic printing press to Mexico and founded one of the first magazines for the Lebanese community in this country…… Carlos Slim Helú was born on January 28, 1940 in Mexico City, where he learned from early on the value of family as a priority in life…….”
His father immigrated from Lebanon (part of the stagnant Ottoman Turkish empire then). His mother was a mujer de Chihuahua (a Chihuahuen~a). He was born in Mexico City. Yet Arab media are making him a sort of Arab hero. Some Lebanese rightists are probably seeing him as a new (dare I say it and keep my lunch?) Hariri.
Would he want to there and run for president? Go smack into the middle of the oppression and all the unfuckingbelievable sectarian confessional mess that still is a big part of the Middle East and will be well beyond our time?
Ich glaube nicht.
Cheers
mhg
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