Diplomat Artist opens up the convergence of the world of diplomacy, art, sports, & popular culture: Diplomats increasingly endowed with artist sensibilities, & the artist inspired beyond stage & canvas to social and global contributions. On 1 April, 2012, Diplomatically Incorrect instituted “Diplomat Artist of the Month.” Two Goodwill Ambassadors from the world of entertainment and music, Ersin Faikzade - (April) and Herbie Hancock (May) were the first Diplomat Artists to be profiled.
Elie Naaman is our first June Diplomat Artist from the world of sports and popular culture. His is a unique distinction as this honor is being bestowed posthumously as a tribute and celebration of his life, cut short at age 22, on 23 May 2012, in Beirut, Lebanon outside of his motorcycle repair shop.
So, who was Elie Naaman? I first learned his story thanks to the power of social media and a call to action from his cousin and a Facebook friend, Eli J. Saade. Eli organized a campaign to
vote for the photo of his Hero, Elie Naaman, on the "Beirut Motorcycle Show" page / Photo Contest by clicking on the following link:
http://www.facebook.com/BeirutMotorcycleShow?v=app_295680883856900&app_data=entry_id%3D6076945
Elie was a Lebanese hero who was a professional in Motorcycle repair and ride. He won several major competitions in Qatar and Jordan. He was killed by an organized gang of neighborhood thugs who tortured and shot Eli and wounded his brother. The motive -- they didn’t want to pay the $US40 bike repair cost. Ironically, the nine bullets used to shoot Elie, and the ones for his brother and another garage repairman exceeded the repair cost. These young men had a prior reputation and ran the neighborhood with impunity. However, the murder scene was captured on the store video surveillance and four of the five men have been arrested.
To capture the positive energy, athleticism, and acrobatic feats of Elie, please watch this short YouTube video prepared by his friends: “R.I.P. Elie Naaman” www.youtube.com/watch?v=7TSiguRUDf4&feature=relmfu
It moved me as I know it will you.
Voting for the Premier Beirut Motorcycle Show contest ends June 19th. All his cousin wants is to honour this young Lebanese hero as his “great gift to his family and to his SOUL... and maybe - to justice in Lebanon.”
http://www.facebook.com/BeirutMotorcycleShow?v=app_295680883856900&app_data=entry_id%3D6076945
My personal tribute to Elie is from one of my favorite songs by The Cult: “Born to be Wild”:
“Get your motor running 
Head out on the highway
Looking for adventure
and whatever comes our way
Ya darling you could make it happen
Take the world in a loving embrace
Fire all of your guns and once in
Explode into space
I like smoke and lightning
Heavy metal thunder
Racing with the wind
and the feeling that I'm under
Ya darling you could make it happen
Take the world in a loving embrace
Fire all of your guns and once in
Explode into space
'cause you're a true nature child
We were born, born to be wild
We can climb so high
I never want to die
Born to be wild
Born to be wild
Get your motor running
and head out on the highway
Looking for adventure
and whatever comes our way
Ya darling you could make it happen
Take the world in a loving embrace
Fire all of your guns and once in
Explode into space
'cause you're a true nature child
We were born, born to be wild
We can climb so high
I never want to die
Born to be wild
Born to be wild hey hey, ow!”
By, Susan Sacirbey
Become a Facebook Friend: “Susan Sacirbey” & “Diplomat Artist”
Follow on TWITTER @DiplomaticallyX
See more at our Popular Video Blogs & Current News Event Articles:
“Herbie Hancock - May’s Diplomat Artist” diplomaticallyincorrect.org/blog_post/herbie-hancock-mays-diplomat-artist/51837
and
“Ersin Faikzade - April’s Diplomat Artist” diplomaticallyincorrect.org/blog_post/ersin-faikzade-aprils-diplomat-artist/49536
Diplomat Artist Online Video Platform Channels: diplomaticallyincorrect.org/c/diplomat-artist
