Dory Daw, A Man of Principle

Dory Daw was born to a humble farming family in Byblos whose head managed to rise to become a merchant after years of toil and hard work. His humble roots instilled core values and he kept them close and cherished. He went on to major in business and obtained masters in it from the Lebanese American University even though he had a passion for politics. He refrained from studying political science because he was aware of the political privilege that is restricted to old political and aristocratic families.  He chose to get out of his comfort zone in Byblos and went to study in Beirut to see more of his country.

His first professional step in his career came after his military service where he served with distinction in the marine corps, and he was employed in one of the biggest construction companies in the world stationed in Johannesburg, South Africa. He came back to Lebanon after a few years and decided to go into teaching; he also worked alongside to publish his research to build a reputation for himself. It was a big challenge to stand in front of all those students and convince them of his merit even though they are of the same age. He was successful and got the chance to teach at a master’s level in the most prestigious universities in Lebanon and London. Lecturing students and introducing them to the wonders of the world became his new passion, and he focused on leadership to build the heroes that will pave the way for the change of tomorrow.

He was very close to all his students and it was that comradely that motivated him to pursue his doctorate in London even though he only had 2,000 dollars in his pockets. Serendipity had him meet one of the most successful Lebanese business men in London and he worked hard to supplement his income by working in filing. He worked at that for a year and a half before he was able to get the chance to teach in the university to supplement his income.  When he came back to Lebanon, he became very active on the organizational level of the universities he worked in and was elected to many decisive positions. He wanted to work on reminding students that there is still hope to build a much brighter future for Lebanon. He wanted them to stay and fight for Lebanon. Professor Daw was very frustrated by the political choices, and none of their ideologies fit right with him. For years, he tried to make his own party but he never managed to do so. He eventually became part of a party called the “Coalition of Seven” formed by his friends from university days. This party rejects the traditional approach to power all other parties adopt and focuses instead on creating a following of leaders that realize they have the power to change the status quo.

Professor Daw is dedicated to his mission in his new party. The amount of time he puts in is borne out of passion and conviction that he is righteous. He wants Lebanon to be the greatest country in the Middle East because he believes it has all the economic, logistic and intellectual capabilities to rise above all other countries even though it has been lagging for many decades. The “Coalition of Seven” is the gateway that can ease him into the larger political landscape. He wants to help mend the broken hearts of every parent that have lost their children for the sake of immigration. He stands firm and takes on the challenge of making a change even though he has had numerous opportunities to live outside of Lebanon and make a fortune. At the core of his being is a rebellion on all the corruption that taints the political stratum from a conviction that religion should not be shamelessly exploited for cheap political gains. The lack of the most basic requirements of life is denied to the average Lebanese citizen is unforgivable and as such, he rejects any sectorial loyalty and despite his high religious upbringing, he vows to follow even the most adamant atheist if it means providing a better life quality for all.

Professor Daw still lives with his nuclear family in Byblos and sometimes stays in Beirut for the sake of his work. He is hesitant to start a family because he will have to commit to the welfare of his family which would compromise his efforts for defending Lebanon. He puts his country as the ultimate priority. When asked if he is passing on planting his beliefs in his own children who would follow his legacy, he answered that he had taught thousands of students and he tried to instill the highest levels of professional and moralistic ethics as his legacy for the ages. His parents resist his efforts because the entire family has been aloof from all political and governmental issues, and they question his choice to dedicate his life for what they view as a useless crusade. He constantly challenges their conviction that no one can succeed in politics unless they are part of the historical political entourage. He wants to succeed and present a new model to his students and parents, one of humility and adherence to service of the people.

“I have no regrets” is his answer to all the naysayers. Every step along the path has been one of conviction and persistence. Whatever the future might hold, it has been a life well-lived and a beacon of hope for a nation whose young and old seem to have succumbed to the numbness of apathy.