From: faris@sarcasm.trl.OZ.AU (Aziz Faris)
Subject: Re: Religious bickering and nonsence
Reply-To: a.Faris@trl.oz.au 
Organization: Telecom Research Labs, Melbourne,Australia
Date: Thu, 21 Jan 1993 21:16:51 GMT

In article <1993Jan21.165442.16431@jussieu.fr>, sz@ccr.jussieu.fr (Said ZOUHDI p74372) writes:
|>  
|>   I am a little surprised (my friend ? ), you Aziz Faris who knows
|>   all about Arabic and Islam !, are still confusing between Civilisation and 
|>   Culture ? If you take time to read what i wrote and stop thinking that 
|>   life is un-interrupted hostilities between Muslims and Christians, and
|>   ask around you any non arabic person, you 'll be told that it is Islam
|>   who gave rise to that civilisation. Indeed the Arabic language existed
|>   before ! (imagine people who never heard about Arabic, to whom Koran
|>   is given "bonjour le serieux !"). No Aziz, no one deny the islamic character 
|>   of our civilisation (exept for Arabic christians apparently)

Firstly, I am not denying the Islamic character as I have pointed it out. I
was the one who even in discussing a fruitless topic on Arabic Unity, said
that I am grateful for Islam for raising me in an Arabic Culture. However,
you people always neglect the contributions by non-muslims in the rise of
that civilisation. To this day, we find non-uniformities in the Islamic
world, which is due to the influence of the civilisations that existed
before the domination of Islam. That is what I was attempting to point out.

Now to the language. The present Arabic language had its roots in the language of the Quraysh family in Arabia. When the Islamic conquest of Greater Syria and
Egypt was completed, that language was not suitable as it was not widely
known and was not developed. However, if you follow the development of the
present Arabic language, it was first influenced by Egyption, then Phoenicians,
and then Aramaic. You make it look like the Arabic language was invented by
God. You perhaps may not be aware before the rise of Islam in Arabia, every
tribe had its own language, religion, and culture. Now I will use your phrase
"bonjour le serieux !". However, I do hope We can be friends!.
  
|> 
|>   No, I find this formidable (pas toi ?)

Well, that is I beleive is a major source of the Arabic world division. Have
you seen the recent topic of Fatwa. Why must religion be a factor in deciding
and shaping the future of the Arabic world?. People can be honorable and
moral without having religious affiliation, or belonging to Islam. Why 
shouldn't Nationalism shape who you prefer and who you dislike?.

|> 
|>   "C est un faux probleme", Christians and non-religious are a minority
|>   in what you name the Arabic World, their opinions and beliefs must be 
|>   respected, but sorry to tell you that (n'y voyez rien de personnel),
|>   it is the majority who decides.

If the system relied on Nationalism, Non-Muslims would not be a minority.
Every one will be better off. Non-Muslims tend to be more nationalistic than
the faithful muslims. Hence, they will be just as good in serving the people.

|> 
|>    tres touche ,merci !

Excuse me, my French is limited. I would encourage you to use English if 
possible as I do not understand what your are saying except "thank you part".

|> 
|>    you are wrong, Muslims (as you certainly know) have to defend all
|>    non muslim people living in the muslim state, and i am sure that
|>    Turkish Muslims are as kind as all other Muslims !

I did say I beleive, as I was not entirely 100% sure. I am sure Turkish Muslims
can be just as good, I was not surmising that. However, I am very surprised
to hear that.

A.Faris