From: hani@gilaman.engin.umich.edu (Hani Abinassif)
Subject: Re: Arab Identity
Date: Sat, 11 Apr 92 18:18:47 EDT
Organization: University of Michigan Engineering, Ann Arbor


(Sylvie Feghali Ext. 6525) writes:

[....]
>     But for some (especially western folks), arab is synonymous to desert, nomades 
>     and sometimes even "islam".  Now we don't have deserts in Lebanon, I am not a 
>     nomade neither were my ancestors, and I am not moslem so by this definition 
>     I am not an arab.
>     In either case I am lebanese.
>     So you see, claiming a lebanese identity is "not necessarily" done in order
>     to put down arabs or others but like any other subject you can stretch it
>     to imply any message you want.
> 

Allow me Sylvie to address your statement and hope to make it
short.  This topic has been discussed before on s.c.l.

You can not stretch your identity and taylor it accordingly.  
It is not a fashionable statement, nor could it be made by Calvin 
Klein.  Being an Arab is to belong culturaly, geographically, nationally,
linguistically, socialy, and ethnically to the Arabic Culture.  
Claiming to be Lebanese and to stop short of recognising your ethnic
background is usually an escape route...It usually comes in many forms;
Pheonicians, Aramaic, etc...It has been proven and we had this discussion
before on s.c.l. that most of these cultures are extinct. Although these
cultures integrated with the Arabic culture at one point or another.
(Please refer to Salibi's Book " The bible came from land of Asir")
If Westerners wrongly portray Arabs, that should not be a motivation
to disclaim your true identity.  Actually, you can say what you want,
the fact to matter is that we are Arabs like it or not.  We can
go on dreaming and act European, American, etc...But unfortunately
for some this "curse" will follow them till the end of time...
I am not being cynical.  But why can't we read and read and read...
There are references, books by knowledgeable people, facts on the
ground etc...It is not, unfortunately, a matter of choice, nor
a constitutional right.  It is a history, a culture, a language,
a land, a nation...

Let me suggest this to those who have doubts. 
Read about the topic first, and then we can engage in a more 
intellectual discussion with the objective of convincing each other
of what is the correct origion of Lebanon, (not on individual basis):

suggested readings:

1. "History of the Arabs"  by Albert Hourani.
2. "House of Many Mansions" by Kamal Salibi.

-Hani


>                             Sylvie
> -- 
> Sylvie Feghali                  | GO AS FAR AS YOU CAN SEE; 
> NCR,  E&M Columbia              | WHEN YOU GET THERE, 
> Quality & Strategic Initiatives | YOU'LL BE ABLE TO SEE FURTHER
> Email address: sylvie.feghali@ColumbiaSC.NCR.COM
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