From: hani@gilaman.engin.umich.edu (Hani Abinassif)
Subject: Re: Arab Identity
Date: Wed, 15 Apr 92 22:44:22 EDT
Organization: University of Michigan Engineering, Ann Arbor


In article <1992Apr09.210722.4449@ncrcae.ColumbiaSC.NCR.COM>, sylvie@ncrcol.ColumbiaSC.NCR.COM (Sylvie Feghali Ext. 6525) writes:
[....]

Sylvie,
Here's one of your old comments.  I will, in details, try to address
them.  I sure did not miss the point Sylvie.

>     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.

Western Folks are usually misinformed.  It is our responsibility
to correct misconceptions and stereotypes.  Therefore it does not
mean we have to accept their definition of an Arab (nomades, deserts,
etc...).  You seem to accept it at face value.  Then you deduce that
according to that definition you are not an Arab.  It is not as simple.
Actually, making it as such would eliminate people of Syria, Eygpt, and
maybe northern Africa...which is not the case.  Therefore, We can
not classify or define an Arab as a seperate entity based on ones
color or religion... That is how the west can only see it.  That
is understandable given the religious conflicts (Cathloics vs.
protestants) and racial conflicts (White vs. Black). 

On Religion:

I think many Westerners associate Arabs with Islam for various Reasons.
That is not the case with many christans in the Arab world (at least
in Syria, Iraq, Eygpt)...Also the fact that during crusader's times
some christain tripes (al-ghasasina) fought along side the Arab muslims
tells me otherwise.  Some eastern christains were slaughtered by the
crusaders because of their stand at that time.  Nowaday's christain Arabs
have participated in governmental as well as private institutions.
Arabs are not Muslims only.

On Race:

I think a wide spectrum of colors co-exist in various Arab countries
with no racial tensions or distinguished differences.  I only started
to give that an attention, after coming to the states and learning
about different races.  It simply does not exist in the Arab world.

Therefore you can not classify or analyize Arabs based on either
of the above.  The only difference might be of ethnic background.
But even that difference does not mean that Salah Elddine is not 
an ARAB (even though he was born as a Kurd).  It does not mean that 
Alkhawarizmi is not an ARAB, although he was born in Persia.  The
context of judging, as ElieW posed a question of who is an Arab, can
not be made regardless of the Dynamics of the cultural interaction at
the time.  What was an Arab then (or a product of the ARABIC CULTURE)
such as Khawarizmi, may not be an Arab by today's borders and 
cultural boundaries.  However, there should not be any doubt that
if I was born in an Arab country, breeded on the Arabic culture, spoke
Arabic, inhaled Arabic poetry :-), and accepted its "shortcomings"
why I would not be considered an ARAB.  If I was born of kurds
origion for example and chose not to be associated with Arabs then
that is fine.  It would be my right to do so.  However, IMHO, the
only difference between ARAB colonization and others is that
the "colonized" (if I can use the term) smoothly and voluntarly
adopted the ARABIC culture, (that included education, politics,
military, customes etc...)  However we can not say the same
about religion. Many prefered to keep their own over Islam.

Another example is the turkish influence.  If the Arabic culture
was not as strong and vivid, we would have been all speaking
turkish today. That includes Phoenicians and others.;-)

>     In either case I am a Lebanese

I think this IS a personal opinion.  You *ARE* making a choice here.
How can you say that you are not.  I am a Lebanese and proud of it too.
But that should not overshadow my global sense of belonging. I, as a
Lebanese, belong to the Arab world and relate to it linguistically,
ethnically, geographically, demographically, culturaly, and share
the same history...How can I ignore all that and squeeze myself
into this shell of being Lebanese whereby suffer isolation, suffocation
and closemindedness.  We are part of the Arab world and not 
because we are members of the Arab League (which is a joke BTW)
but because of the inhereted cultural and historical monuments that
are evident in our history.  I can not see why many have a problem
with that.  How can they relate to European culture, given the fact
they were never born there, geographically distant, linguistically
different, ethnically different, and culturaly richer.  It is their
PERSONAL choice however.  That does not mean Lebanon should be part
of Europe or the Francophone countries (which is another Joke BTW).
This is the issue.  The identity of Lebanon.  I wonder why Syrians,
or Plaestinians do not claim to be Arameans...They probably have
been wrong for the last 6000 years.

>     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.

It does imply that you do not want Lebanon to have Arabic Identity.


>> Ya Hani,
>>        You missed the point I was trying to make.  I never
>>    implied that people can escape their ethnic background by stretching
>>    reality based on fashion trends.

Well...My reply was based on how you article sounded.  It still
reads the same thing. But let me see what you want to say next.
  
>>    All I wanted to say was that the arguments set forth by various SCL members
>>    on this subject, were all VALID based on how you define the semantics
>>    of the term ARAB.

Let us not loose each other in semantics.  But I am sorry if I 
addressed your article in a collective manner. Many scl readers
are asking for a definition of an ARAB, as if the problem lies
solely there.  Some went as far as the roots of Arabs, Arabism
when this movement started etc...Those are valid points and 
questions. But why pose a question like this when simply reviewing
any book on the subject might suffice.  Why the escalation and
adding more complexity in approaching the issue.  I can ask you
to define Phoenician, who is a Phoenician etc...But I can read on
my own and find the answers.  The question is why do you think
Lebanon is Phoenician or Aramaic or Arabic.  I understood your
position that you are Lebanese, and none of the above apply to
you.  Fine:-).  I accept your position but do not agree with it.

>>    I did not even express my personal opinion on the subject.  I do

Sylvie, you mentioned " In either case I am Lebanese".  That tells
me you are not questionning the definitions (which are biased by 
any standard). Which imply that you accept any other definition
for that matter, which will fit your personal opinion.  

>>    think it is always appropriate to do some reading on this topic and other
>>    topics too, but I did grow up in Lebanon and studied history there so I have
>>    a pretty good idea and my own opinion about our origins and what I consider
>>    myself to be (Which I never specified!

Since you studied History (which I did not) maybe you can
enlighten us and state (please make it clear ) your thought
on the identity of Lebanon.  I could have read your comment
with some bias.  To eliminate that possibility again, please,
and I kindly ask you, to come forward and help us rest this
issue in peace.  

>>    If any of you knew Mr Antoine Khouri Harb, he was my history/archeology teacher.
>>    He was a fascinating individual, very patriotic.  He published a book called
>>    "The name of Lebanon through the ages" ( Ism lebnan A'abr el A'assour) which
>>    is quite interesting. This particular topic was his favorite.  I wish
>>    he could be part of this discussion.

I wish you would qoute some of his findings or articles
on the topic.  I will check that book in our Library, it
might help me change my thoughts on the topic.

>>    Anyway, back to the point here's the message I was wanted to give: 

>>          Just because you don't agree with someone's opinion,
>>          that does not make it right for you to start bashing
>>          them.

The point is well taken.  I do not agree with some scl readers
since scholarly I am convinced of the right analysis, historicly
culturaly, or archeologically.  I have to say though that keeping
an open mind is the right thing to do.  I am simply stating my
belief.  Please prove me wrong.:-)

>>   And of course this was not aimed at you, but rather to all these people
>>   who started a verbal war because they disagreed with each other's ethnic
>>   perspectives.  

That is fine if it was aimed at me.  I can take criticism.  
I could be wrong. 

>>   Just as Elie Wardini said, the only answer is pluralism and tolerance.

I am not sure if the term Pluralism has lost its meanning now
since you have qouted ElieW.
    
>>                                    Sylvie

-HANI
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