From: ayman@sol.berkeley.edu (Ayman Fawaz)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.lebanon
Subject: Racism on scl (was Re: The racist Mr. Mourad)
Date: 13 Apr 92 14:47:22
Organization: /home/eclair0/u/varaiya/ayman/.organization
	<1992Apr6.020719.13369@m.cs.uiuc.edu>
	<1992Apr09.152842.17564@ncrcae.ColumbiaSC.NCR.COM>
	<1992Apr12.183748.21131@colorado.edu>
NNTP-Posting-Host: sol.berkeley.edu
In-reply-to: saouma@bechtel's message of Sun, 12 Apr 1992 18:37:48 GMT

It could have been hoped that many of those who have contributed their
share of stereotypes about Arabs, Muslims or Christians in this
newsgroup could eventually be made more sensitive to what they say, if
someone would only politely point out to them what is, not only
flawed, but also offensive in the stereotypes they repeat.  Apparently,
this was not the case.

Both Basil Hamdan and Mazen Saghir recently wrote very eloquently
about what is wrong with racist stereotypes, and for the need to
transcend and do away with wild generalizations about other ethnic and
religious groups.  It seems these messages zoomed passed Saouma's
head.  Instead, he writes (what he thinks is) a defense of Elie Mourad
by comparing him to the anti-semitic and racist French politician, Le
Pen.  

In article <1992Apr12.183748.21131@colorado.edu> saouma@bechtel (SAOUMA VICTOR E) writes:

>To some extent, he reminds me of Jean Marie Le Pen. At first everyone
>criticize LePen because his message was a racist one. Then people realize
>that after all he is saying loudly and by the way in these days and
>age it takes courage to stand against what some people consider the
>politically coorect way, what many think silently but do not dare
>to speak up. Result, LePen got close to 15% of the electorate.

It is perhaps worth pointing out that what Le Pen says remains racist
irrespective of how many people endorse his platform.  Hitler's
concocted theories about Jewish conspiracies or the relative
superiority of races did not become any more "the reality" simply
because at a point in time a majority of Germans espoused such idiotic
views. 

Furthermore, it feels strange to hear that bigots who propagate hate
and articulate a racist discourse are considered "courageous".  But
then again, for someone who thinks he is defending Elie from
accusations of being racist by comparing him to a well known racist,
it must make, in an absurd sort of way, some sense.  Perhaps it does,
but it sure does not amount to something very pleasant.

>If Elie feels little in common with the Arabs, it is his right.
>Personally, I do not give a damn whether I am referred to as an
>Arab, Lebanese, or Maronite. However, I would say that looking
>around me in the Middle East and going back for over 100 years
>there is little to make you proud of being an Arab.

>As a matter of fact, I would like someone to come up with the
>10 top reasons why we should be proud of our "Arabicity", 

>On the other hand, I would promise 10 reasons why I am proud of being
>a Lebanese, and if you insist 10 reasons not to be proud of being
>an Arab.

Sorry Victor, the Arabs, the Kurds, the Turks, the Jews or any other
ethnic group you happen to dislike, are under no obligation to provide
you with any reason (let alone 10) so they can prove worthy of your
admiration.  You're the one who have a problem, not them.   
It is hardly up to the victims of stereotypes to try to convince the
racists that they do not actually conform to the image that racist
stereotypes convey.   Consequently, your request is not only absurd
but insulting and should be treated with utter contempt.  

The issue is not which group has a right to feel proud of its heritage
and which has none, nor should it be.  Nor is it whether Elie
considers himself an Arab or not.  I am not in the least interested in
discussing people's identity crisis.  I could not care less whether
him, you or anyone else consider yourselves Arabs or not, you are
absolutely free to choose whichever identity you please.  

The issue is simply that when and if people write racist slurs about
any ethnic or religious group, they should, and hopefully will, be
roundly trounced, and deservedly so.  


Youssef Fawaz