Just before you went for sushi, you told me that as an Arab, you didn't like Arabs... You said they are filthy and dirty...

Even drunk, on a saturday late at night, I still think there is something terribly wrong... how can we, Arabs, feel that way? I don't question your judgement or intelligence, I just feel bad about it... And disagree strongly...

There are two parts to it:

• we Arabs have come to accept how others view us, and to basically go for the : I am different. Yes, Aclaiming the personal difference is great, but assuming one's identity is extremely important.
• Out of all other ethnic and religious groups, we are probably the only one living completely in the past... I meet lots of people,in lots od places, but how often did I hear a claim from an Arab to a positive, modern value?

I think that most of us Arabs are struggling with our identity... I believe we have a great past, and we can build a great future on it... I also believe that we have a great deal to overcome to be ourselves...

I hate it when I miss a bus or a plane and I think it "escaped"... I hate it when I do something, and questioned about it, my only response is that is how It is supposed to be... life is not about determinism vs. free will. We all are born into societies, and grow up with a background that influences us a lot, but we still have free will and opportunities to make a difference, not only on our lives, but also on others' lives...

I think we ought to take our destiny into our hands, and assume full responsibility for our actions.

I think it is wrong to kill people on a plane, a café or a night club ( and it makes no difference if it happens in New York, Casablanca, Cairo or Tel Aviv). I think I am closer to people that think like me, and act in ways I like, not people that are supposed to believe like me...

I believe that if I am proud to be Arab, it is because of how my identity, ethnic group (although ethnic belonging is only a state of mind) makes me a more generous person, more truthful, and more aware of a great history that I adopt readily...

I also accept that being an Arab (or Arabized Berber, if you prefer) dunts me with great handicaps... We all are just as we are, and our past was not just glory...

The day we Arabs accept our own differences, and accept that my Saudi Friend has as much rights as anybody else in the world, especially a right to respect, and also to her opinions that I am disagreeing with vehemently here... That our historical values are to be made into advantages we have over others, instead of being our handicaps... The day we (as a group) will respect others, and accept their differences, will probably be the day of our return to glory...

I long for the day when I can say I am Arab, withought having to appologize for anything...

6/3/2006 11:57:29 PM UTC