Majority of Egyptians are Arab!
A Response to Luli's Post
This is only my opinion. (well actually some of it is proven true so I guess its not just an opinion)
Many Egyptians argue that they are not Arab. Some support this by arguing historical and geographical reasons. If Egyptians are not Arabs than neither are Lebanese, Syrians, Jordanians, Iraqis, Palestinians, etc. 22 states make up the Arab World officially and unofficially(Algeria, Bahrain, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, UAE, Western Sahara/Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, and Yemen), however, only 6 are genealogically Arab (Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Oman, UAE, Qatar, and Bahrain.)
What Does It Mean To Be Arab
3 factors help determine if someone is Arab
- Political - If their country is a member of the Arab League
- Linguistic - If Arabic is their native language
- Genalogical - If they can trace their ancestry back to the Arabian Peninsula
- source Wikipedia (I realize Wikipedia is a questionable source)
I believe what makes someone Arab is their culture, traditions, and language. The Arab countries not apart of the Arabian Peninsula became Arab through Arabisation (Spreading of Arab Culture). This includes Egypt. Egypt became an Arab country in the 7th century.
Maybe it will help if I give two examples. Here are two countries that were arabized in similar way as Egypt. (Why these two countries? Well because they are the two arab countries I know the most about)
1. Lebanon - Lebanese people are not genaelogically Arab. They trace their historical genaelogical roots to the Phoenicians, Romans, Ottomans, Crusaders, and the French.
2. Syria - Syrians tie there roots to the Hittites, Assyrians, Bablonians, Israeli Egyptians, Persians, Greeks, Phoenicians, Crusaders, Selyuk Turks, Ottomans, and the French. Syria didn't come under Arab control until the invasion of the Ottomans' in 1516.
My point is that the majority of Arab countries tie their historical roots to other civilizations and cultures. However, the culture of Arab countries is tied to Arabisation. What makes Arab countries Arab? The traditions they share, the food they eat, and the language they speak.
Both Lebanese and Syrians are proud of their countries. (Trust me on this one...i have to live with parents who both argue their country is better than the other.)
I don't believe Egyptians put being Egyptian above anything else or why would they have formed a country with Syria for two years. The country formerly known as the United Arab Republic. For two years, Egypt wasn't Egypt. (Sometimes I like to argue for the sake of arguing)
The only Egyptians I would consider not being Arab are the Copts. (I would compare that to the Druze, Armenians, and Kurds not being Arab). I have yet to meet an Egyptian who has convinced me they are not Arab. If you (you must be an Egyptian) can convince me you are not Arab, I will fly to Egypt tomorrow and cook you and whoever else you want to invite the most lavish Lebanese dinner ever known to man.
I have one question for all the Egyptians out there. If you take away everything Arab. If you take way Arabic and Arab culture from Egypt, what would you have left? The memory of an Ancient Egypt. Your history maybe of Ancient Egypt but your present is a part of the Arab World.
When I go to Egypt, I think all the Egyptians are going to hunt me down and beat me.
I don't think the majority of non-Arabian Peninsula Arabs like to be linked to Arabian Peninsula Arabs. I wonder why that is.
posted by Nisrin @ 1:36 AM
8 Comments:
Nisrin, I'll commment on the rest later. This is a great debtate to have.
One thing for now though - I think you are crossing a serious line when you claim that Copts belong in a seperate category to Arabs/Egyptians. For reasons I will explain later. But seriously, in Egpyt at least, don't go there.....
I'm not saying Copts aren't Egyptians nor Arabs. I'm saying it's something I would consider if given a valid argument. One reason why I would consider it is because some Maronite Christians in Lebanon claim not to be Arab. However, I believe they are Arab because they share the same Arab culture. I can't claim the samething about Egyptian Arab Copts because I never met anyone that was Egyptian Copt.
Tom, please enlighten me on this whole Copt Egyptian Arab issue.
"I don't think the majority of non-Arabian Peninsula Arabs like to be linked to Arabian Peninsula Arabs. I wonder why that is."
Because Gulf Arabs are, for the greater part, assholes.
See now i do not mind being linked to Iraq for example, they have some culture.
but the image of an Arab here ( from the Arab peninsula) is that they are stinking loaded from oil money, drive their big mega ass cars but still play with their dirty toes when they are at a public place.
All the money of the world will not stop them from being Nomads, and pesants.
so tom i do agree with you.
Egyptians do not put egypt first. it was Sadaat who started " Masr Awallan" (Egypt first). He went against all Arab countries and made peace, but our beloved president now, did not see this statement through.
so people here go by " palestine Awallan" or " Arabs Awallan" which is why egypt is still being dragged to endless disputes in the region.
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I'm still not sure about the whole hating Gulf Arabs/Arabian Peninsula Arabs. I've met some assholes from that region. But I've also met some cool people from Oman, Kuwait, Iraq and the UAE. I've also met some assholes from Lebanon, Egypt, Syria, and Jordan. How can you judge/stereotype someone if you've never met them? Each person is different. Not every person in the Gulf is loaded with oil money.
I used to think all Arab guys are assholes and I used to to say that I would never date an Arab.
I've never heard of the whole Arab Awallan. I could see Syrians putting being Arab first, but I can't see Lebanese people doing it. Lebanese people are really proud of being different then the rest of the "arab world."
For the record, Syrians and Lebanese are descended mainly from Phoenicians and Assyrians. Although other people (such as the Turks) ruled the area at one time or another, they ruled the area rather than mixing with the people. I'm not saying there aren't people with some Turkish, Hittite or other ancenstry but, for the most part, these people are Phoenician and Assyrian, rather than Arab, Turkish or some other race. Most Egyptians are not Arabs either, most are descendants of the original inhabitants of Egpyt, but like the Syrians, Morrocans and many other people, some do have Arab blood in their veins.
"Because Gulf Arabs are, for the greater part, assholes"
your right, but not all of em. i have really good friends from there
and this argument about egypt-Arab thing, i never been aware of it until i read the egypt article on wikipedia. to be honest, it made me confused!
you know what i think?, i'm Egyptian and i'm Arabic
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