TL/DR –
The article discusses the widespread misconceptions about Arab and Muslim identities, arguing that they are often wrongly assumed to be synonymous. It highlights instances where Arab Christians have been mistaken for Muslims, including in the academic community, and how this can contribute to harmful stereotypes and misunderstandings. The article also addresses the complex political situation in the Middle East, particularly regarding Palestinians, and criticizes the stereotyping and dehumanization of Arab people in these contexts.
Understanding Arab Identity, Culture and Misconceptions
On the second day of SALAM (Successful Arab Leaders at Michigan), a transitional program for Arab students at the University of Michigan, a U-M faculty member had to be corrected that not all Arabs fast for Ramadan, revealing common misunderstandings that conflate Arabs with being Muslim.
In the fall, I joined the first SAFE (Students Allied for Freedom and Equality) book club meeting. We read “Letter from Gaza’‘ by Ghassan Kanafani. A Palestinian graduate student shared his experience of others being shocked that he is an Arab Christian.
Instances of this conflation are plentiful, as when The New York Times published an article mistakenly implying that Edward Said, a Christian, was Muslim. This indicates the prevalent assumption that Arab and Muslim are interchangeable.
Edward Said coined the term “Orientalism”, highlighting the misrepresentation of the Arab and Oriental cultures through European or Western perspectives.
Confusing Arab Identity with Religion
Christian Palestinians face various challenges, including bombings and violence globally. This is partly due to the assumption that Arabs equate to Muslims, leading to the neglect of Christian Arabs by Western societies.
The League of Arab States includes 22 countries, each with unique cultures, often wrongly assumed to be all the same due to their Arab or Muslim majority demographics.
Arabic dialects differ strikingly among Arab countries, indicating distinctive cultures within the Arab world. George Branden Shaw’s quote, “England and America are two countries separated by the same language” is often used to describe these linguistic and cultural differences.
Overlooking Palestinian Identity
Israeli officials’ plans to displace Palestinians to neighboring Arab countries have been criticized. This approach rejects Palestinians as distinct people and is seen as promoting ethnic cleansing.
Zionists have repeatedly urged Egypt to accept millions of refugees, a request Egypt has consistently refused, rejecting forced displacement tantamount to ethnic cleansing.
The silence on this leaked document and Egypt’s response is seen as disregarding Arab voices and history. Orientalists often speak on behalf of the Arab, either ignoring their voice or misrepresenting their perspective.
Ignoring Arab Voices in Pro-Palestine Protests
Pro-Palestine protests have taken place worldwide, condemning the genocide of over 30,000 Palestinians. There’s a tendency to label opposers of the Israeli government as “terrorists” or “terrorist-sympathizers”, sidelining them from the conversation.
Israeli soldiers’ actions looting Palestinian homes and wearing Palestinian women’s lingerie have largely been ignored by Western governments. The devaluation of Arab lives is seen in the lack of reaction to these explicit acts of disrespect.
Reducing the Palestine issue to religious fanaticism and dismissing Arab voices perpetuates harmful stereotypes. The Orientalist’s failure to self-reflect on their beliefs continues to result in the loss of countless Arab lives.
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