Sectarianism and Identity in Lebanon...Please Explain!

[shreek]

Originally Posted by Xena

go to europe and tell them you're lebanese... they ll be like... aha lebanon?! where is that!? and some will tell you that they love couscous! that's way too superior dude!

now go and try to tell them you're a pure lebanese and they will laugh at you! ;)

i feel sorry for your experience in Europe.
When they see me and they see the Large Shiny Cross on my chest and introduce myself to them (in a Christian name), they immediately know.
Unfortunately you have been around too many ignorant people it seems, Europeans are fully aware of what it means to be Lebanese believe me.

[Salome]

Originally Posted by shreek

Europeans are fully aware of what it means to be Lebanese believe me.

unless you mean the Lebanese communities themselves in Europe, your statement doesn't stand, as Xena said it is already good if they know more or less where Lebanon is

[CarlosSantana]

Originally Posted by shreek

i feel sorry for your experience in Europe.
When they see me and they see the Large Shiny Cross on my chest and introduce myself to them (in a Christian name), they immediately know.
Unfortunately you have been around too many ignorant people it seems, Europeans are fully aware of what it means to be Lebanese believe me.

To make it clear, you are completely wrong, however I do not want to get involved in this discussion because it turned out to be tasteless and far below the expected level. The subject itself is very interesting if we can keep it on a higher level to educate ourselves and exchange ideas/experiences.

The only positive issue by the answer/comments from "Shreek" is that he gives impression but no answer to the main question in the thread, i.e. sectarian Identity:
I’m really interested in getting some perspectives on this defining element of Lebanese culture: Sectarian identity. I don’t mean political here, I mean social and individual identity. Even though it’s a sociologically fascinating topic, I haven’t seen a lot of discussion on it in this forum.

Freethinker: The above discussion probably clarifies the theme. As you see, I guess that "shreek" who think he is superior ( with a shiny cross in his chest) is a good example why we have war and kill people at checkpoints.

[Xena]

Originally Posted by shreek

i feel sorry for your experience in Europe.
When they see me and they see the Large Shiny Cross on my chest and introduce myself to them (in a Christian name), they immediately know.
Unfortunately you have been around too many ignorant people it seems, Europeans are fully aware of what it means to be Lebanese believe me.

you never fail to bring a smile to my face!

you need to get over your inferiority complex!
I ve seen people like you with huge crosses and i've always wondered about their neck ache at the end of day!!
it s a way to say "oh please love us we're not evil muslims we re not arabs even if we look like arabs and even if we speak arabic but see we have a western name and we have a huge cross! please accept us! plleeaase pleeaasse!! that is pure inferior genes!

well when it comes to me trust me my experience in Europe is wonderful i finally found my place! and i dont need a shiny large cross and a western name... i have my beauty and my intelligence that make people love me (that's what superior genes are for!)... i dont seek acceptance because i never felt different..well maybe because i look and think like them...hmmm

and yeah rare are the people who know something about lebanon! or maybe you're right all those people i ve met and all the friends i had for the last 8 years are ignorants... that man i m sharing my life with is a pure ignorant along with his whole family (even though now they know more about lebanon...thanks to my superior genes of course ;) )...

[Xena]

Originally Posted by CarlosSantana

I’m really interested in getting some perspectives on this defining element of Lebanese culture: Sectarian identity. I don’t mean political here, I mean social and individual identity. Even though it’s a sociologically fascinating topic, I haven’t seen a lot of discussion on it in this forum.

I dont see why there should be a sectarian identity... communities shouldn't be defined according to sects unless education and languages are based on religion which is not the case in lebanon... we all have the same mentality, the same language the same everything...if you read this forum long enough you ll know that there shouldnt be more than one identity for lebanon...

[Osiris]

Originally Posted by shreek

i feel sorry for your experience in Europe.
When they see me and they see the Large Shiny Cross on my chest and introduce myself to them (in a Christian name), they immediately know.
Unfortunately you have been around too many ignorant people it seems, Europeans are fully aware of what it means to be Lebanese believe me.

You're right, she has been around too many ignorant people.. hmmm, someone here is a good example ya shreek

Now tell me, is this the cross you're wearing? It might help people recognize that I am 'finiKi' you know..

[Salome]

guys we entertain shreek too much, I wish he would be genuine at least, like a true ignorant LFer wearing the cross on every visible place:D

[CarlosSantana]

Originally Posted by Xena

I dont see why there should be a sectarian identity... communities shouldn't be defined according to sects unless education and languages are based on religion which is not the case in lebanon... we all have the same mentality, the same language the same everything...if you read this forum long enough you ll know that there shouldnt be more than one identity for lebanon...

I totally agree Xena, your quoted statement in this reply coincide with my point of view.
I have been living in Norway for more than 25 years and I also fully understand and agree with your above reply to "shreek".

I suppose that your comment here is directed to the author of the thread (FreeThinker) since this sentence was copied from the main article of the thread. I was just referring to it to show that there still some people who identifies theirselves with their "superior sect".

[Xena]

Originally Posted by CarlosSantana

I totally agree Xena, your quoted statement in this reply coincide with my point of view.
I have been living in Norway for more than 25 years and I also fully understand and agree with your above reply to "shreek".

I suppose that your comment here is directed to the author of the thread (FreeThinker) since this sentence was copied from the main article of the thread. I was just referring to it to show that there still some people who identifies theirselves with their "superior sect".

ah i didn't see that you were quoting freethinker! woops!
so then yes it's directed to him and to anyone who wants to comment it...

[shreek]

Originally Posted by Salome

guys we entertain shreek too much, I wish he would be genuine at least, like a true ignorant LFer wearing the cross on every visible place:D

salome please I am not an "LFer" as you put it.
Where and when did I say this?
pls do not assume to associate me with the LF.