Location: Lebanon.

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I would consider Egypt part of the Middle East. With the exceptions of Israel and Iran, I consider any country with an Arab majority (plus Western Sahara, and the land that will make up the future Palestinian state) Middle Eastern. In other words, it stretches from Morocco and Mauritania, to Iran.

I consider Afghanistan and Pakistan part of South Asia. As for Turkey, where I classify it will depend on whether it ends up joining the EU (strangely enough, their archrival, Greece, is considered part of Western Europe when it is clearly in Eastern Europe).

أهلا بيك


because the forum made especially for English language

I don't think you could say Morocco is Middle East. Considering Morocco/Western Sahara is mostly further west than the Iberian peninsular and the rest of western Europe. You might as well call the UK middle east then.

Why don't you consider Israel in the middle east? I guess it must be in another dimension lol.

Greece is not considered western Europe, it is just in Europe

I meant that Israel and Iran are the only non-Arab majority nations in the Middle East.

Sudan wouldn't qualify because although Arabs run the government, they are not the majority.

Last edited by Tim_Tex on 09 Feb 2008, 3:35 pm, edited 1 time in total.

I don't mind either way. My argument is if Somalia is in East Africa then so is Egypt.

got you

Some people would say that Iran is Central Eurasia

It's kind of sickening, actually... I am the one person I know who actually doesn't watch that much TV (I only watch the Daily Show, and an occasional mythbusters or south park...)

But everyone else I know seems to *need* a TV on at all times, which to be honest is kind of frightening...

And *they* have the audacity to say I spend too much time on the computer. At least on a computer, I can do a wide variety of things: gaming, graphic design, editing wikipedia, talking to the few "friends" I have, trolling on WP, etc. On a TV, you just watch... it seems too passive if you ask me...

Yes, Lebanon is far more free country than other arab countries ...but to an extent. There's much more to be done here.



Not every book, the Da Vinci code book and movie were both banned here by the pressure of the Church , especially by the Maronite Patriarchy and other churches.



True, but religious diversity here doesn't mean that we're totally free , there are 4 main religious forces here: The Church , the Dar el Fatwa , The Supreme Shiite Council and the Druze Council.

These four religious 'authorities' have a lot of influence on the daily life and even on government's decision.

For example , one of the most hot social issues here is the Civil marriage ,the liberals demanded for years to allow the practice of the civic marriage here as optional choice because the Civic marriage will allow more co-existence between the sects .The 4 religious authorities are opposing that demand since then.

What's funny that any couple can go to Cyprus ,which is few miles away by sea from here, and get a civil marriage there and can return here and their marriage will be considered legitimated by the law , it's only the PRACTICE of the civil marriage which is disallowed here....weird!

Last edited by LePetitPrince on 11 Feb 2008, 2:25 pm, edited 2 times in total.

'Middle East' is a pure geographic location , it has nothing to do with races.

This is a fascinating discussion. I cheered during the Cedar Revolution. The aftermath of course is not so simple. I followed a number of Lebanese blogs for a while, but then they all stopped being available. The same with the Iraqi blogs. I read the Somali thinker from time to time.
A cousin of mine married a Saudi and then moved to Egypt. She told me about how for an appendicitis operation she had to walk into the operating room, pull up her blouse a bit, wait until the cat was chased out of the room, and then they anaesthatized her. Her family had to hire a nurse for her. And everywhere she went, men would try to pinch her bottom because she was a western woman. When she hollared and whacked them with her purse, they would back off. So, that and dust are what I think of Egypt. Oh, and the Coptic Christians who have to live in dhimmitude. (Which I'm sure is not as bad as dhimmitude in Saudi Arabia. The only country more oppressive than Saudi Arabia might be North Korea. Oops, I've started a ramble.
As an American who has wanted to visit every place in the world except Africa and Saudi Arabia and then unexpectedly fell in love with Rwanda, I can't understand why you would be dropped when discovered as Lebanese. Other than I have discovered that many many people are afraid of different. Me, I've always been attracted by the different so I don't know how to understand that mindset.

there is no dhimmitude in Saudi Arabia!, there is a minority of shiites there but that's it, unless you mean foreign workers in KSA like Egyptians, Indians,...etc

I am a Coptic by the way


this thread turn more and more to talk about discrimination in the world

Nagy means "big(/great)" in Hungarian. Did you happen to know that too Nagy?

Of course, I am an Aspie too

I am a fan of this website :
http://www.geocities.com/nagy_name/

which is now : http://www.nagyname.com/

and by the way, it means Survivor in Arabic

I do wish to be clear that there is the educated segment of the U.S. who understand that the stereotype of someone from Northern Africa or the Middle East (whichever one wins out on the debate here ) are not accurate.

There was a professor (he is from the Middle East and a practicing Muslim) from the local university who was giving classes on the Koran until he left for a while.
I took my daughter to one class because I wanted her to understand how much alike we all are around the world.
I hope he comes back and offers more classes in the future.

Unfortunately, many of the kids that go to school with my daughter come from families who would be proud to be called a red-neck.
I grew up a red-neck, but eventually educated myself about the truths of the world instead of living a false "Red, White & Blue, America - Love it or Leave it!, attitude.

I admire my country in many ways, and believe in the principals surrounding the constitution, but blind obedience and overboard patriotism have worn thin on me.

I agree that the media could do better but it's apparently not good business I guess.

They probably think you're from al-qaeda or fire rockets into Israel or something stupid like that.

Muhahahahahahahah


....well , this is not funny.