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<P><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">Those commenting on Robert Fisk:<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">His intention was not to be racist, but, rather, to expose the irony of racism in light of current events.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma"><STRONG>Rania</STRONG>, <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">Remind me to speak to you in Phoenician from hereon; and should we have lunch, let us eat at a Phoenician restaurant. We should buy some Phoenician books at the library, and play some Phoenician music on the way there. Also, there's this Phoenician wedding ceremony we must go to. There will be many Phoenicians there... don’t forget we’re celebrating two Phoenician holidays in the coming week…<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">Is this drivel supposed to be serious?<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">Say Lebanon is Lebanese if it satisfies you to think that you are not Arab; and you may not be Arab just like many Lebanese. <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Lebanon</st1:place></st1:country-region> is a country of many ethnicities including Arabs, and you should accept that as others should accept you.</SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">I’d hate to be the one to point this out, but you made a serious error here:<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">“bc of the Islamic invasion and the Coran was written in Arabic and we had to learn it and speak it.”<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">There are numerous examples of Arabic pre-Islamic Christian inscriptions, such as Zabad, near Allepo, dated 512 CE, and <st1:place w:st="on">Harran</st1:place>, 568 CE, and there are multiple examples of ancient bibles written in Arabic. Take a look at arabicbible.com for more details.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">If your point of reference is differences in culture then the same can be said when contrasting Saudis with Moroccans, for example. If your point of reference is DNA, genes associated with Phoenicians have been found in all most countries of the <st1:place w:st="on">Levant</st1:place>, meaning Saudis are just as Phoenician as I or you--in terms of genealogy at least. In terms of reality, the Phoenicians are dead both as people and as civilizations. Many of us may not be Arab, but they're certainly not Phoenician.</SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">I think the problem lies in the fact that you equate Muslims and Arabs as one of the same.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">“You may dislike what I am saying if you were Muslim, but I really don't care”<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">I don’t dislike what you are saying because it is inconsequential; I just find it laughable coming from a Harvard Ph.D.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">Have a goodnight!<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
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<DIV></DIV>From: <I>"Ziad Al Bawab" <ziadalbawab@gmail.com></I><BR>To: <I>"rmekary@aol.com" <rmekary@aol.com></I><BR>CC: <I>bmekari@aol.com, lebanon-articles@mit.edu</I><BR>Subject: <I>Re: [LCM Articles] We love you Robert Fisk!</I><BR>Date: <I>Mon, 24 Jul 2006 19:13:46 -0700</I><BR>
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<P>I regret to hear that there are Lebanese who feel this way to other Arab people. I, for one, don't feel the same way as you do! </P>
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<DIV>Ziad</DIV><BR><BR>
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<DIV><SPAN class=gmail_quote>On 7/24/06, <B class=gmail_sendername><A title=mailto:rmekary@aol.com href="mailto:rmekary@aol.com">rmekary@aol.com </DIV></A></B><<A title=mailto:rmekary@aol.com href="mailto:rmekary@aol.com">rmekary@aol.com</A>> wrote:</SPAN>
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<DIV> Thanks Bassam, I could not have expressed this any better. And I feel the same way as you do.<BR>Rania Mekary.<BR> </DIV>
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<DIV> </DIV> <BR>-----Original Message-----<BR>From: <A title="mailto:bmekari@aol.com (mailto:bmekari@aol.com)" href="mailto:bmekari@aol.com">bmekari@aol.com
<DIV></DIV></A><BR>To: <A title="mailto:rmekary@aol.com (mailto:rmekary@aol.com)" href="mailto:rmekary@aol.com">rmekary@aol.com</A>; <A title="mailto:rabih@mit.edu (mailto:rabih@mit.edu)" href="mailto:rabih@mit.edu">
<DIV></DIV>rabih@mit.edu</A>; <A title="mailto:philippesaad@gmail.com (mailto:philippesaad@gmail.com)" href="mailto:philippesaad@gmail.com">philippesaad@gmail.com
<DIV></DIV></A><BR>Sent: Mon, 24 Jul 2006 7:18 PM<BR>Subject: Re: [LCM Articles] We love you Robert Fisk!<BR><BR>
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<DIV>I sort of agree with rmekary.....I am not sure why some of you did not give this guy Robert Fisk a credit <SPAN>because</SPAN> all what he was trying to do is to tell a good story about the Lebanese people and guess what, some of you took it in a negative tone and wanted to shoot him down....This is sad...... From my perspective, hats off to him.....My advise to you all is to get this monkey off your back, stop </DIV><SPAN>bickering</SPAN> about the Arabs and wanting to prove that Lebanese are <SPAN>Arabs</SPAN> etc. From my <SPAN>perspective</SPAN> friend, I can care less however, I saw nothing but <SPAN>destruction</SPAN>, corruption, backstabbing and pain from the so called Arab neighbors so, why should I fight and say ...Hey I am
<DIV></DIV><SPAN>Arabic; </SPAN>while I am truly so proud of myself but so ashamed of most <SPAN>Arabs</SPAN> and their mentality and way of thinking. Have you checked your genes and see how many of the good <SPAN>Arabic</SPAN> genes you have?????? You will be surprised.......All & all, I think most of the Lebanese wish that never spoke
<DIV></DIV><SPAN>Arabic</SPAN> nor ever <SPAN>existed</SPAN> in such close proximity to them......I do not like how I feel but I cannot help it.....Sometimes you can ask <SPAN>yourself</SPAN> and think Hum....why <SPAN>Bassam</SPAN>
<DIV></DIV>feels like this towards the Arabs? and, would he felt different towards them if they were different and good neighbors etc....After all, who said (Arab Jarab)?????
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<DIV>If they not change how they think and try to look at life from a positive aspect and not be brainwashed by some silly leaders, they are going no where...... </DIV>
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<DIV>You be the judge.</DIV>
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<DIV>Love you all....... </DIV>
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<DIV style="CLEAR: both"><SPAN>Bassam</SPAN> Rossi <SPAN>Mekari</SPAN>, MS, <SPAN>PE</SPAN><BR>Managing Partner<BR><BR>Three Fold Consultants, <SPAN>LLC</SPAN><BR>1515 <SPAN>Poydras</SPAN> St., Suite 1875<BR>New Orleans, Louisiana 70112 </DIV><BR>Off: 504-799-3653<BR>Direct: 504-799-3656<BR><SPAN>Cel1</SPAN>: 225-205-3490
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<DIV> </DIV> <BR>-----Original Message-----<BR>From: <A title="mailto:rmekary@aol.com (mailto:rmekary@aol.com)" href="mailto:rmekary@aol.com">rmekary@aol.com
<DIV></DIV></A><BR>To: <A title="mailto:rabih@mit.edu (mailto:rabih@mit.edu)" href="mailto:rabih@mit.edu">rabih@mit.edu</A>; <A title="mailto:philippesaad@gmail.com (mailto:philippesaad@gmail.com)" href="mailto:philippesaad@gmail.com">
<DIV></DIV>philippesaad@gmail.com</A><BR>Sent: Sat, 22 <SPAN>Jul </SPAN>2006 5:49 PM<BR>Subject: Re: [<SPAN>LCM</SPAN> Articles] We love you Robert Fisk!<BR><BR>
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<DIV> Hi Philippe and Rabih,<BR><BR>Before you both criticize Robert Fisk, I respect your opinion and I respect all Arabs. But if you really study the history of Lebanon, you will realize that we are not Arabs but we are </DIV><SPAN><SPAN>Phoeneciens</SPAN></SPAN>. This is the pure truth and I am sure you studied this in the history and you remember your teacher telling you that there was a debate among historians about whether they write about Lebanon that is is a
<DIV></DIV><SPAN><SPAN>phenecian</SPAN></SPAN> country with and Arabic facet or an Arabic country... Do not forget that our true language is not Arabic and our true alphabet is not the Arabic alphabet and our true numbers are the 1; 2; 3 ; that we abandoned...
<DIV></DIV><SPAN><SPAN>bc</SPAN></SPAN> of the Islamic invasion and the <SPAN><SPAN>Coran</SPAN></SPAN> was written in Arabic and we had to learn it and speak it.<BR><BR>You may dislike what I am saying if you were Muslim, but I really don't care
<DIV></DIV><SPAN><SPAN>bc</SPAN></SPAN> I am only saying the facts and I respect all religions... but come on, do not deny facts and yes I agree with <SPAN>Robert</SPAN> Fisk: Lebanese people are different from the surrounding countries.
<DIV></DIV><BR><BR>I <SPAN><SPAN>dont</SPAN></SPAN> want to say more.<BR><BR>Thank you.<BR><BR><SPAN><SPAN>Rania</SPAN></SPAN>.<BR>
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<DIV style="CLEAR: both">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<BR><SPAN><SPAN>Rania</SPAN></SPAN> <SPAN><SPAN>Mekary</SPAN></SPAN>, Ph.D.<BR>Harvard School of Public Health<BR>Nutrition Department<BR>655 Huntington Avenue, Building 2 </DIV><BR>Boston, Ma 02115<BR>Voice mail: 617-432-6343 <BR>Fax: 617-432-2435<BR><A title="http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/researchers/rmekary.html (http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/researchers/rmekary.html)" href="http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/researchers/rmekary.html">
<DIV></DIV>http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/researchers/rmekary.html</A><BR>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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<DIV> </DIV> <BR>-----Original Message-----<BR></SPAN>
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<DIV><SPAN>From: <A title="mailto:rabih@mit.edu (mailto:rabih@mit.edu)" href="mailto:rabih@mit.edu">rabih@mit.edu</A><BR>To: <A title="mailto:philippesaad@gmail.com (mailto:philippesaad@gmail.com)" href="mailto:philippesaad@gmail.com"></DIV>philippesaad@gmail.com</A><BR><SPAN><SPAN>Cc</SPAN></SPAN>: <A title="mailto:lebanon-articles@mit.edu (mailto:lebanon-articles@mit.edu)" href="mailto:lebanon-articles@mit.edu">
<DIV></DIV>lebanon-articles@mit.edu </A><BR></SPAN>
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<DIV><SPAN>Sent: Fri, 21 <SPAN>Jul</SPAN> 2006 12:00 AM<BR>Subject: Re: [<SPAN>LCM</SPAN> Articles] We love you Robert Fisk!<BR><BR></DIV>
<DIV>Philip,<BR><BR>I was being sarcastic.<BR><BR>The point of my email was to show how much racism is part of the big picture in how the West deals with the middle east, and who present it is (whether consciously or unconsciously) in the discourse of the West, to the point where even someone like Robert Fisk, whom we consider a champion of the Arab cause, can utter such idiocies. </DIV><BR><BR>-rabih<BR><BR> <BR><BR><BR>
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<DIV><SPAN class=gmail_quote>On 7/20/06, <B class=gmail_sendername>Philippe Charles <SPAN><SPAN>Saad</SPAN></SPAN></B> <<A>philippesaad@gmail.com</A>> wrote:</SPAN> </DIV>
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<DIV>This a shame!<BR>What does this "they don't look like the Arab world" mean? Are Arabs Animals? 2nd degree human being? <BR>what is this <SPAN><SPAN>racizm</SPAN></SPAN>?<BR>What's wrong with the Arab world? </DIV><BR>If we are sophisticated, educated, cosmopolitan... how does this tie to the fact that "we don't look like the Arab world"<BR>Aren't we tired of those <SPAN><SPAN>cliches</SPAN></SPAN>?<BR><SPAN><SPAN>Ohh</SPAN>
<DIV></DIV></SPAN>yeah Lebanese are not Arabs... what is all is nonsense! I won't even mention the whole stupid discourse of <SPAN><SPAN>phoenicians</SPAN></SPAN>!!<BR>Who cares who we are Arabs, <SPAN><SPAN>Phoenicians</SPAN></SPAN>
<DIV></DIV>, <SPAN><SPAN>meditteraneans</SPAN></SPAN>, Greeks, maybe we have Romans, crusaders, <SPAN><SPAN>kurdish</SPAN></SPAN> or Indian blood! <BR>Guys who cares, trade was all over the place and people were mixing all through
<DIV></DIV><SPAN><SPAN>teh</SPAN></SPAN> ages<BR><BR>If Robert <SPAN><SPAN>Fiske</SPAN></SPAN> did a good job reporting about the situation all a long the years of war, this does not mean that all what he says is sacred!! come on guys a little critical sense, a little pride.
<DIV></DIV><BR>Stop escaping what you are and mirror yourself to what you are not because Europeans or Americans have <SPAN><SPAN>engrained</SPAN></SPAN> in you the fact that they are a better race than Arabs, than <SPAN><SPAN>chinese
<DIV></DIV></SPAN></SPAN>, than <SPAN><SPAN>indians</SPAN></SPAN>. No one is better than any other one.<BR><BR>And now instead of all standing together and seeing our differences as a richness to stop Israel from bombing, we are abiding by the argument that Lebanese are not like the Arabs.
<DIV></DIV><BR>What a shame, <BR>I am disgusted....<BR><BR>
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<DIV><SPAN><SPAN class=gmail_quote>On 7/20/06, <B class=gmail_sendername>Rabih <SPAN><SPAN>Zbib</SPAN></SPAN></B> <<A title=mailto:rabih@mit.edu> rabih@mit.edu</A>> wrote:</SPAN></SPAN></DIV>
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<DIV>We are infinitely <SPAN><SPAN>greatful</SPAN></SPAN> for our dearest friend Robert Fisk for the <SPAN><SPAN>privilige</SPAN></SPAN> of elevating us to the rank of full human beings, much different than those other Arabs! </DIV><BR><BR><SPAN style="FONT-STYLE: italic">It amazes me -- I mean, living here in Beirut, as I have for 30 years. Here are the Lebanese people, sophisticated, educated, cosmopolitan, people who don't look like the Arab world, they look like us; I mean, people who could be quite at home on the streets of Paris or New York and London, and some of them are; people who read, who are very well educated; people who speak English fluently, French beautifully, and fluent Arabic, as well, of course; and who, when they die in such large numbers, the best we can produce is a call for restraint by the State Department and a claim by the British, our own dear
<DIV></DIV><SPAN><SPAN>Tony</SPAN></SPAN> Blair, that the Israelis are using disproportionate force. </SPAN><BR style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-STYLE: italic"><A title="http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=06/07/19/1345257 (http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=06/07/19/1345257) (http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=06/07/19/1345257) (http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=06/07/19/1345257)" href="http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=06/07/19/1345257">
<DIV></DIV>http://www.democracynow.org/article.<SPAN><SPAN>pl</SPAN></SPAN>?<SPAN><SPAN>sid</SPAN></SPAN>=06/07/19/1345257</A></SPAN><BR><BR><BR>
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