What do you think about Arab people ??

[Arabic Boy]

Hi to all ...

I don't know why everybody thinks that arabic people are still useing Camels ?
:D

or think that arabic people are dump ! :?

SO ... as an arabic boy I want to make everybody understand us well

I Will Answer Any Thing That Anybody Ask About:cool:

Just to make you more intrested i'm tell you something scary ...

Arabic people INVENTED DRIFTING FIRST

not in the same way but, yes we did :wave:

[Dutch Baka]

When you are talking about Arab people, are you talking about people from Saudie Arabia, the middle east?

I have had some friends from Turkey and Marocco and we got along very well, and learned from each other culture a lot.

Nothing wrong with Arabs, in my opinion. Wish people would have some more respect for each others cultures so now and then.

[Mars Man]

Hello there Arabic Boy; Welcome to the forum.

I have had a good number of friends from several countries around the Middle East, and enjoyed spending time with most of them. Unfortunately, I have not had the time to live in Saudia Arabia (or other countries in that area) so I have never met any of the more middle class folks.

I do think, however, that people are pretty much human at heart, most anywhere you go, so there'll be the good and the bad. Some countries in the world are given less attention by the world at large, some given too much attention in the wrong way. At times it's really hard to say much about that too.

Now, in what way did 'drifting' start in Saudia Arabia? (I take it you mean 'drifting' as in a car technique, right?) MM

[Faustianideals]

I have Arabic nephews. I don't see the problem with them. I have run into a few Arabic men that I would like to see neutered, but I don't think that's because of the culture they come from. Seriously though, I wouldn't worry about what people think of your culture. Heh, I'm sure the world is just going through a culture shock right now, lol.

[yukio_michael]

I don't have any problem with any particularly race on this planet, whatsoever... I don't even have a pre-conceived notion about places I've never been.... I'm Italian, Irish, and Ukranian, with Jewish relatives, Scandinavian girlfriends, friends, South African friends, Japanese, Korean, Haitian, Chinese, British, Dutch & Czech friends... (from those respective countries, not just around the block...)
It's nice to meet you... we're all here together on this ONE planet... Let's all agree that we're all of us the same people, a member of the human race...
Ideologies, mores, religions, and politics aside, we're all the same....
[...]Joe the Lion is a great track, I included it on a cd I made for work recently! Same for the rest of Bowie tracks in your playlist.... You've heard Moss Garden, I assume?

[Sarapva]

Welcome, Arabic Boy! I don't think I know any Arabic people personally, but I know I've met some at some time, in the U.S. and England. I agree with what is said above, that we're all basically the same inside, regardless of ethnic group. What do you mean about "drifting"? I'm curious about that now!

[KirinMan]

Welcome to the board:wave::wave:

To be perfectly honest with you I grew up during the Iran Embassy crisis and thought at that time that the Iranian's were Arabs. Rather ignorant of me looking back at it now. I had many preconceived notions or ideas about a lot of people from around the world as well.

Much of that I "blame" on the education that I received in my younger years and on my Mom who had many discriminatory opinions, ideas and attitudes about many different cultures, particularly those from the middle east.

Thank God that I learned differently as I got older.

I now am lucky to call many people from all over the world as my friends, some from the middle east as well.

I look forward to your partcipating here and helping others learn about your culture and the unique differences it has with the rest of us here.

One again welcome!

[Kinsao]

My cousin's family are Arabic-speakers, they are from the Lebanon. :)
They taught me a few words and phrases in Arabic, but that's all... and I can't write it, but the script looks beautiful... *_*
I don't have any particular 'idea' about Arabic people... I don't think...
My aunt spent some time in Saudi Arabia, years ago, for her work, and she liked it very much from what I can recall.

[nanook]

I have visited the area several times. Have seen good and bad as everywhere else. Always wanted to live in Lebanon for a while. Which looks very difficult now.

[bijin_vi]

I have some friends who are working in the middle east and have very few half arabic friends. They're good people. I am learning some Arabic words actually and its fun. I don't have problem with Arabs or with any other race for that matter.

[scorpion da black]

ohaio minna
i am Arabian from Lebanon..
in many movies or shows thy show an assumed Arab city looking like a city from three or four hundred years ago :p
and people on camels...etc.
well we still love traditional tents and camels , but some one tell the movie industry that Arabs have cities as big as big as New York and sky scrapers higher than the empire state building :D :D :D :D

any ways...thanks for your warm welcome for us Arabs ...i am flattered.
Lebanon was once the bright star of the middle east ...well we can hardly say that any more :okashii: but i would still like to welcome all of you to visit and see the middle east from its main gate :-)

oh and yes we invented drifting before any Japanese ever knew what it was.. :p

[leonmarino]

I have nothing against any people as a whole.

If you're interested in Hollywood's view of Arabs and want to understand why people might have a negative image of Arabs whilst never meeting/seeing one, here is a pretty interesting documentary, or at least a trailer of it:
Reel Bad Arabs: How Hollywood Vilifies a People (http://jp.youtube.com/watch?v=Ko_N4BcaIPY)

[scorpion da black]

I have nothing against any people as a whole.
If you're interested in Hollywood's view of Arabs and want to understand why people might have a negative image of Arabs whilst never meeting/seeing one, here is a pretty interesting documentary, or at least a trailer of it:
Reel Bad Arabs: How Hollywood Vilifies a People (http://jp.youtube.com/watch?v=Ko_N4BcaIPY)

that is a nice name for a documentary

the add will be
real bad Arabs coming soon on nat geo :p

[Tsuyoiko]

I think Arab people are like anyone else - some of them are OK, some of them are not.

Go back a thousand years and Arabs had arguably the most 'advanced' civilisation on Earth, certainly with regard to science and technology. I'm particularly interested in their contributions to Mathematics since it's my subject. Their greatest mathematician (imo), Al-Khwarizmi, gave his name to the word 'algorithm'. He wrote the first book on algebra, Kitab al-Jabr, which is where the term algebra comes from. Arabs introduced zero and the decimal point. Cryptology using frequency analysis, proof by induction, foundations of calculus, spherical trigonometry and non-Euclidean geometry were all attempted first by Arabs.

[Skullcrushergurl]

Where I live,Arabs own everything. It's horrid actually. They treat customers pretty badly, talk about the customers behind their backs or even to their faces in their language. It's disgusting. I hate to be racist but I keep my distance.
Hm. Everyone. Watch THE KINGDOM. A movie released in the U.S about the Middle Eastern people who hate us westerners. If you live in the U.S You'll have a certain hatred for them. Once you watch the movie, you'll understand.

[scorpion da black]

Where I live,Arabs own everything. It's horrid actually. They treat customers pretty badly, talk about the customers behind their backs or even to their faces in their language. It's disgusting. I hate to be racist but I keep my distance.
Hm. Everyone. Watch THE KINGDOM. A movie released in the U.S about the Middle Eastern people who hate us westerners. If you live in the U.S You'll have a certain hatred for them. Once you watch the movie, you'll understand.

it is unfortunate that you have met only bad Arab people...
i am not saying Arabs are angels...... there are many ***holes here.

but there is more to us than just that :souka:
we are not all like that.
if you meet Arabs who actually live in the middle east you would see a different face for Arabs...like here in Lebanon all you will see is smiling faces...who will welcome you with great hospitablity...and if you left a nice impression they will even consider you from the family.

and that Kingdom movie is some how bias to ideas not so accurate about us.
we welcome any one who comes to our countries as a friend, a fellow citizen...but when some nation comes as an invading army well they will meet people with weapons pretty much...that is not a sign of hate it is a sign of patriotism ...we love our nation..and we will not have them invaded.
i bet everyone thinks like that...you wont allow a foreign army to step foot on your soil as invaders would you?
i have been through war, and i was willing to fight if i had to...

[Skullcrushergurl]

Yeah suicide bombers....blowing up our precious towers....all those people that died for no reason. Innocent people doing their jobs. Making money for their families....The average American has the right to hold a grudge.

[scorpion da black]

Yeah suicide bombers....blowing up our precious towers....all those people that died for no reason. Innocent people doing their jobs. Making money for their families....The average American has the right to hold a grudge.

well as i said we are not all angels...there are many ***holes..

but as so every where on earth..
the terrorists killed three thousand Americans and that was unfortunate.

the American military are responsible for 750 000 deaths in Iraq ever since their invasion in 2003...
if i would say as you say: " i have the right to have a grudge "
then perhaps i will turn into a terrorist my self...and have hate towards all Americans ....but i am smarter than that i know there is more to Americans than """Bush"""....i know that there are many great, friendly, smart, beautiful, Americans out there an i was lucky to meet some of them...


and just as i said, there is more to us than just terrorists...we are not all bin laden...

[Skullcrushergurl]

Yes I know but it's hard to trust and disbelieve a lot of the stereotypes. If you lived in America, you'd see.

[bakaKanadajin]

Everyone is an ambassador of their own culture. I personally won't hold it against anyone to say "out of the X kind of people I've met, X% have been this or that, so I don't like them,/I do like them", whatever. That's totally their opinion, and they're entitled to it.

Unfortunately we fail to realize most stereotypes are true. As a Canadian, I can tell you I do in fact love hockey, say 'doot' (doubt) and 'aboot' (about), I'm apt to drink too much, I like cold weather, there is a mandatory 5-10 min discussion at work in the mornings about weather and road conditions, and I'm pretty polite. And I live in Toronto, the stereotypes become much more visible the further North into the sticks you go.

So that being said, regarding Arab peoples, I have some pre-existing notions based on my experiences and chance meetings, as well as through work since I worked in an area with many Arabs and South-Asians and got to know a lot of them. IN GENERAL, to answers the OP, based on these experiences I think most Arabs are just peace loving people who have gotten a bad reputation thanks to some extremists. The politics regarding treatment of women and other socially vulnerable groups in Arab countries is also severely lacking. (Public stonings, 'honour' killings of cheating wives, the extremist Islamic practice of marrying extremely young girls to older men, etc.)

So if there was anything I didn't like about the concept of 'Arab' in my own country, it would be my disdain for fundementalist followers of Islam and highly religious Arabs who come from these backward political traditions, as they are trying to set up Sharia court systems (separate Arab law outside of normal judicial law) and build a lot of temples everywhere. But I feel equally upset at other religious groups when their religious concerns begin to encroach upon normal life for everyone else as well.

[leonmarino]

Yeah suicide bombers....blowing up our precious towers....all those people that died for no reason. Innocent people doing their jobs. Making money for their families....The average American has the right to hold a grudge.Against who? The "Arabs"? The average "Arab" had nothing to do with 9/11. If you're equating all Arabs and hating them you're nothing better than the average extremist. Because that's what they do; ignoring the details and hating a whole people just because.. Well, basically because you lack the ability to think critically.

[Skullcrushergurl]

Okay but that's the way people are. The countries that have warred years ago still are a little, let's say uncertain about the people from the country they fought.
The thing is that most middle eastern people stick together because freedom of speech isn't as common there, right?
So if something happens over there, they hate Americans for it right? That sounds weird, I know.
But in the sense of specific arabic people,their attitudes are pretty bad towards Americans from what I've expearienced, especially if you aren't white...I don't know.....it's weird.

[Sarapva]

There are lots of prejudices everywhere. I personally don't hold a grudge against the Arab people as a whole because of 9/11, and don't know any other American who does. It's the extremists in any culture or religion that I'd be afraid of. And like leonmarino said, if we were to cultivate negative feelings towards any group of people, that would be doing as the extremists do. We need to recognize that the suicide bombers in the world are a very small minority (thank goodness - otherwise everyone would be getting blown up all over the place), and not group them together with the religion they happen to belong to, since there are probably millions of other people in the same religion who are just like anyone else in any other religion or culture.

[Pachipro]

Welcome to Jref Arabic Boy.

It's Hollywood and the news media that portray Arabs and the Muslim world in a light that they want us to believe and if that means camels and a backwards world then most people will believe it as most westerners have no idea of the world around them other than what Hollywood and their media tells them.

Look, we have been taught since 911 to hate/despise all Muslim people (including Arabs) and that they are bent on destroying the United States/Western World because they are "jealous of our freedoms". We are told by our news media that they are greedy and that it is they who are pushing up the price of oil when, in fact, it is the Oil companies of the US and the UK/EU that are responsible as they built the oil fields and refineries and run them.

Sure, Arabs are human, just as we all are and a man should be judged on his merits and nothing else regardless of race. You will find both good and bad in every corner of the world reagrdless of race, nationality or creed. It's just the way it is. However, one must be intelligent enough to look through the news media and Hollywood hype and propaganda and to judge a person on his merits and nothing else.

Also, just as there are extremists in the western media who extol hate against Muslims and Arabs, there are also extremists in the Islamic and Arabic world who extol hate against anyone western in order to push their philosophy/religion. The sad part is that there are the majority of the population on both sides who will only listen to what is told to them by their clerics or media and nothing more. They will, sadly, never do their own research to find the truth and thus we are in the conundrum we are presently in in this world or ours where it is now the Western World against the Muslims where, in the past, it was the Wetsern World against the Soviet Union or Nazi Germany, etc.

To understand this crazy world we live in one must understand that there must be a bogeyman for the other side to hate/despise/fear and for now, in the beginning of the 21st century, it is the Muslims/Arabs/Middle Easterners for the Western Wold, and it is the Western World for the Muslims/Arabs/Middle Easterners. One must be constantly be on guard against the extremists in all cultures and to not allow them to dictate what you should think.

Unfortunately, today it's the way it is (the extremist view) and it will NOT change until the majority on both sides understand that they are being manipulated into hating. However, even though I am pessimestic, with people like you and others of different nationalities on this forum, maybe something can be started and continued to make this a better world.

I hope you, Arabic Boy, will continue to be a regular member here and and will not be afraid to post your opinions.

[Skullcrushergurl]

Geez, so am I an extremist? I hope not. Sorry to offend everyone but when you have only one way of seeing things, it sort of brainwashes you. I never want to be racist or unforgiving but 9/11 was gross.

[Derfel]

These would be my views:
To Skullcrushergurl:
Well you see, the topic starter obviously meant "Arabs" not "Suicide Bombers". Obviously everyone detests suicide bombers, its so obviously obvious, so i don't think Arabic Boy meant suicide bombers. Although im not him, but i think he meant normal folks, like anyone out there, people who have nothing to do with terrorism.
As for the World Trade Center: What took place on that very day, shouldn't have happened, its terrible... but one thing has to be mentioned. There's no such nationality as terrorist, they're just a bunch of militant losers. But hey, loads of Arabic countries have very little to do with terrorism. People just think that theocracy=terrorism, but thats wrong. Not that im siding with theocracy although.
You say your neighborhood is full of Arabs and you keep your distance. Well thats quite normal considering that this kind of thing always happens when cultural diversity is high, regardless of nationality.
So the average American has the right to hold a grudge... hmm, I wonder why aren't there Jews slaughtering Germans and Italians. Oh wait, the Polish aren't owning up the Russians either, or perhaps you see English people making V signs to French Cavalry after a volley from their longbows?
Hold a grudge, cool, but may I ask, against whom? The enemy is nameless, faceless, hiding. Its pointless to hold a grudge against something you don't sense. Obviously you strangle it when you can, but other than that, there's no option.
Also let me add: Im not pro or contra USA, but lets be honest, America's actions led to many many more deaths than the 9/11 events. Im not one of those anti-America rebels, and I can understand that there is a valid reason behind all that stuff, even though its selfish, but please don't act like a living, breathing Statue of Liberty that is being martyred by the masses of evil terrorists.

[Hezam]

Hi all

I am Arabic and Muslim ^^
I like all people around the world. we dont have any problem with any people. you must understand what is the Islam first , not from the news Media or Hollywood ..
you must read about Islam and Arab from their books and TV chanells

we dont hate America . we Just hate the solders who fight us in our countries and kill

more and more of us.

see Iraq and see palestain and Lebanon and Somalia and Afghanistan and Fillippin and

Albania and Bosnia and other side of Islamic Countries !!!

the only people who died is Muslims !!!!!

and thanks everyone Here ......^^

[Goldiegirl]

It's posts like the one above that give Arab people a bad reputation. WHY must religion come into every conversation? We hate the people that kill Americans, so I guess the feeling is mutual wouldn't you agree?

[Liver Shot]

How do I feel about Arabs? The same way I feel about people from Japan, Mongolia, Ghana, Finland, or Argentina; the majority are wonderful people but there are plenty of screwups in there as well.

Hi all
I am Arabic and Muslim ^^
I like all people around the world. we dont have any problem with any people. you must understand what is the Islam first , not from the news Media or Hollywood ..
you must read about Islam and Arab from their books and TV chanells
we dont hate America . we Just hate the solders who fight us in our countries and kill
more and more of us.
see Iraq and see palestain and Lebanon and Somalia and Afghanistan and Fillippin and
Albania and Bosnia and other side of Islamic Countries !!!
the only people who died is Muslims !!!!!
and thanks everyone Here ......^^

What is "Fillippin,"? Do you mean the Philippines? If so, I don't see how that country has anything to do with places like Iraq, Afghanistan, or Somalia. The Philippines is a close ally of the US and is overwhelmingly Catholic. Muslims make up a very small percentage of the population and are heavily concentrated in one region (Mindanao). It is also not a war zone, which seems to be a common thread with the other places you mentioned.

[Skullcrushergurl]

It's posts like the one above that give Arab people a bad reputation. WHY must religion come into every conversation? We hate the people that kill Americans, so I guess the feeling is mutual wouldn't you agree?
You tell him!
The BIG issue is religion between America and Middle Eastern people. It shouldn't but it does.

[bakaKanadajin]

http://www.goddessgift.net/thumbs/Hugging_Kitties_Cropd.jpg

[Mars Man]

I kind of wonder if the word 'Arab' is being used correctly here...what seems to be more correct? Now if a person is from the Arabian peninsula, I'd think that they would, depending on genetically descent, be Arab, however a person who is from, let's say Lebanon, or Syria, or even Iran, would it really be correct to call them 'Arab?' That's something I'm just not sure about.

And I might add...that we do a couple of things here...make a strong effort to keep emotions in check, AND...keep it in line with 'Serious Discussions'--meaning more of an academical lean and tone than not !! We have the priviledge to discuss such non-Japan relater matters, in a serious, non-chit chat manner here (and that means taking time to check facts and data, site source information as often and best as one can in most cases [or at least have a good argument for a position] and keep a cool head about subjects in face of opposition) SO I do intend to keep watch over it carefully...let's be cool people !! THANK YOU !!

[bakaKanadajin]

As always, good call Mars Man

[Liver Shot]

Good point, Mars Man. It is difficult to classify someone as an Arab, aside from those who can specifically trace their genealogy to Arab tribes that entered the Middle East centures a couple of millennia ago.

Arabs can identify themselves as such based on linguistic, cultural, or genealogical bases. Many Lebanese don't consider themselves Arabs because they realize there was a long-established Lebanese culture before Arabs ever arrived there. Plenty of other Lebanese, though, consider themselves Arab because their native language is Lebanese Arabic.

Syrians call themselves an Arab Republic, speak Arabic, yet their history is more related to Aramaic speaking people of the Levant, Lebanese, Jordanians, etc.

I'd say the majority of Iran is inhabited by Persians, and the Persians are pretty easily distinct from Arabs, so that's not really a confusing case of mistake identity, thankfully.

[Hezam]

i want to say something

Iran is not Arabic, and Iran hate Arabs somehow ...

if we (Arab) and American people (not Governmen )meet each other i am sure that we
will be happy and frindly. Meeting is not as chat .

my uncle and his son's are in USA (Newyork and other states), they live in peace with American ...

and here in Arabic world i know many American live in peace with us ...

As Mars Man said ( let's be cool people )

thanx ..^^

[scorpion da black]

the middle east, the Arabian peninsula and north Africa are all Arab.
as for Iran, they are not Arabs, and neither is turkey, they are Islamic countries, similar to Arabs

[Elizabeth van Kampen]

Arabic Boy,

If we are honest, then we say that it is wonderful to visit the Middle East that is one of the most fascinating parts of this world.

We can honestly say that we can be friends with Arabian women and men, we can even have many things in common.

The trouble is when are going to live in each others country. Not the Arabian people are disliked, the difference lays in our religions. I know that quite some people in Europe are worried about what can happen to them and their children if there are too many fanatics coming to settle down in our countries. The colour, the race a.s.o. doesn't bother people, it is the fanatic religion.

What has happened to the Iraqi is absolute horrible. An Arabian country where the Minister of Foreign Affairs was a Christian, where Muslims, Jews and Christians lived next to each other and were all Iraqi. The TV News shows us daily one big cemetery of Bagdad the town that once was so beautiful.
And then Libanon, that was once called the Riviera from the Middle East, what a ruins we see today. And then Israel and Palestina, dramacticly and sadly two countries full of hatred.
Wars are always about Oil and Religions.

[Derfel]

They're not about religion, they're about the differences religion created ages ago.

[Liver Shot]

Not the Arabian people are disliked, the difference lays in our religions.

Plenty of Americans are not religious, and a lot of them still have problems with Arabs or Middle Eastern people in general. It's more cultural than religious for many. Religion does strongly affect culture when it is the dominant and official religion, like it is in many Arab contries, though. So you are right in that respect that religion is a big factor in the culture clash. Culture clash and ignorance on both sides makes for a big problem.

[Elizabeth van Kampen]

Liver Shot,

I find your answer a very wise answer!

Funny thing is, that all three "One God only" religions came from the Middle East:
the Jews, the Christians and then the Muslims.
The Jews never tried to convert others to their beliefs.
The first Muslims started in the East, the first Christians in the West and both tried to convert people from all over the world.
I only begin to worry when people begin to get fanatic about their religion because that means trouble.

[Sarapva]

...if we (Arab) and American people (not Governmen )meet each other i am sure that we
will be happy and frindly.... and here in Arabic world i know many American live in peace with us ...
As Mars Man said ( let's be cool people )
thanx ..^^

Yes, I agree! I think the internet is valuable in this way that it helps bring people together from different cultures to learn about each other, and to realize that we're all basically the same.

[Hezam]

Hi Sarapva

i welcome you to this thread and i hope you contact us here..

[centrajapan]

I like Arabs more than Americans in general though there are good and bad people everywhere. Israel is what creates the big mess. It is a country which never should have been established in the first place. Americans support Israel because of their religious fundamental reasons.

[centrajapan]

Yesterday was the 60th anniversary of al-Nakba. Solidarity to Palestine! My heart goes out to the people who are trapped in ruthless refugee camps in Gaza among other places.

[Mycernius]

I like Arabs more than Americans in general though there are good and bad people everywhere. Israel is what creates the big mess. It is a country which never should have been established in the first place. Americans support Israel because of their religious fundamental reasons.
Could you clarify this a bit. After all Israel is Jewish and 85% of Americans identify themselves as Christian, so I would like to know the religious fundamental reasons you talk of.

[scorpion da black]

Could you clarify this a bit. After all Israel is Jewish and 85% of Americans identify themselves as Christian, so I would like to know the religious fundamental reasons you talk of.

people always look at quantity...not at quality...
as much as i despise Zionism, let me admit this...they are some of the smartest and most loyal people to their cause.

they are able to control the powerful media and money sectors in the US (74 % ) controlled by the Zionist Lobby ...and there is Christian Zionist lobby as well...who side with Israel just because they believe that is the way for the resurrection of the messiah ...Zionist lobby also are so strong in congress.

[Liver Shot]

I like Arabs more than Americans in general though there are good and bad people everywhere. Israel is what creates the big mess. It is a country which never should have been established in the first place. Americans support Israel because of their religious fundamental reasons.

Good for you, but all that means is that you've met more good Arabs than good Americans. Don't for a second think Arabs are inherently better people than Americans, or that Norwegians are better than Swedes, or that Russians are worse than Indonesians. It's completely dependent on the small amount of people you've met; hardly representative of an entire ethnic group or race.

I'm sticking to the "every culture is full of horrible and great people in essentially equal amounts." Arabs aren't better or worse than any other group. As for the Israeli situation... seeing as you claim to be in Norway, I'm not surprised you are so gung-ho to support and sympathize with Palestinians and bash Israel.

Interesting article about anti-Semitism in Norwegian politics (I'm not allowed to post the link):

Dear Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg,

The Norwegian Center against anti-Semitism (NIS) strongly condemns a Norwegian proposal to change the law, specifically designed to discriminate Jews.

The Socialist Left Party of Norway (Sosialistisk Venstreparti, SV), which is a member of the incumbent coalition government, announced on July 31, 2006 that it will propose an amendment of the law, in a way that would only affect those who contribute financially to support organizations contributing to Jews in Israel who are in urgent need of help. The proposal, which was announced by MP Mr. Bjorn Jacobsen, has gained supported by MP Odd Kristian Reme, a central member of the Labor Party (Arbeiderpartiet, AP), and the Labor Party's youth movement; AUF.

The suggested amendment (Tax Act; § 6-50) is aimed at preventing tax deduction only for people who donate money to organizations supporting the Jews in Judea and Samaria and Jews deported from Gaza (YESHA). The goal of the proposal is to prevent Norwegian support for "crimes against humanity", which they label "the illegal Israeli occupation of the West Bank". Since these same organizations and politicians whom now demand the amendment in the law frequently have attacked Israel, using different arguments each time, it is clear that their motivation is to target the Jews of Israel.

In Norway approximately 330 organizations enjoy the benefit of getting somewhat higher donations, as donors are enabled to receive a tax deduction of a maximum 12,000 NOK per year per person (approx. 2,000 $). These organizations have annual turnovers of few billions NOK every year. The estimated total sum that is collected for organizations related to Israel, however, is about 40 million NOK annually (approx. $6.5 million). Most of this money is used by the organizations themselves and never reaches the hands of needing Jews. Only about 1.5 millions NOK annually is given to Jews of YESHA (about 250.000 $).

At the same time, Norwegian organizations that support the jihad against the Jews of Israel [such as the Norwegian Church Aid (Kirkens Nodhjelp), the Norwegian People's Aid (Norsk Folkehjelp)] have a total budget of billions of NOK. The Norwegian left-wing politicians who support this anti-Jewish proposal have never demanded that donations given to such organizations, are not used to support illegal activities, such as terrorism, anti-Jewish propaganda, or even suppressing Christians and other non-Muslim minorities.

Merely from January through to the end of July 2006, the Norwegian Government gave 600 million NOK (approx. $100 million) to the Palestinian Authority, which practically means supporting the Hamas, a Nazi-like organization. While the poverty in the PA-controlled areas continually grows, and the terrorist leaders keep getting richer, it has not been made clear if part of the Norwegian money has not been used to murder Jews and destroy Israel.

Mrs. Kristin Halvorsen, leader of the SV, and also the Minister of Finance, is responsible for a national budget of more than 600 billion NOK (approx. 100 billion $). The modest 1.5 million NOK that is given to YESHA's Jews from Norway is clearly not a valid reason to change a national law.

Minister of Finance Halvorsen has repeatedly proposed boycotting Israel and often strongly criticized Israel - but has never criticized the Muslim jihadists who murder Jewish civilians and destroy their people. This discrimination indicates that the attacks on the Jews of Israel are not motivated by a care for Arab life - but potentially rather by Jew-hatred (anti-Semitism).

Time and again we witness how principal Norwegian politicians and journalists keep waging verbal attacks on the Jews of Israel while openly supporting the people who kill them. These people are not outlawed skinheads or overtly expressive extremists, but rather main-stream left-wing persons and major organizations. Time and again we witness how their verbal assaults demonize Jews and how the Jews in Norway are being harassed by the local population. Only this Sunday, July 29, 2006, the Jewish community in Oslo woke up to find that the steps of its building were defaced.

We find it very disturbing that the greatest verbal assaults on the Jews come from those Norwegians who officially support "the peace process in the Middle East". We cannot help but wonder what their real motive is.

We strongly urge the Norwegian leadership to stop spreading the despicable idea that Jews are the source of war and injustice. History witnesses that such inflammatory words always appear before physical warfare against the Jews, leading to persecutions of hundreds and millions of innocent Jews.

[centrajapan]

Many in Norway and Scandinavia not to mention in Europe do have boycott campaigns against Israel. Not because Israel is Jewish but rather because Israel practices severe racial discrimination and is described by anti apartheid activists such as Desomd Tutu and others that what is going on in Palestine is worse than in the height of the apartheid era in South Africa. USA is the greatest supporter of this racist regime.

Americans don't know what it is to have their country taken away because they to are ethnic cleansers such as the Zionists were. That could also be a reason to why they show so little sympathy towards the Palestinians.

It is not against Norwegian law to support Al-Qaida, Taliban, or whoever US labels a terrorist. It is not against Norwegian law to support USA either. Unlike USA, Norway is a free country.

I think it was good that Norway was one of the few countries in Europe who recognised the Palestinian government when Hamas was in charge. Hamas won a free, fair democratic held elections and US and Israel boycotted the results. It's rather strange when US goes around talking about wanting to bring freedom and democracy in the Middle East.

US gives billion dollar aid each year to Israel so that Israel can maintain an illeagal occupation of Palestine.

[centrajapan]

http://www.antisemittisme.no/engl/antis/2006-08-02-nis-norw-law.php

Here is the link you were not allowed to post. Liver Shot. They are a bunch of Zionists who yell out anti-semitism each time somenone is critical of Israel's policy. They don't have much of a case. I'm glad they don't have much power in Norway. Yes, I do regard Zionism as a racist ideology.

I tend to show sympathy towards the victim and not the rapist.

[Hezam]

I tend to show sympathy towards the victim and not the rapist

i am very happy to here this words dear centerjapan ...

from now i like norway people becase they are all-just

not like american ( not all american )

Dear centerjapan : thank you very much, you make me feel that there are some people who care about the (victim)...

thanks again ^^

[Mars Man]

Let's please be careful to nudge it back in line with the more general topic, however...about Arab people...and by extension, a little, about some near-Arab folks too. Thank you.

[Liver Shot]

I don't support Israel, but I also don't support Palestine. Both sides are full of victims and criminals. Both of you are so quick to oversimplify and vilify one side. It's incredibly simple-minded and ignorant. Oh well, ignorance is bliss they say.
from now i like norway people becase they are all-just


HA; they are all just? No, there are plenty of racist and bad Norwegians, as well as plenty of kind and compassionate ones. No people on Earth are "all," anything.

I tend to show sympathy towards the victim and not the rapist.

I hope you show sympathy towards all the Israeli men, women, and children needlessly killed by Palestinian suicide bombers. Or are they the "rapists," in your analogy?

Well, we should stop this argument because I doubt Mars Man would appreciate it.

[centrajapan]

Well, I might have come across too strongly. Liver Shot. I agree with you that both parties have made mistakes in the past.

I do not support suicide bombings. But I think suicide bombings is the less evil than the ongoing oppression of the Palestinians than suicide bombings. The reason why there are suicide bombings is because Palestinians are being oppressed. No oppression no need to resist.

If you have a pistol you don't use a stone. The reason why Palestinians are doing suicide bombings/martyr operations is because they don't have US made war planes, tanks, bombs and jets.

[Hezam]

Well, I might have come across too strongly. Liver Shot. I agree with you that both parties have made mistakes in the past.

I do not support suicide bombings. But I think suicide bombings is the less evil than the ongoing oppression of the Palestinians than suicide bombings. The reason why there are suicide bombings is because Palestinians are being oppressed. No oppression no need to resist.

If you have a pistol you don't use a stone. The reason why Palestinians are doing suicide bombings/martyr operations is because they don't have US made war planes, tanks, bombs and jets

I agree with you ...thanks centerjapan

I hope you show sympathy towards all the Israeli men, women, and children needlessly killed by Palestinian suicide bombers. Or are they the "rapists," in your analogy?

of course they are (rapists)

I want to ask you, why did they come to Palestine ?

and If some of arabs came to your country and built a small country and government

and we helped them with all types of weapons (don't forget the nuclear weapons)

then they begin to fight you and killed many people of you because they think the

land is theirs (historically) .... what will you do with them ?????????????????????????

answer my question ..then we can agree with you if your answering is right........

[Liver Shot]

I don't blame Palestinians for fighting against the Israelis, nor do I blame anyone from defending their family and friends. I do, however, have problems with ignorant observers of these situations claiming one side is "right," or "rapists." That is a disgusting word, and how dare you label someone as such. Apparently you don't know anyone who was a victim of rape. Shame on you for likening Israelis to rapists.

I don't believe land truly belongs to anyone. If you want to define ownership as who was their first, than the land belongs to Jews. Arab peoples didn't enter that area until much later than the Jews. If you want to define ownership as who has more money and military might (which is more realistic), once again the Israelis would fit that definition. By giving the Palestinian terrorist movements credibility, you are setting up a slippery slope. What about Al Qaeda? What is so much more noble about the Palestinian struggle than about the stated goal of Al Qaeda, or other terrorist organizations? Or maybe you think what happened to the US on September 11th, 2001 was justifiable? I know people that died on that day, innocent people. Or are they "rapists," as well, just because they were born in a country that supports Israel?

[Hezam]

ok ..that's mean you agree with me if some people came to your country and fight you

and take the land by the power and weapons ...

[Derfel]

My views are the following: In life there is one thing which the gall Brennus stated hundreds of years ago. That very thing can't be described better than the two words Vae Victis describe it. Im not racist in any way, but thats the cruel reality. You could say "Oh thats cause you never experienced such a loss!". And I would answer "Yes I did, lots of Hungarian land was taken thanks to the events of Trianon." But hey, do you know what? Who cares, its not like Hungary truly was a victim, no Hungary was the underdog who would have done the same if he was the winner. In the world we're living in power justifies itself, thats how things are. BUT ON THE OTHER HAND, its obvious that one would fight for his own welfare, and there's nothing wrong with it. Long story short, i'll state it in a nutshell: morality matters little in a cruel world such as ours.

[Liver Shot]

My views are the following: In life there is one thing which the gall Brennus stated hundreds of years ago. That very thing can't be described better than the two words Vae Victis describe it. Im not racist in any way, but thats the cruel reality. You could say "Oh thats cause you never experienced such a loss!". And I would answer "Yes I did, lots of Hungarian land was taken thanks to the events of Trianon." But hey, do you know what? Who cares, its not like Hungary truly was a victim, no Hungary was the underdog who would have done the same if he was the winner. In the world we're living in power justifies itself, thats how things are. BUT ON THE OTHER HAND, its obvious that one would fight for his own welfare, and there's nothing wrong with it. Long story short, i'll state it in a nutshell: morality matters little in a cruel world such as ours.

A wise Buddhist friend said it perfectly: "It's a cruel world."

[centrajapan]

If you want to define ownership as who was their first, than the land belongs to Jews. Arab peoples didn't enter that area until much later than the Jews.

Not entirely true. There were people living there from before there was a religion called Judaism. Jews are not a people but rather a religion. Before the creation of Israel there were Jewish Palestinians, Christian Palestinians and Muslim Palestinians.

However say a Jew was a direct decendent from Abraham but through history his family converted to an another religion would he then lose the right to live in Israel? Would he then have no connection to Israel? If an European had converted from Christianity to Judaism thoughout history would that person all of a sudden have a right to live in Israel be a decendent of Abaraham?

There was no problem in Palestine but then Zionists claimed that it was their land. And they terrorised the people from their homes and lands. And another word would be ethnic cleansign. The cleansed Palestine free from its native inhabitants just like how white settlers ethnic clenased USA.

Ownership is easy to define. If I live in a house which I have bought. That house belongs to me. If you one day barge into my home and kick me out of my home you are stealing property. You are stealing my house. That is exactly what Israelis did.




By giving the Palestinian terrorist movements credibility, you are setting up a slippery slope.

If you label Palestinian terrorist surely the same law shoudl apply to everyone and you should also label Israel as terrorists then. And what about al-Qaida? Had not US been supporting Israel apartheid. The most racist country on this planet maybe bin Laden would not have had flown 2 jets ramming into WTC. But you know what? The crimes committed by bin Laden are small compared with what US and Israel have been doing.

[Hezam]

What a load of horse crap. There were people living there from before there was a religion called Judaism. Jews are not a people but rather a religion. Before the creation of Israel there were Jewish Palestinians, Christian Palestinians and Muslim Palestinians.

However say a Jewish Muslim was a direct decendent from Abraham but through history his family converted to an another religion would he then lose the right to live in Israel? Would he then have no connection to Israel? If an European had converted from Christianity to Judaism thoughout history would that person all of a sudden have a right to live in Israel because he would then be a chosen one?


There was no problem in Palestine but then Zionists claimed that it was their land. And they terrorised the people from their homes and lands. And another word would be ethnic cleansign. The cleansed Palestine free from its native inhabitants just like how white settlers ethnic clenased USA.

Ownership is easy to define. If I live in a house which I have bought. That house belongs to me. If you one day barge into my home and kick me out of my home you are stealing property. You are stealing my house. That is exactly what Israelis did.

that's right ...we must be all-just...


If you label Palestinian terrorist surely the same law shoudl apply to everyone and you should also label Israel as terrorists then. And what about al-Qaida? Had not US been supporting Israel apartheid. The most racist country on this planet maybe bin Laden would not have had flown 2 jets ramming into WTC. But you know what? The crimes committed by bin Laden are small compared with what US and Israel have been doing.

it's true ..But not as a pretext to justify the work of terrorists ..

everyone here in JREF , Do you think that a group of people representing a whole nation?

[Liver Shot]

that's right ...we must be all-just...
it's true ..But not as a pretext to justify the work of terrorists ..
everyone here in JREF , Do you think that a group of people representing a whole nation?

I don't, but you certainly seem to due to your bashing of Israelis. Do you think all Israelis are as bad as their government? I don't. I don't like George W Bush, but unfortunately a lot of people in this world will hate me just because some fools in my country elected him.

Not entirely true. There were people living there from before there was a religion called Judaism. Jews are not a people but rather a religion. Before the creation of Israel there were Jewish Palestinians, Christian Palestinians and Muslim Palestinians.

Not entirely true either. Jews, like most people, can identify themselves in a few ways. Religiously, a Jew would be one who follows Judaism. But a Jew can also be a non-religious person of ethnic Jewish ancestry: Sephardic, Ashkenazi, etc. These people are ethnic Jews. You are incorrect in saying Jews are not a people; they are, regardless of religion.


Ownership is easy to define. If I live in a house which I have bought. That house belongs to me. If you one day barge into my home and kick me out of my home you are stealing property. You are stealing my house. That is exactly what Israelis did.

Incorrect. The Jews were in Israel first, much earlier than any Arab peoples were. An analogy that is more fitting is as such: I live in my house (Jews), a gangster landlord comes and throws me out (Rome), in my absence someone steals my house (Arabs), and I come back to re-claim it (Israel). Are you saying because Jews should be punished (robbed of their homes) because the Romans wanted them out? If anything, the Palestinians stole land from the Jews. Remember the 40 years of wandering in the desert after they left Egypt and wound up in the Levant? Well, that story is basically corroborated by non-religious historical accounts (all easily found online).

The most racist country on this planet maybe bin Laden would not have had flown 2 jets ramming into WTC. But you know what? The crimes committed by bin Laden are small compared with what US and Israel have been doing.


Wow... so because some of my government's action, this terrorist group has the right to kill thousands of men, women, and children? As a New Yorker who knows people that died that day, I find this disgusting. It's so easy for you to sit on your high horse in Scandinavia, where there is no real threat of terrorism, while innocent people who don't support the current President (most of the population) have to worry about being murdered by fanatics. Fanatics that obviously have the support of people like you.

How sad.

[Hezam]

I don't, but you certainly seem to due to your bashing of Israelis. Do you think all Israelis are as bad as their government? I don't. I don't like George W Bush, but unfortunately a lot of people in this world will hate me just because some fools in my country elected him.

I greeting you dear Liver shot ...ensure that we never hate you and the people like you

best wishes from me ( Hezam )

[scorpion da black]

centrajapan thank you, you are a great freind of arabs.

derfel i saw that you are a great person who deserves my respect...and i even want to be your freind.

carlos sanata you are my brother.

liver shot you seem well knowledged, and that is something i really like to feel in people i converese with.

but please people wht you all lack is sense of mutual respect, dont be bitter.
please keep on topic and please dont make your point of views sound like insults...
that way of conversation shows a bad image to your own people...and that doesnt make fair for all your proud nations.

[Liver Shot]

liver shot you seem well knowledged, and that is something i really like to feel in people i converese with.
but please people wht you all lack is sense of mutual respect, dont be bitter.
please keep on topic and please dont make your point of views sound like insults...
that way of conversation shows a bad image to your own people...and that doesnt make fair for all your proud nations.

I agree with you. If my tone seemed to be agressive in nature, I apologize. I was a bit upset and insulted when words like "rapist," were used, however. I don't know if whomever used it first understands the cultural context of the word, but in the United States, rape is probably the worst crime possible, second to pedophilia. So when I heard Israelis likened to rapists, I felt the need to defend them (even though I am not Jewish nor have any connections with Israel).

[scorpion da black]

I agree with you. If my tone seemed to be agressive in nature, I apologize. I was a bit upset and insulted when words like "rapist," were used, however. I don't know if whomever used it first understands the cultural context of the word, but in the United States, rape is probably the worst crime possible, second to pedophilia. So when I heard Israelis likened to rapists, I felt the need to defend them (even though I am not Jewish nor have any connections with Israel).

peace be upon you liver shot my freind..
i understand how people can be easily insulted over misunderstandings..
that is why i watch my language everytime i converse with any one.
how ever when "rapist" word was used..it was spoken of fact.

i am lebanese and i lived three lebanese israeli wars, i have felt the bad taste of loosing freinds, family and loved ones...
the israeli army personel were reported many times raping innocent women...and that happened often...
that is something hezbollah never did...

[Liver Shot]

I'm sure Israeli soldiers have raped, scorpion, but centrajapan likened all Zionists to rapists, no just soldiers. That's why I took issue with the choice of words that were used. If he had said "some (a small minority) of Israeli soldiers are rapists," I'd have to agree. However, this was not what was said, so I still find it offensive.

[pugtm]

peace be upon you liver shot my freind..
i understand how people can be easily insulted over misunderstandings..
that is why i watch my language everytime i converse with any one.
how ever when "rapist" word was used..it was spoken of fact.
i am lebanese and i lived three lebanese israeli wars, i have felt the bad taste of loosing freinds, family and loved ones...
the israeli army personel were reported many times raping innocent women...and that happened often...
that is something hezbollah never did...
on the other hand i have friends and family members in the army that christian lebanese asked that the army should stay in lebanon. it all depends on your point of view.

I'm sure Israeli soldiers have raped, scorpion, but centrajapan likened all Zionists to rapists, no just soldiers. That's why I took issue with the choice of words that were used. If he had said "some (a small minority) of Israeli soldiers are rapists," I'd have to agree. However, this was not what was said, so I still find it offensive.
the issue is not wether there are or aren't the issue is how they are treated. in israel they are hunted down and prosecuted in some arab countries the victims are beaten and jailed like the case in saudi arabia. anyone hear whats going on in sudan recently?

[scorpion da black]

on the other hand i have friends and family members in the army that christian lebanese asked that the army should stay in lebanon. it all depends on your point of view.


the issue is not wether there are or aren't the issue is how they are treated. in israel they are hunted down and prosecuted in some arab countries the victims are beaten and jailed like the case in saudi arabia. anyone hear whats going on in sudan recently?

that is true, and those people are called traitors even by other christians the majority of them...

the fact that Lebanese are so divided is bad, but the fact that Zionists raped women and killed many civilians still stands...as well

some christian sects sided with Israel because they feared for their life...every group was killing the other group...some christian and Druz groups didnt know who to make aliance with so they just sided with any one strong...

it is unfortunate...what is more unfortunate is that war accured in the first place...

please seek peace every one.......this is out of humanity not cowerdice...
i am ready to fight any time...just why should we?

[Mars Man]

Well, we should stop this argument because I doubt Mars Man would appreciate it.

Now ain't that the truth !! Listen, now, people. I put it plainly enough at the top of this page (3) and it just practically fell on deaf ears !!!

Are there any among you kind folks that wish to deny that the topic of this thread is 'what we think of Arab people?' Now while some embedding would of course be expected at certain points in order to lay out a foundation for a clause within a claim, or assertion, or even the claim itself, there is no value in lingering on a certain focal point which doesn't evidence even embedding.

I don't know how many times I would have to say it all over the place before it were to finally sink in, but arguing histoical factors here regarding the Arab peoples (giving that as full a range of definition as possible here) in order to prove a point about a certain present world situation will get us nowhere, and at a very slow pace at that!

Whose earth is it? Why those very first life forms--bless their long lost souls.

Now then. We can see that the concept of 'race' has been challenged, and yet there are certain biological/genetical factors which can be seen as being more redundant in certain 'types' of human lines. If we were to take this objection to the theory of non-race, what, if any, can be found so as to distinguish a people as being 'Arab?'

[Ma Cherie]

I know I'm waaaaaay late, but these kinds of threads I feel could go into more depth.

What do I think of Arab people, I think they're stereotyped as all being Muslim terrorists. It's almost as though it's synonymous with Arab=terrorist. Though I blame the media mainly for these perceptions. Above all, to me Arabs are people, like other people with feelings and emotions.

[Hezam]

What do I think of Arab people, I think they're stereotyped as all being Muslim terrorists. It's almost as though it's synonymous with Arab=terrorist. Though I blame the media mainly for these perceptions. Above all, to me Arabs are people, like other people with feelings and emotions.

you are late but you are right ^^

thanks Ma Cherie san ..i hope you contact us in this thread ^^

best wishes
Hezam ^^

[Derfel]

peace be upon you liver shot my freind..
i understand how people can be easily insulted over misunderstandings..
that is why i watch my language everytime i converse with any one.
how ever when "rapist" word was used..it was spoken of fact.
i am lebanese and i lived three lebanese israeli wars, i have felt the bad taste of loosing freinds, family and loved ones...
the israeli army personel were reported many times raping innocent women...and that happened often...
that is something hezbollah never did...

Obviously you have a reason to hate them, Israel that is, because they did you nothing good, but thats just one aspect of it, while you suffered the consequences of their deeds, many did not, so i'd rather hear it from Your mouth than from someone who's like thousands of miles away complaining in a country that hasn't been in a conflict ever since the II. WW.
While you do have a reason to feel overhelming hatred towards them, we don't. In my opinion conflicts should be broken down to countries and not religions. So imo we should view it like X country waging a war with Y country, not X country that belongs to a certain religion and Y country that belongs to a different one. I hope a day will come when religion will be like a hobby or something, commonly practised, but at the same time restricted to moral and sacral issues.

[Pachipro]

What do I think of Arab people, I think they're stereotyped as all being Muslim terrorists. It's almost as though it's synonymous with Arab=terrorist. Though I blame the media mainly for these perceptions.

That is very true, but one cannot deny the fact that the fanatic leaders of the religious Muslim/Islamic world have one goal in mind and that is the subjugation of the entire world to the Islamic religion. And, because of their power and strict religious laws, even though they be in the minority, they have the power and it is the rare Muslim/Islamic person who would ever speak against their "leaders", even though they may disagree with them, for fear of reprisal and a death sentence.

The Islamic goal in the US is very clear: The founder of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, Omar Ahmad, made it very clear when he is quoted as saying:


"Islam isn't in America to be equal to any other faith, but to become dominant", a local reporter quoted him as saying, adding, "The Koran, the Muslim book of scripture, should be the highest authority in America, and Islam the only accepted religion on Earth."

Ahmad insists he was misquoted. However, an FBI wiretap transcript quotes Ahmad agreeing with terrorist suspects gathered last decade at the secret Philly meeting to "camouflage" their true intentions. He compared it to the head fake in basketball. "This is like one who plays basketball: He makes a player believe that he is doing this, while he does something else," Ahmad said. "I agree with you. Like they say, politics is a completion of war."


You can read the entire story here (http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=59026).

It is these fanatical religious leaders and their philosophy that the media seizes on and reports as news. Therefore, is it any wonder that the average American thinks that all Arabs/Muslims are terrorists?

Just as the average non-american person despises the US government, they, for the most part, do not despise the average American person and the same is probably true of Americans. When one can seperate the individual from their government and judge them on the content of their character alone can real peace be achieved.

Unfortunately, most people will not find out for themselves, but instead will rely on and believe what is told to them by their government and thus we are in the predicament we are in today where everyone despises and hates the other for one reason only and that is usually their religion. How childlike and immature. It's about time the people wake up and stop listening to the propaganda of their leaders who only teach hate and mistrust of other peoples and religions.

That is why I do not adhere to any religion (even though I was brought up as Roman-Catholic) as all preach hate in one way or another against other "non-believers". I instead prefer to make my own judgements about a person regardless of his race, nationality, or creed. All are my brothers until they hurt me or my family or try to convert me. Peace!

[Sarapva]

I agree, Pachipro! I think governments sometimes use their citizens to help fuel their disagreements with other countries' governments. If every one of us in the world stopped hating or being angry with people in other countries, governments wouldn't have enough people to go to any war!

But then of course there are world threats that have to be dealt with, like in WW II.

[Hezam]

I think governments sometimes use their citizens to help fuel their disagreements with other countries' governments. If every one of us in the world stopped hating or being angry with people in other countries, governments wouldn't have enough people to go to any war!

But then of course there are world threats that have to be dealt with, like in WW II.

Yes ..that's very true ...

thanks for your reply ^^

[scorpion da black]

Obviously you have a reason to hate them, Israel that is, because they did you nothing good, but thats just one aspect of it, while you suffered the consequences of their deeds, many did not, so i'd rather hear it from Your mouth than from someone who's like thousands of miles away complaining in a country that hasn't been in a conflict ever since the II. WW.
While you do have a reason to feel overhelming hatred towards them, we don't. In my opinion conflicts should be broken down to countries and not religions. So imo we should view it like X country waging a war with Y country, not X country that belongs to a certain religion and Y country that belongs to a different one. I hope a day will come when religion will be like a hobby or something, commonly practised, but at the same time restricted to moral and sacral issues.

thanks for your reply bro...
well that shows me how open minded you are..
yet if you remember some of my previous posts i was understanding enough to say that if peace was honestly achievable i would be ready to compromise and forget the past, forgive the sins...and move on..live side by side...

if peace is honestly a target worked to achieve...

[centrajapan]

I have been to UAE, Syria, Lebanon. In Scandinavia there are quite a few people from Morroco, Palestine, Iraq. Most Muslims are from Turkey, Bosnia and Pakistan though and they are not Arabs but from a Muslim culural background. What can I say? I went to school with them. Grew up with them. Some were my friends others I didn't have too much in common with. We watched football and at girls and talked trash.

Lebanon had a very Med feel to it. Very nice. I also visited a Palestinian refugee camp. I have never seen so many guns in my entire life. Syria was very different. Nice too but more different than what I am used to. More of a "different world"

It is easy to achieve peace in the Middle East. Israel pulls back to 1967 borders or merge Israel and Palestine into 1 country but Israel and USA don't want peace. They are fine with oppression and conflict management.

[scorpion da black]

centrajapan that is right... the US feeds the anger and hate instead of solving it.

i see how automatic weapons flod into my country ...there is almost two guns per person here. and it is mostly american .....

my family has weapons ...nearly every family in tripoli have a small arsenal in their house :P....and everyone past 12 knows how to use guns...

the fued will never die i think...
back in summer 2006 i was readying my AK47 because we all thought that battle would move forward and reach north...but luckly it stopped.

[Liver Shot]

I'm not going to touch the Israel-Palestine discussion anymore. I've made my opinion known, so I'm going to move on. I'm not a scholar on Middle East politics, and the probability of anyone else here being one is slim to none as well.

Back to what do you think of Arabs: well, I think they get a bad rap in a lot of places, much to my disgust. Most people who don't like Arabs have either: 1) met only one or two, and those one or two happened to be bad people or; 2) never met an Arab person in their entire life, and their entire knowledge of them is what the biased news media tells them to think. Ignorance breeds hatred, and their is A LOT of ignorance in this world.

Another, only peripherally related thing I'd like to add, is how annoying it is when I hear someone call any Muslim an Arab, especially if they are Pakistani. I hear that one all the time. Someone will refer to a Pakistani as "some Arab guy." I mean, wow... talk about having no idea about geography or anthropology.

In an attempt to lighten up this thread... what are some top travel destinations in the Middle East JREFers would like to visit? In no particular order, some places I must go before I croak are:

Beirut
Damascus
Baghdad
Cairo
Tel Aviv
Jerusalem
Istanbul
Sanaa

[scorpion da black]

great choices of visit liver shot :-)

[RegDunlap]

I have nothing against Arab people. I've met some good ones, some bad ones, just like anyone else.

I am not a big fan of Arabic culture, to be honest. The emphasis on tribalism, that kind of thing. It tends to be pretty mysogynistic (sp) as well.

[pugtm]

I am not sure what people expected on this thread its not as if anyone will come out and say bad stuff even if god forbid they thought them. What were you expecting by starting a thread like this?

[Mars Man]

What were you expecting by starting a thread like this?

I think the first lines of the very first post, the OP①, as we usually call it (and the person who starts a thread), answer that question very well. Most unfortunately, too many didn't feel the need to give consideration to the spirit that can be seen in that OP, as quoted below :

Hi to all ...

I don't know why everybody thinks that arabic people are still useing Camels ?
:D

or think that arabic people are dump ! :?

SO ... as an arabic boy I want to make everybody understand us well

I Will Answer Any Thing That Anybody Ask About:cool:

There are a few on JREF who do not seem capable of expanding their horizons without some direct link back to the instability in the Middle East due to so many various things. This thread also, should have very little embedding in that regards towards trying to explain what they think of Arab peoples.

I, therefore, hope to look into educational processes that might help play a part in describing Arab peoples.

①　Arabic Boy has not been here since June of this year, it is important to take note of...some have failed on that point too.

[scorpion da black]

i wish people here will abide by the basics that mars man put here.

[包龙星]

I have four arabic friends studying in my university. They are very honesty and friendly. I was deeply touched by their strong faith of Muslim.Arab is a specialy part of human culture,so are we.:genji:

[Hezam]

I have four arabic friends studying in my university. They are very honesty and friendly. I was deeply touched by their strong faith of Muslim.Arab is a specialy part of human culture,so are we.

thank you very much dear 包龙星

as you know the attatchments between Arabs and Chinese are very old and very good than the western ...

Chinese are peaceful people and friendly ..

Before 10 years, Chinese handlers were in my country ( Yemen )..they were very friendly

I was talking to them in Arabic when I was 4 age and they answer me !!

They were able to speak Arabic ^^

thanks again

Hezam ^^

[Dakota]

I have no problem with Arabians, course some of the views they have i don’t agree with, treating women as lesser really isn't a thing i can get along with in many countries. I will ever go Egypt or turkey for sure with the horror stories you hear there. Especially in Egypt! you've got an armed security guard with you at all times and your not allowed to walk around with fewer than 3 people with you. Not much of a holiday or cultural experience i don’t think! :blush:
The whole 'evil Arab' thing has arisen now for the 9/11 and London bombings, personally i believe 9/11's and London bombings conspiracy theories, the government are evil in my opinion. American & British troops are just as bad as the Arabians both sides rape and murder for there own enjoyment but at the end of the day, its not to say the entire population of that countries like that, just the select individuals.
I don't stereotype and try me best not to judge, Arabians are the same as everyone else we're all human intelligence and things like that doesn’t differ to what nationality you are, its due to environmental factors. its the extremeists i dont like :okashii:

[scorpion da black]

thanks for sharing Dakota
and what you view arabs by is fair,
but what rapes are you talking about??
would arabs rape their own people? the war is happening in Arabian lands and forign troops invading the country are theones who rape...kill etc...

not that i am saying there isnt extremists....they made our image ugly in the eyes of all the world...i hate them as well.
plus where did you hear horror stories about turkey and eygpt??
that is non sense...visit thos countries and have the time of your life...turkish and egyption happened to be some of the most hospatible people i ever met.

[Liver Shot]

I imagine she is talking about the rapes that happen in some Arab countries. There was a recent news story about a woman who was gang-raped by seven Saudi men which got HER in trouble with the law. She got in trouble for being raped, how insane! You can find the news story on the NY Times, or any other major newspaper. They won't let me post a link here, but you can find it on google easily. Type in "Saudi woman gang raped." I've unfortunately heard about these things happening in Muslim (non-Arab) countries as well, namely Pakistan.

As far as conspiracy theories about 9/11... those are all complete farces. They have been debunked and no credible sources are found to support such conspiracy theories.

[scorpion da black]

as i said i never said bad people dont exist...but we all hate criminlas.
when people refer to arabs they are refering to an entire race...not the criminals and terrorists and rapists from that race....unless, some one thinks the whole race is terrorists, rapists and criminals

[Liver Shot]

as i said i never said bad people dont exist...but we all hate criminlas.
when people refer to arabs they are refering to an entire race...not the criminals and terrorists and rapists from that race....unless, some one thinks the whole race is terrorists, rapists and criminals

I definitely agree with this. Anyone who stereotypes a whole race as bad (or good) is being very naive.

[scorpion da black]

thank you liver shot san

[Mavrek]

The Arabs are just like other humans,We see good and bad going along in every society.I will give Arabic people a plus point that they are more generous than the others.

[Chi65]

Depends, some yes, some no.
I made both experiences, but stick to the good ones in general.

But I am also with Liver Shot etc.:

". . . . Anyone who stereotypes a whole race as bad (or good) is being very naive."

[scorpion da black]

thank you mavrek...

i bet you can experience that first hand if you were my guest :D