AMERICANS VERSUS FOREIGNERS.

TIPS FOR DEALING AND SOCIALIZING WITH ARABS, MUSLIMS AND FOREIGNERS.

Lebanon was once upon a time the great Ancient country of Phoenicia which invented the Alphabet, created the world’s first Papyrus in the city of Byblos (Today, it is called Jbeil), discovered the world’s first maritime royal dye “ Al Ourjouwan” (The Color of Kings and Queens of the Antiquities) on the shores of the city of Sidon (Today it is called Saida) and established the world’s first Masonic order, rites, rules and lodges “Invented” by King Hiram (The correct name in Phoenician and Aramaic is Ahiram or Hiram), king of Tyre (Today it is called Sour). King Ahiram wedded his daughter to King Solomon. Hiram’s masons and architects built the Temple of Solomon with stones from the land of Lebanon and Cedar woods from the very high mountains of Lebanon, located in the region of Al Arz. So, Lebanese had a majestic history. One of the five greatest generals of the ancient world and probably of all time was Hannibal of Carthage. He was Phoenician. He was from Lebanon. Not all Lebanese are bloody killers as we were led to believe. Some fanatic fundamentalists in Lebanon are. They are killers, but the Majority of Lebanese are not. So if you have read your Bible (Old or New Testament), you would know by now a lot of things and a lot of history about Lebanon (Ancient Phoenicia), including but not limited to Jesus visit to the Lebanese city of Saida, the sea travel departure spot of St. Paul near the Lebanese city of Jbeil, the Temple of Solomon, etc… And if you are a student of ecclesiastic and theological studies and the history of the first Christian churches, you already know that Lebanon was the cradle of Christianity. The very first Christian churches were not built in Rome but, in Lebanon and Antioch. In the United States, as well as in numerous Christian countries, the Catholic mass is celebrated and officiated in English, French, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, etc., sometimes part of it is offered to the worshipers in Latin. But did you know that the only country in the world where the Christian mass is still offered in the original tongue of Jesus Christ is Lebanon? The Christian priests and monks in Lebanon recite prayers and read the Bible in Aramaic, the native language of Jesus Christ. Christian Lebanese know more about Christian love, peace and Christian martyrdom than any of those big mouth politicians on Capitol Hill.

You will learn from the Bible, from the Psalms, from the Poems of Solomon, from the prophecies of the prophets of Israel, from the terra-cotta and tablets of Babylonia, Luxor, Ougarit, Ain Shamra, Antioch, Assyria, Hyskos, etc., etc., etc., that ancient Lebanese were the natural allies of the Israelites and beloved neighbors of Israel!! Of course, things have changed now because of the influence of the Islamic world, the military strength of their Arab neighbors and the implication of the American foreign policies.

So, this historical expose tells us a lot about the psyche and way of life of Christian and Muslim Lebanese. Lebanon is a very complex and intriguing country. Many regions of Lebanon look like European cities. And once upon a time, the "old" Beirut was called the Paris and the Switzerland of the Middle and Near East. The Christian regions are typically French. The Muslim regions are typically Muslim Arab. The modern and cultured Lebanese Muslim could be very sophisticated and a world-traveler. He/she learned from the West, all the glitzy manners, arts, savoir-faire, fashion, and plastic way of life. The uneducated Lebanese Muslim is more resistant to changes of time. He/she thinks, acts and lives 100% according to strict Islamic rules, codes and way of life. It is often very difficult for a Westerner and particularly Americans to harmoniously and successfully deal with traditional and rigid Lebanese Muslims, if they are not familiar with Islamic ideology. For everything in the daily life of a Muslim is in strict conformity with the teachings of the Quran and the verbal teachings and dialogues of Prophet Mohammad which are in sharp contrast with Western ideologies and lifestyles. The Christian Lebanese is more "equipped" to successfully dealing with Westerners, for they were taught by Europeans, French missionaries and many Christian Lebanese who studied in France. Besides, all Christian children and adults have attended schools shaped after the French lyceums and centers of learning. However, both Christian and Muslim Lebanese, despite the enormous difference in their lifestyles, religion and visions of the world, have many things in common such as; very solid and traditional respect for the elderly, their teachers and their families ;code of honor and importance of a verbal agreement in business transactions; protecting the orphan; legendary hospitality; unsurpassed generosity; creative resourcefulness; love for music and poetry; elegance; superb cuisine; colorful jokes, and above all, shrewd and clever negotiating maneuvers.