“Arab”

Etymology of Arab: ” c.1391 (Arabiens), from O.Fr. Arabe, from L. Arabs ” from Ar. ‘arab, indigenous name of the people, perhaps lit. “inhabitant of the desert”

Dictionary.com definition of “Arab”:

1. A member of a semitic people inhabiting Arabia and other countries of the Middle East .

2. A member of any Arabic speaking people.

A key point to note in this definition of “Arab” is that it does not mention Muslim. This is because being “Arab” doesn’t mean that you are Muslim and being Muslim does not mean that you are “Arab.” Another confusion that we (Americans) have with “Arab” and also the “Middle East”, is that all “Middle Easterners” are “Arab”, which is not the case (Humphreys 2005). To say that all the people in the “Middle East” are “Arab” is like saying that everyone in Asia is Chinese.

Being “Arab” as Dictionary.com presents it requires either speaking Arabic, or being a member of a semitic people inhabiting Arabia and other Middle Eastern countries. ”Middle Eastern” countries include North African countries, i.e. Algeria, Morocco, and Egypt.

In order to unpack “Arab” it is hard to overlook the stereotypes associated with the word in our culture today. From past experiences there can be some negative connotations that go along with “Arab”, but I think that that has more to do with our culture, than it does with the actual definition of the word “Arab.” Some sterotypes today about “Arab’s”; they are terrorists and they are Muslims.

While it is obvious that the first stereotype isn’t true, a possible reason behind the first sterotype is September 11, 2001. While Osama Bin Ladin and a majority of the hijackers were indeed of Saudi Arabian nationality, therefore making them “Arabs”, the vast majority of “Arabs” are not terrorists. It can sometimes be hard to give “Arab’s” a chance after September 11, 2001 because many Americans feel blanket hatred for the acts of a few. I’m not going to attempt to discuss anyone’s feelings about the cowardly acts of terrorism carried out, but a whole group of people can’t be categorized because of the acts of a few people.

 The second stereotype, that all “Arab’s” are Muslims, is also inaccurate and I believe that it has much to do with the simple fact that many Americans are completely unaware of Islam. Islam is a religion, and is not exclusive to “Arabs” (although it was started by an “Arab”) and “Arab’s” are not required to be Muslim, some Arab’s are Christian.

The word “Arab” has undertaken a huge transformation in our society since September 11, 2001. It is sometimes “thrown out” to ”categorize” a person of Middle Eastern background, possibly even in a negative way to to transform a person to one’s own stereotypes.

There is a lot hiding behind the word “Arab” and while the sterotypes are not true, they are part of our culture today and the only way to change one’s views on the meaning behind the “simple word” is to learn more about being “Arab” and what it encompasses.