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Introduction:
Are
we Egyptians or Arabs? It looks like an obvious simple question but it
is not. Although this is not a new question, but its many versions ("Are
we Lebanese or Arabs?", "... Algerians or Arabs?","... Kurds or Arabs?",
"... Christians or Arabs?" etc...), indicates how serious is the crisis
facing the Arab Culture. In this article I will try to this apparently
simple question. But the most important it is to clear the confusion that
this question has been causing for decades and centuries, because there
is a lot of contradictions hiding within it that might will show later
how much non-logic is this question.
Why Identity is
so important?
The
future of more than 300 Million person depend on it (Considering the other
local versions in the Arab world of this same question) i.e. if we're not
Arabs, than Arabs problems should be a second priority at least after our
local Egyptian problems, which might set us free from a heavy and costly
responsibility we've been carrying for ages, and if yes then we have to
think of how to be at the level of these responsibilities, in both cases
the answer of this question mean time, money, human effort and lives, resources,
etc ... In a short statement because "Our identity shape our future" either
we're on our own or a apart of 300 Million person.
What does "Identity"
mean?
"Identity"
is the "culture" that shapes (an individual or nation) "character" and
"personality". There is a limitless number of factors that shapes our identity
and culture as individuals or nations this is include (but not limited
to) religion, color, race, ethnicity, sex, profession, history, geography,
environment, etc ... In this article I will focus only on the part that
affects our national belonging which is "Culture".
Any
culture is based on the 4 following main elements:
1) Language,
2) Arts &
Sciences,
3) History
and,
4) Ideas &
Values (Ideologies) |
These
are the cultural elements that affect directly our identity, and that makes
belong to a certain circle or another.
Who are we? (What
is our Identity?)
Before
we can answer this question, we have to identify the two identities we
belong to, define each of them (in the light of their contemporary meanings)
and finally check whether they are indeed "Competing" or not. Many doesn't
know that the official name of our country is "The Arab Republic of Egypt"
(Jumhureyyat Misr Al-Arabeyya), this is the name you can find on our national
emblem (under the claws of the eagle) on Money, and this is the acknowledged
name in United nations and African Unity Organization and League of Arab
States. As the name indicates we have two identities clearly mentioned
here, Egyptian and Arab. Although the name answer this questions but still
some like to answer "Which one are we, Egyptians or Arab!?". The simple
and straight answer is "BOTH” as the name "Arab Republic of Egypt" clearly
indicates, if were only one of these, the other would be omitted, but actually
this question is ask because the words on the official name of our country
have a different meaning for those who ask this question, and till this
point we have to check the definition of the following terms before proceeding
further more:
| A) Arabic
Identity: This is the national identity of anyone who simply speaks Arabic
as his mother tongue. The Arabic identity is based on the Arabic culture
which most important features are the following: |
| 1- Openness:
Unlike other identities, Arab identity is very open in the sense it not
related to a specific place, religion, race, ethnicity, color or sex, i.e.
to be an Arab it doesn't make a difference if you're Muslim, Jew or Christian,
if you're Semite or not, if you're black or white, if you're a man or a
woman, etc ....
2- Abstraction:
Arabic identity also is also a "Generic" identity in all the sense of this
word, i.e. it sets guidelines for identity and leave the details for local
cultures, which makes it almost the only identity on earth that accepts
the idea of "Customization"; i.e. the culture is shaped by people rather
than being what shapes people, and this is a unique feature is a double
edged sword (which will be explain later); For example there is 22 dialect
version of the Original Arabic, each customized to the needs and heritage
of each Arab country; the Arabic architecture that can be observed on mosques
is a second example as by observing these building in the 22 Arab countries
shows clearly completely different decoration, construction, shape, size,
etc ... but still there is a common line between all of them; a dome, a
hall, a minaret, etc ...
The Arabic Identity
is a "Macro-Identity" in the sense it is the identity of several nations
(Arab Identity is the identity of more than 22 Nation, Islamic Identity
is the identity of more than 38 Nations, etc ...). |
| B) Egyptian
Identity: This is a local identity restricted to the geographic area of
Egypt and to the people called Egyptians; in general you're an Egyptian
if your culture is Egyptian and you live permanently in Egypt or temporarily
outside it. The Egyptian culture is based on circa 5000 years of cultural
heritage, some of it is shared with the Arabic Culture (More than 1400
years) and some of it with other cultures (Around 600 years of mixed Coptic,
Byzantine & Roman Heritage, 200 years of Greek Heritage, and around
3000 years of Ancient Egyptian Heritage) all contributed in forging a special
and unique identity for Egyptians. But actually the contemporary version
of Egyptian Cultures is the Egyptian customized version of the Arabic culture,
as the main language in Egypt is Arabic and the main factors that affect
today's culture are Islamic and Christian religions, and our shared history
with the Arab world while the influence of Ancient Egyptian civilization
is today at its minimum.
The Egyptian Identity
is a "Micro-Identity" in the sense it is the identity of a single nation
(Egyptian Identity is identity of only Egyptians, Syrian Identity the identity
of only Syrians, and so on...). |
Facts and Myths
about Identities
"How
we think of identity" is a real problem when it comes to choosing to what
we belong; in fact there is a lot of miss-conceptions in the way we deal
with our identities that I tried to simplify by mentioning some of the
facts (the below 7 points) and myths (The next 7 points) in the following
points:
1) It is
incorrect to restrict an individual or a society/nation to only one identity,
in fact any human being learn by default to belong to two entities since
the day of his/her birth; a mother and a father.
2) Although
some identities cannot be joined, some others can be, and if (ironically!)
it is possible to be "An Egyptian-American" why it is impossible to be
"Arab-Egyptian"? Which of these cultures (American and Arab) is closer
to Egyptian identities?
3) Macro-Identities
does not cancel nor conflict or replace Micro-identities; it is rather
the foundation for Micro-Identities, and it is there to complement it and
to act as a communication channel between it (Micro-identities) and other
neighboring micro-identities; Example: Macro-Identities like Arab Nationalism
are not the opposite of Micro-identities like Egyptian Nationalism, in
fact Arab & Egyptian identities are essential for each other, they
complement rather than conflict with each other, Arab identity alone is
like a house without walls, and Egyptian identity alone is like a house
with no base.
4) Macro-Identities
does not cancel, conflict or replace Minorities identities (Smaller groups
living within a nation) in the same way it deals with Micro-Identities,
and furthermore it does not ignore minorities special conditions, and treat
them in a unified way; for example, some of the Kurds are only Kurds, some
of them have a double-identity like Arab-Kurds (Iraqi-Kurds, Syrian-Kurds,
etc...) , and some others have another double-identity like Turkish-Kurds,
or Persian-Kurds.
5) Identity
is essentially a choice; an individual or a nation has the complete freedom
to be a part of a specific macro-identity, or stick to a micro-identity.
Although it is easy to tell what identity an individual belongs too it
is not that simple in the case of a nation because the decision itself
is not made (although it can be) in a second, rather it is made over years
of living and coexistence with people we decide to belong to.
6) The failures
of those applying a theory shall not attributed to the theory itself, many
system has failed in applying many theories across history, this is does
not mean necessarily the defect is in the theory itself as much as it means
the defect is rather in the system applying it, the same applies to the
point number 5, if some systems failed to understand that "Arab Identity"
is a choice, that doesn't mean necessarily the problem is in this identity,
the problem is rather in these systems.
7) We should
be aware of the difference between the Ideology and Identity, each of them
cannot replace the other, and religion and nationality cannot simply exchange
roles, i.e. one cannot have a Muslim Nationality nor can have an Egyptian
religion. Still, the precedent does not deny the strong mutual relation
between both affecting clearly the aspects/characteristics and behavior
of both identity and ideology.
|
| Many
critic recently targeted the "Arabic Identity" because of the failure of
"Arab Nationalism" during the sixties in "melting" Arabs in one country
or nation, but as a matter of fact there is a lot of "Myths" in the judgment
of "Arab Identity/Nationalism" in the critics addressed to it; the most
eminent are listed here below: |
1) Arabs
are still one nation, being not under one political system or separated
by boundaries, or in short having differences does not deny the fact we
still speak the same language, and have the same culture, and culture which
means we share a unified identity, and this is enough to make us one nation.
In short "Unity" is not politics, economics, and military aspects only,
culture, society, language and identity are also things that matters and
in this respect we're much of a united nation.
2) Most of
the attacks on the dual-identity formula claiming that Egypt can have only
one identity (considering Arab Identity a part of the Egyptian identity
rather than an equal one) looses a lot of its objectivity when t ignores
the mentioned logic here, and also when it comes from ironically people
with dual-identity, and I was personally shocked to see an "Egyptian-American”?
(As he presented himself) claiming it is impossible to be an Egyptian-Arab!
3) Arab Identity
is "... The culture of the backward desert nomad tribes called Arabs, who
come from the Arab Peninsula to invade the much more advanced civilizations
like Egyptians, Assyrians, Persians, Babylonians, etc ... for the sake
of fortune...", this stereotypical critic is addressed by those who ask
"Who are we?" (Although as mentioned earlier our dual identity is obvious).
The mentioned definition of Arab identity is a simply a "Myth" because
the culture of those nomads has nothing to do with today "Arabic Culture"
that Egypt has played in the most important role, and also Arab Identity
is simply not related to any ethnicity, i.e. Arab identity is a cultural
identity not a race or ethnicity, those nomads simply don't "Own It".
4) The forced
confrontation between the "Arab Identity", "Islamic Belief", "Christian
Belief", and even "Jewish Belief", is an ethical and moral crime that lead
to catastrophic results across our history, starting by providing a bas
for the foundation of a state built on religious identity like Israel,
till phasing out "Christians" out of our national equation in a move that
can be only described by "Racism". If "Savardim" (Oriental) Jews simply
understood the difference between identity and ideology the would have
never left their homes and countries to join a colonialist expansionist
state built by the western "Ashkenazim" (Occidental) like Israel, they
are simply "Arab Jews", they were brainwashed by religious propaganda very
similar to the one frequent during the crusades era and between today Islamic
Fundamentalists and Extremists. They should have stood beside "Arab Christians"
and "Arab Muslims" in their fight against Western colonialism represented
by the "Western Ashkenazim" whom rule and still control everything till
today in Israel, and treats Savardim as a second level citizen. Many "Christian"
voices within Arab world prefer to attribute Oriental "Christians" identity
to the Occident rather than Arabic identity although "Arab Nationalism"
was documented by the Christian "Michelle Aflaq" whom had among of his
targets to find an acceptable common ground between Muslims and Christians
that unites them in their confrontation with the colonialist powers. As
a matter of fact generalizing "Christianity" as a "Western" culture is
against history and facts; in fact the Aramaic language and culture that
Christianity was built on is one of the roots of Arabic, and there is around
35 Million Christian in the Arab world whom has been a part of the Arabic
culture for more than 1400 year. And finally even some Muslims started
to follow this line of claims, and although not every Muslim is an Arab,
still there is 250 Million Muslims that are Arabs.
5) It is also
very important to understand the only real reason for the success of Arabic
Culture in the countries it reached with Islam; it was mainly because it
presented a largely better and higher civilization model than the existing
ones in Egypt, Levant and Mesopotamia (Iraq) then, which were occupied
by Romans and Persians, i.e. they were in the lowest level on civilization
scale (that's what happen when a nation is invaded). And the torture and
crimes Romans and Persians committed in Egypt, Iraq and the Levant were
enough to show how backward these civilization were and how much Arabs/Muslims
were civilized by allowing freedom of belief, promoting values like justice,
freedom, etc.. In the liberated territories.
6) In this
same context it is said "Invaded nations where forced to be Muslims and
Arabs" which is definitely wrong, and Egypt is just the best example, for
600 years Romans failed to change Egyptian Christian faith to another sect
in Christian in spite of torture, killing, genocides, and occupation. This
very same mediocre Roman model was the reason behind the fast change in
less than 30 years toward Arab Identity and Islamic religion, which both
did not need any effort to achieve this as the distance between how Arabs
and how Romans treated Egyptians can be measure with light years, the same
happened in Iraq and the Levant.
7) Finally
some of the minorities of the Arab Peninsula who consider them selves the
only "Authentic" and "Original" Arab (this is a "Superiority" based approach,
which allows them to be "Superior" relative to anyone who "Become" Arab),
they like to classify today Arabs in 6 classes (3arab, Mosta3rebeen, E3rabeyyeen,
3arb 3arebah, 3arab waridah etc ...). In a short ,they want to transform
the "Arabic Identity" into a racial identity, which is incorrect as it
is based on culture as mentioned earlier. Simply, we're not Arabs, because
we're the descendants of these tribes, it is rather because our culture
and language is Arabic. |
Unfair Comparisons:
Comparing
"Arabic" culture to "Egyptian" culture is very unfair for 3 main reasons:
1) Arabic
culture contains Egyptian culture (and many other cultures); as a matter
of fact, all the Egyptian heritage since Ancient Egyptians, and through
Romans and Greeks till Copts, has been filtered and digested in Arabic
Culture, not just in its local version but our I do not exaggerate if I
say that our culture reached the whole Arab/Muslim world through Arabic
culture (Naguib Mahfouz novels are just an example), and this is the main
reason that makes the comparison non-logic, as the idea of comparing does
not fit comparing something that is inclusive in something else.
2) The today
promoted "Arabic culture" is a living culture while the version promoted
of "Egyptian Culture" (Based on Ancient Egyptian civilization) is not just
a dead culture, but promoting it requires at least teaching Ancient Egyptian
(Demotic, Heratic or Hieroglyphs) to a nation where more than 50% of the
population still suffer from illiteracy, and if identity is necessary,
it is because it should make people life easier and better, rather than
complicate it and take into mazes and labyrinth.
3) Arabic
culture is a multi-national, and multi-ethnic culture, while the today
promoted Egyptian Culture (Based on Ancient Egyptian culture) is not. For
instance, many ethnics living on Egypt soil are more to Arab than Egyptian,
this is applies to Sinai population, Western Desert & Siwa population,
and "Kenooz" Nubians (Nubians are 2 major clans, Kenooz, and Fajikkah and
the last ones do not consider themselves neither Egyptians or Arabs), in
a short again, what bind "us" on the local level (Not talking about the
international level with the other 22 Arab countries) in the "Arab Republic
of Egypt" is not just being Egyptian because some in fact are not, it is
also being Arab and again I cannot get how some accepts to be "Arab-American",
"Asian-American" or even "Indian American" then find it weird to be an
"Arab Egyptian" or "Arab Nubian". |
Conclusion:
The
question of Identity asked today "Are we Arabs or Egyptians?" is based
on a non-logical contradiction; except Jesus, everybody is the son/daughter
of a man and a woman, if someone asks me you're "The son of your mother
or father?" then he is falling the same non-logical contradiction mentioned
above as I'm the son of both. As a matter of fact we're both Arabs and
Egyptians, and we need to look at the identity issue in an objective way
without; surrendering to stereotypical mythical critics, confusing it with
ideology, and not away from rules, facts and people.
Osama M. Hijji
11/12/2003 |
