Lebanese Festival: Muslims Oppressed?
August 31, 2007, 11:38 am |
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By Andrew L. Jaffee
So “Muslims are an oppressed minority in this country?” One wouldn’t have made this conclusion if attending my hometown’s annual Maronite Christian Lebanese festival, held last weekend here in downtown Middle America. Amongst the throngs of Polish-, German-, Lithuanian-, Franco-, Scottish-, Irish-, Anglo-, African-, Jewish-, Latino-, etc.-Americans were Muslims, too. Several women were sporting their hijab (head scarves). If so oppressed, would Muslims have been there having a good time with the rest of us? Conversely, if these women were radical Islamists, would they have been at a Christian-sponsored festival involving belly-dancing, beer-kegs, and plenty of male/female fraternization? Everybody needs to chill out a little bit.
Festival organizers had a display on Lebanese history, including Phoenician and Maronite factoids. There was no shilling for the Palestinians; no railing against Israel; no anti-Muslim sentiments. It all was in good taste, despite how badly Lebanese Christians have been treated in their homeland by other Arabs and Muslims.
If Muslims are being mistreated in my hometown, I haven’t seen it happen, not even once. Last weekend’s festival is just another example of us ‘Merikans having a good time together — stuffing ourselves full of delicious Lebanese treats like kibbee, kafta, marinated garlic chicken, falafel, shawarma, tabouli salad, stuffed grape leaves, humus dip, homemade mountain bread with zhata seasoning, fresh pastries, and imported Lebanese beer and wine. This is no Iraq, or any of the other places on Earth where internecine conflicts dominate society.
You really have to wonder about all the professional “victims” running around screaming bloody heck… Where’s the fire? One thing popped into my mind during the festival: How are Maronite and other minority Arab groups being treated in the Arab/Muslim world?
Oh, and by the way, enjoy the pictures of the local Maronite women cutting a mean rug…
Related: United States, Arab/Muslim World, Islam, Lebanon, Society, Christianity, Racism