|
Origins |
|
9. |
To which places do
Canadian Arabs trace their ancestry? |
| |
Canadian Arabs can trace
their roots to many places, including parts or all
of Algeria, Bahrain, Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan,
Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman,
Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan,
Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates and Yemen. |
| |
|
|
10. |
Is
Palestine a country? |
| |
Not
today. Historically, Palestine was a country east of
the Mediterranean Sea that included Israel and parts
of Jordan. As a distinct region, Palestine was under
Ottoman control (a Turkish empire) and then British
control until 1948, when the state of Israel was
created. Areas of Palestine became Israel and some
became a part of Jordan. Today, Palestinians share a
collective national identity and are striving toward
independence and self-rule. The Palestinian National
Council acts as the government. |
| |
|
|
11. |
Shouldn't Iran be in that list? |
| |
No.
Iran is not an Arab country. Although Iran borders
Iraq, it is descended from the Persian Empire and
has a different language and cultural history than
the Arab countries. The dominant language in Iran is
Farsi, not Arabic, although other languages are
spoken there as well. Persian is sometimes used to
describe either the language or the ethnicity, but
Farsi and Iranian are not interchangeable. Iran's
location, the fact that it is an Islamic country and
the similarity of its name to Iraq may confuse
people. |
| |
|
|
12. |
So, not all people from the Middle East are Arabs? |
| |
That
is correct. The four main language groups in the
Middle East are: Arabic, Persian, Turkish and
Hebrew. Other significant language groups are
Kurdish and Berber. Arabs are largest in terms of
population and land holdings.
This document focuses on people who have emigrated
from or who are descended from people in those
areas. |
| |
|
|
13. |
Are there other groups from the Arab region? |
| |
Yes.
Assyrians, Berbers, Chaldeans and Kurds have
languages rooted in pre-Arabic times. There also are
religious differences. |
| |
|
|
14. |
Who are Chaldeans? |
| |
Chaldeans are Catholics from Iraq. A religious and
ethnic minority there, the Chaldean Catholic Church
has had connections with the Roman Catholic Church
since 1551, and has been affiliated since 1830. The
Chaldean Diocese of the Catholic Church in the
United States has parishes in Michigan, California,
Chicago and Arizona. It also has several missions.
Churches offer Chaldean language services. Chaldeans
and Assyrians, along with Arabs, are Semite people.
The cultural foundation is similar, but the
religious affiliation is different. Most Chaldeans
are found in Toronto and along the Eastern coast of
the USA. |
| |
|
|
15. |
So, are Chaldeans Arabs,
or not? |
| |
Chaldeans and Arabs share
some similarities, but they have different
identities. The Chaldean language is different from
Arabic and, in Iraq, Chaldeans are religiously
distinct from the Muslim majority. While Chaldeans
foster a separate identity, they also have an Iraqi
nationality and some shared concerns with Arabs.
These nuances are lost by federal classifications,
which sometimes reclassify Chaldeans as Arab or
Iraqi. It is best to ask people how they would like
to be identified, to be specific and, when relevant,
to explain. |
| |
|
| |
|
|
Language |
| 16. |
Is Arabic the only language
spoken within the Arab world? |
| |
No. For example, Assyrian and Chaldean services use a dialect of
the original Aramaic. Berber and Kurdish are other non-Arabic
languages of the Middle East. |
| |
|
| 17. |
So, do all
Canadian Arabs speak one of these languages? |
| |
If they have retained their heritage language then yes, it is a
common factor amongst Arabs |
| |
|
| 18. |
Many
recently immigrated Canadian Arabs also know French.
Why is that? |
| |
Part of the
recent history of Arab people is colonization by the
French and British. In colonized countries, people
in business and government had to know one or more
European languages |
| |
|
| 19. |
Do Arab
schools teach other languages? |
| |
Definitely. It is much more common for Canadian Arabs to speak
more than one language than it is for non-Arab Canadians. Many
countries place more emphasis on language than the West does.
Many immigrants come to the Canada having learned two or three
languages in their country of origin. Arab countries emphasize
the importance of knowing a foreign language, and they are very
familiar with Western media. |
| |
|
| 20. |
Is there any
advice on pronouncing Arabic names? |
| |
Not really. It can be quite difficult to transliterate Arabic
words into English, a language that uses different sounds and
fewer letters. Unless you know the Arabic alphabet, it's hard to
know how to pronounce words correctly. The "r" sound is rolled,
and there are characters for three different pronunciations of
the "th" sound. If you are unsure, respectfully ask a source to
explain. Write down the pronunciation and the spelling, so you
can give readers both. Be aware that, for these reasons,
spellings vary. |
| |
|
| 21. |
Is there any
trick to spelling Arabic words? |
| |
There are so many variations that it is crucial to ask, as you
would with any word. Because Arabic and English characters and
sounds are different, there is more than one-way to
transliterate the words. The Associated Press, for example,
recently changed its style for the spelling of Mohammed to
Muhammad, and it has changed its style for Koran to Quran. |
| |
|
| 22. |
How is
Arabic written? |
| |
Arabic is one of several languages written from right to left,
and is historically one of the oldest languages.
The numbers we use today are from the Arabic numerals. |
| |
|
| 23. |
Are characters in Arabic
different than those we use to write English? |
| |
Yes. English is written in Latin characters. Arabic is written
in the 28-character Arabic alphabet. In Arabic, a character may
change depending on its placement in the word or sentence.
Arabic letters are connected like script. Fine writing is called
calligraphy and is held in high regard and appreciated as an art
form in the Arabic culture. |
| |
|
| |
|
|
Demographics |
| 24. |
When did Arab people
come to Canada? |
| |
The first significant
wave of immigration began around 1875, and is
continuing until today |
| |
|
| 25. |
Why did
Arabs first come to Canada? |
| |
Like many peoples who came to the Canada, Arabs were seeking
opportunity. Factors in the first immigration were Japanese
competition that hurt the Lebanese silk market and a disease
that hurt Lebanese vineyards. Most early Arab immigrants were
from Lebanon and Syria, and most were Christian. |
| |
|
| 26. |
What
prompted the second wave? |
| |
After 1940, immigration to Canada was not for economic reasons
as much as because of the Arab-Israeli conflict and civil war.
This meant that people came from many more places. The second
immigration also involved many more people who practiced Islam,
a religion that was not as familiar to Canada. Immigrants in
this group tended to be more financially secure when they
arrived than people who had come earlier for economic
opportunity. Many people in the second wave were students. |
| |
|
| 27. |
What race
are Canadian Arabs? |
| |
Arabs may have white skin and blue eyes, olive or dark skin and
brown eyes. Hair textures differ. Canada has, at different
times, classified Arab immigrants as African, Asian, white,
European or as belonging to a separate group. Most Canadian
Arabs identify more closely with nationality than they would
with ‘race’. |
| |
|
| 28. |
Are Arabs a
minority group? |
| |
This depends, in part, on your definition of minority. The
Canadian government classify Arabs as a minority group for
purposes of employment and housing. Arabs are not defined
specifically by race, like some minority groups, but are united
by culture and language. Some Canadian Arabs regard minority
classification as an impediment to full participation in
Canadian lifestyle. |
| |
|
| 29. |
Are Canadian
Arabs more closely tied to their country of origin,
or to Canada? |
| |
This need not be an either-or issue. While they may be closely
tied to their countries of origin, they also have a loyalty to
their adopted country. Do not forget, they
chose to become Canadians. |
| |
|
| 30. |
Who are some
well-known Arabs in the West? |
| |
Christa McAuliffe, the teacher/astronaut who died aboard the
space shuttle Challenger; Indy 500 winner Bobby Rahal; Heisman
Trophy winner and NFL quarterback Doug Flutie; creators of
radio's American Top 40 Casey Kasem and Don Bustany; Mothers
Against Drunk Driving founder Candy Lightner; Jacques Nasser,
president and chief executive officer of Ford Motor Co., and
Helen Thomas, former dean of the White House press corps. Joe
Ghiz, former premier of Nova Scotia, Larry Shaben former
Minister of Energy in Alberta, Sine Chadi, former MLA for
Edmonton Castledowns, Moe Amery, MLA Calgary East.
|
| |
|
| 31. |
Does the
Census Bureau collect data on Canadian Arabs? |
| |
Until recently,
the census did not specifically classify Canadian
Arabs. It does however; collect
enough data to present some population characteristics.
|
| |
|
| 32. |
What is the
educational level of Canadian Arabs? |
| |
Canadian Arabs
are, on average, better educated than non-Arab
Canadians. The proportion of Arabs across North
America who attend college is higher than the
national average. Compared to the norm, about twice
as many Canadian Arabs, in percentage terms, earn
degrees beyond the bachelor's degree.
|
| |
|
| 33. |
What
occupations do Canadian Arabs pursue? |
| |
Canadian Arabs work in all occupations. Collectively, they are
more likely to be self-employed or to be entrepreneurs or to
work in sales. About 60 percent of working Canadian Arabs are
executives, professionals, office and sales staff.
As with all people, career choices are influenced by
nationality, religion, education, socio-economic status and
gender. |
| |
|
| 34. |
How do
Canadian Arabs fare economically? |
| |
Individually, Canadian Arabs are at every economic strata of
Canadian life. |
| |
|
| |
|
|
Family |
| 35. |
What is the role of the family
in Arab culture? |
| |
The variety of family types among Canadian is vast, and
influenced by the same factors mentioned in the answer to
Question 33. Generally,
family is more important than the individual and more
influential than nationality. People draw much of their identity
from their role in the family.
|
| |
|
| 36. |
Do Canadian
Arabs maintain ties with their home countries? |
| |
Many do. They are very proud of their home countries and may
maintain regular contact with relatives or friends there, as
many other Canadians from other origins do. Canadian will
sometimes joke with one another over which of their home
countries is the best, but it is perfectly consistent to have
loyalties both to their place of origin and their country of
citizenship. |
| |
|
| 37. |
What are
gender roles like for Canadian Arabs? |
| |
These vary tremendously. Some of the variables depend on country
of origin, whether the family came from a rural or urban area
and how long the person's family has been in Canada. It is more
accurate to ask the subject of the story about his or her own
experience than to apply a stereotype. |
| |
|
| 38. |
Do Canadian
Arabs have large families? |
| |
Canadian Arab families are, on average, larger than non-Canadian
Arab families and smaller than families in Arab countries.
Traditionally, more children meant more pride and economic
contributors for the family. The cost of having large families
in the Canada, however, and adaptation to Canadian customs seem
to encourage smaller families. |
| |
|
| 39. |
What kind of
relationship does cousin mean to Canadian Arabs? |
| |
The same for
other Canadians, though Arabs may differentiate
between maternal and paternal cousins when they
refer to them.
Many times the word cousin may apply to a good friend.
|
| |
|
| 40. |
Do
generations of Canadian Arabs live together? |
| |
Quite often,
especially with people who have more recently
arrived in Canada. There is a very strong
family unit identity for Arabs. This can be
true of non-Arabs as well and is not a distinguishing
characteristic of Canadian Arab. |
| |
|
| 41. |
Do Canadian
Arabs typically get married at a younger age than
non-Arabs? |
| |
Yes, though this is changing. As women pursue careers, they are
not expected to marry so young. Arab women might also marry
older men who can provide greater financial security.
|
| |
|
| 42. |
Are
marriages arranged? |
| |
This is very rare. It is not unusual for
Canadian Arabs to marry people from other
cultures. In the case where a marriage is arranged, a parent may
recommend someone from another family or from the country of
origin, but the child is not forced to marry that person. More
typically, couples meet and ask their families' approval before
getting engaged, or make their own decision and then tell their
families. |
| |
|
| 43. |
Do Canadian
Arabs prefer to marry each other? |
| |
As with many people, in-group marriage may be encouraged as a
way to preserve heritage, but Arabs and non-Arabs frequently
marry one other. Religious differences among Canadian, in fact,
may make it more desirable to marry a non-Arab of similar
religious background than an Arab of a different religion. |
| |
|
| 44. |
Are there
any Arab conventions for naming children? |
| |
Muslims often name their children after prophets in the Quran.
Shiaa Muslims sometimes use Ali as a middle name. Christians
often name their children after people in the Bible. Although
names can give an indication of a person's religion, don't
assume. Arab tradition calls for the father's name to be the
middle name of sons and daughters. |
| |
|
| 45. |
What does
the title Umm or Abu mean as part of a name? |
| |
It is a common way of calling someone using his or her oldest
son's name. Umm means mother of. Abu means father of. "Umm
Muhammad" is "mother of Muhammad." This is what friends might
call her, as a sign of respect. |
| |
|
| 46. |
What do Arabs mean when they
refer to someone as Auntie (Amti)? |
| |
It is a sign of respect, not necessarily family relationship. A
Canadian might call any older Arab male or female "auntie" or
"uncle." |
| |
|
| |
|
|
Customs |
| 47. |
Why do some Arab women wear
garments that cover their faces or heads? |
| |
This is a religious practice, not a cultural practice. It is
rooted in Islamic teachings about hijab, or modesty. While some
say that veiling denigrates women, some women say that it
liberates them. Covering is not universally observed by Muslim
women and varies by region and class. Some Arab governments
have, at times, banned or required veiling. In Canadian
families, a mother or daughter may cover her head while the
other does not. Ultimately the choice
belongs to the individual woman. |
| |
|
| 48. |
What
garments might a woman wear to practice hijab? |
| |
One interpretation is that everything should be covered except
hands, face and feet. Long clothing and a scarf would accomplish
this and the headscarf might be called a hijab or chador. The
long, robe like garment is called an abayah, jilbab, or chador.
In Iraq and Saudi Arabia especially, a woman may wear a cloak
that covers her head. Beneath a robe, a woman may be wearing a
traditional dress, casual clothes or a business suit. The veil,
in particular, has been made controversial by governments,
gender politics and religious biases. |
| |
|
| 49. |
Some Arab
men wear a checked garment on their heads. What is
that? |
| |
It is called a kafiyyeh and it is traditional, not religious.
Wearing the kafiyyeh is similar to an African wearing
traditional African attire, or an Indian wearing a sari. The
kafiyyeh shows identity and pride in one's culture.
|
| |
|
| 50. |
Why do some
Arab women dress in black? |
| |
Remember that black is a popular colour in contemporary
fashion and may not have any special significance. When
it does, it may be a sign of mourning. Black, when worn in
mourning, may be worn for a few days to many years.
|
| |
|
| 51. |
What is an
appropriate way to greet Canadian Arabs? |
| |
This is not
difficult or tricky. Be yourself, and let
them be themselves. If they are practicing Muslims or recent
immigrants, watch for cues. A smile, a nod and a word of
greeting are appropriate in most situations. Some Muslims feel
it is inappropriate for unrelated men and women to shake hands.
Wait until the other person extends his or her hand before you
extend your own. |
| |
|
| 52. |
What are the
customs for paying compliments? |
| |
Again, be yourself and be observant. In most cases, there is no
reason to behave differently than you would with anyone else.
For some recent immigrants, be a little more reserved.
Complimenting a possession may be misunderstood and the person,
out of generosity and hospitality, may feel compelled to offer
you the object. There can be a lot of difference between one
person and another, even a parent and child, so don't assume
one-way is always best. |
| |
|
| 53. |
What about
gift-giving? |
| |
The giving of token gifts is a polite practice in many cultures
and businesses. It is not a necessary
thing. |
| |
|
| 54. |
What is
Middle-Eastern food like? |
| |
Tasty! It is varied, but has some staples. Wheat is used in
bread, pastries, salads and main dishes. Rice is often cooked
with vegetables, lamb, chicken or beef. Lamb and mutton are more
common than other meats. Arab recipes use many beans and
vegetables, including eggplant, zucchini, cauliflower, spinach,
onions, parsley and chickpeas. Pork and pork products as well as
alcohol should not be served when you are with Arab Muslims.
|
| |
|
| 55. |
What is that pipe I sometimes
see people smoking? |
| |
It is a water pipe that filters and cools tobacco smoke, which
often is flavored with apple, honey, strawberry, mint, mango or
apricot. Such pipes are used in several parts of the world and
are not an exclusively Arab apparatus. They are known by several
names, including sheesha, hookah and argilah, or argeelah. |
| |
|
| |
|
|
Religions |
| 56. |
Do most Canadian Arabs
belong to the same religion? |
| |
World wide the majority of Arabs
are Muslim, however, predominately in Eastern Canada
there is a very large population of Christian. |
| |
|
| 57. |
Is Islam
mostly an Arab religion, then? |
| |
No. Only about 20-30 percent of Muslims worldwide are Arabs.
There are more Muslims in Indonesia, for example, than in all
Arab countries combined. Large populations of Muslims also live
in India, Iran, other parts of East Asia and sub-Saharan Africa.
Islam has strong Arab roots, though, as the religion's holiest
places are in the Middle East, the prophet Muhammad was an Arab,
and the Quran was originally written in Arabic.
|
| |
|
| 58. |
What is the Quran? |
| |
The Quran is the holy book for Muslims, who believe it contains
the word of God revealed to the prophet Muhammad. The Quran has
many passages that are similar to those in the Bible, which
Muslims also regard as a holy book. The Quran has been
translated into many languages, including English, and is
available on the Web. Quran is Associated Press style. Other
spellings are Qur'an and Koran. Variations come from
transliterating Arabic into English. |
| |
|
| 59. |
What is the
difference between Islam and Muslim? |
| |
Islam is the religion, and a Muslim is a follower of the
religion. It is like the difference between Christianity and
Christian. The adjective form is Islamic. |
| |
|
| 60. |
What are the
five pillars of Islam? |
| |
The five pillars are minimum sacred obligations for followers
who are able to observe them. They are: belief in the shehada,
the statement that "There is no god but God, and Muhammad is his
prophet"; salat, or prayer five times a day; zakat, the sharing
of alms with the poor; fasting during the holy month of Ramadan,
and the hajj, or pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia.
|
| |
|
| 61. |
What is
Ramadan? |
| |
Ramadan, the ninth month of the Muslim calendar, is a month of
fasting whose end is marked with the celebration of Eid al-Fitr.
During this month of self-discipline and purification, Muslims
abstain from food, drink and sex from before sunrise until
sundown. At night, however, they may feast. The Islamic calendar
is based on the cycles of the moon and has 354 days, so Ramadan
does not always occur at the same time of year according to the
365-day civil calendar. |
| |
|
| 62. |
What is the
proper greeting during Ramadan? |
| |
You may say, "Ramadan Mubarrak." You could also say, "Salaam,"
which means "peace" and is useful at any time. If you are
planning to meet with Muslims during Ramadan, be aware that they
may be fasting and a mealtime meeting may be awkward.
|
| |
|
| 63. |
Must Arabs
make a journey to Mecca? |
| |
This relates to Muslims, not all Arabs.
Muslims who are financially and physically able to do so are
expected to make the journey at least once in their lifetime.
|
| |
|
| 64. |
What does
hajj mean? |
| |
Al hajj refers to the pilgrimage to Mecca by millions of Muslims
once each year. It is a milestone event in a Muslim's life. A
man who makes the trip is recognized with the title hajj, which
means pilgrim. For women, the title is hajjah.
These titles are also used as a sign of respect when
addressing an older person in the Arab Muslim community, though
they may not have yet made the pilgrimage. |
| |
|
| 65. |
What is the
difference between Sunni and Shi'a Muslims? |
| |
Historically, these are the two main branches of Islam, and
their distinction has to do with the successor of the prophet
Muhammad. Sunnis believe his successors were elected religious
leaders; Shi'a believe that the prophet appointed Ali ibn Abi
Taleb. The answer is much more complicated than this, though,
because there are other differences and new ones have arisen
over the years. There also are separate groups and movements
within each branch. Most Muslims worldwide and in Canada are
Sunni, though Shi'as dominate in some communities. Most Muslims
in Iraq, Bahrain, Lebanon and the non-Arab country of Iran are
Shi'a. |
| |
|
| 66. |
Are there
restrictions on entering a mosque? |
| |
One generally must enter without shoes. Look for a sign from
your host, or for a place to leave your shoes. Women should
dress modestly and may be asked to cover their heads. Men should
wear long pants and shirts. Men and women generally pray in
different areas. It is generally a good idea to call beforehand
to make sure there is someone there to greet you.
|
| |
|
| 67. |
Is it OK to
take pictures there? |
| |
Each mosque has its own rules. Ask in advance and do not assume
it will be OK to photograph at will. Be prepared to make some
accommodations if certain angles or parts of the mosque are off
limits. In the Canadian Islamic Centre (Al
Rashid Mosque) it is permitted. |
| |
|
| 68. |
Who is an
Imam? |
| |
The Imam is considered the leader of prayer at a mosque. He
might also be called a sheik. One of an imam's responsibilities
is to give sermons on Friday, the holiest day of the typical
Islamic week. In many American mosques, the imam is also the
administrator. An imam can be an important community leader and
a good source of information about local Muslims.
|
| |
|
| 69. |
What are
important Islamic holidays? |
| |
The most important Muslim observance each year is Ramadan.
Muslims also celebrate Eid al-Adha on the last day of the hajj
-- the pilgrimage to Mecca -- and Eid al-Fitr, at the end of
Ramadan. There are other holidays, as well. |
| |
|
| 70. |
Where is the
headquarters for Islam? |
|
Islam does not have the same kind of hierarchy as some other
religions. In present day there is no top official or ruling
board for Islam. Muslim mosques, or masjids,
and associations are independent. Muslims are not required to be
members of a mosque. |
| |
|
| 71. |
Why do some
Arab men decline to shake hands with women? |
| |
Some Muslim men, for religious reasons, avoid physical contact
with women other than close relatives. |
| |
|
| 72. |
Is the
Nation of Islam related to Islam? |
| |
This African American religious group has some similarities to
Islam, but evolved in the 20th Century with
some different practices than those followed by most Muslims.
Most African-American Muslims in the North America are
not part of the Nation of Islam. |
| |
|
| 73. |
What is
Eastern rite or Eastern Orthodox? |
| |
These are designations for Christian churches that share some
similarities, but that have different histories. Eastern rite
churches are part of the Catholic church with roots in the
Middle East and include Maronites, Melkites and Chaldeans.
Eastern Orthodox churches, which are independent from Vatican
authority, include the Syrian and Coptic churches.
|
| |
|
| 74. |
Who are Coptics? |
| |
The word Copt is derived from the Greek word for Egyptian and
Coptic was the native language of Egypt before Arabic prevailed.
Today, the word refers to Coptic Christians. Although
linguistically and culturally classified as Arabs, many consider
themselves to be ethnically distinct from other Egyptians.
|
| |
|
| 75. |
What does
Allah mean? |
| |
Allah means God. Arabic-speaking Christians, Muslims and Jews
use the same word. When translating Arabic expressions,
translate all the words, for consistency. The translation of "Allahu
Akbar," for example, would be "God is great”. |
| |
|
| 76. |
Why do
Muslims face east when they pray? |
| |
They are facing Kaaba (the House of God) at Mecca, the holiest
of the three cities of Islam. Muslims in other countries face
different directions, depending on where they are in relation to
Mecca. |
| |
|
| 77. |
What are the
other two holy cities? |
| |
Medina in Saudi as well as Arabia and
Jerusalem. |
| |
|
| |
|
|
Politics |
| 78. |
Are
Canadian Arabs active in Canadian politics? |
| |
Yes, but not as much as they could be. They are far
more active in the United States where they have reached the US
congress and have been on the Whitehouse staff.
|
| |
|
| 79. |
Have
Canadian Arabs won major political offices? |
| |
Yes. There was Joe Ghiz, the first Canadian Arab Premier.
There are also a number of Members of Parliament, Members
of the Legislative Assembly in Alberta and across Canada, and
mayors, councillors etc. |
| |
|
| 80. |
Who are some
prominent Arab-American politicians? |
| |
They have included U.S. Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell,
D-Maine; Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham; former secretary of
Health and Human Services Donna Shalala; former New Hampshire
governor and White House chief of staff John Sununu, and 2000
presidential candidate Ralph Nader. |
| |
|
| 81. |
Is there an
Arab lobby? |
| |
There is not an Arab lobby in the sense of a monolithic,
controlling body. There are several organizations that lobby in
behalf of a variety of issues, including domestic and
international concerns. One is the National Council on Canadian
Arab Relations. A North American group is
the American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, a civil rights
group. |
| |
|
| |
|
|
Terminology |
| 82. |
Should I say Arab, Arabic or
Arabian? |
| |
Arab is a noun for a person, and is used as an adjective, as in
"Arab country." Arabic is the name of the language and generally
is not used as an adjective. Arabian is an adjective that refers
to Saudi Arabia, the Arabian Peninsula, or as in Arabian horse.
When ethnicity or nationalities are relevant, it is more precise
and accurate to specify the country by using Lebanese, Yemeni or
whatever is appropriate. We suggest that you hyphenate when
using Canadian-Arab as an adjective, as in Canadian-Arab issues.
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| 83. |
Is Canadian
Arab, or Arab Canadian preferred? |
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Canadian Arab is the more common terminology used.
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| 84. |
How should I
refer to Canadian Arabs individual? |
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Preferably by the country that person is from, for example, "of
Lebanese heritage," or "of Jordanian descent," but only if
ethnicity is relevant. Remember that Canadians come from many
places, and you should include the relevant perspective. If the
story is about an issue that affects Yemenis, for example, don't
treat other Arabic perspectives as interchangeable.
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| 85. |
How should
the media refer to Canadian Arabs when ethnicity is
not relevant to the story? |
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There is no need to identify their ethnicity. It is important to
include Canadian Arabs when the story is about issues unrelated
to heritage or culture. Canadian Arabs are
teachers, lawyers, grocers, executives and students. Their views
are important to many stories. If you confine your relationship
with a Canadian Arabs to Arab issues, other facets of their
experience are ignored and the overall portrayal is
one-dimensional. |
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| 86. |
What does
Mohammedanism mean? |
| |
Do not use Mohammedans and its derivatives as Muslims find it
very offensive. Instead, use Islam for the
religion, Muslim for a follower of the religion and derivatives
of these words. |
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| 87. |
Is it Muslim
or Moslem? |
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Muslim. |
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| 88. |
Who is a sheik? |
| |
A sheik can be the leader of a family, a village, a tribe or a
mosque. Press accounts popularized the term "oil-rich sheik."
This contributed to the misconception that the people who became
wealthy from oil were sheiks, and that sheiks had oil money.
Neither is true. |
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|
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Stereotypes |
| 89. |
Are Arabs oil-rich? |
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Some are, most aren't. The area around the Persian Gulf is one
of several oil-producing areas in the world, but not all Arab
countries produce oil, and very few Arabs are rich from oil.
The rumor that Canadian Arab organizations receive money
from oil revenue is false. |
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| 90. |
Are Arabs
mostly a nomadic people? |
| |
No. Most live in urban areas, but portrayals of Arabs as desert
dwellers have distorted the picture. Bedouins, nomadic people
depicted in movies, make up only about 2 percent of Arab people.
One of the largest Arab cities is Cairo, with a population of
more than 6 million. |
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| 91. |
Do Arabs
come from the desert? |
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Most do not. To begin with, most Arabs live in cities. Secondly,
Arab countries have a range of climates. Many have coastal areas
and some have mountainous areas that get snow.
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| 92. |
What about
the stereotype of Arabs as terrorists? |
| |
Terrorists of many ethnicities operate all around the globe.
High-profile attacks have brought world attention upon
terrorists in or from the Middle East.
However, it is inaccurate to assume that, because people are
Arab or Canadian Arab, they are involved in terrorism or, when
an attack occurs, that Arabs must be behind it.
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| 93. |
What is
meant by the phrase "Islamic fundamentalist"? |
| |
This is complex. The term fundamentalist, whether applied to
Muslims or Christians, is a largely North American made word
that implies politically conservatism and, sometimes, extremism.
Some groups make no distinction between their cause and their
interpretation of the religion. Be careful not to assume that
religion is the sole basis for political actions. The term
"Islamic fundamentalist" has been used to refer to people who
cite Islam to justify extreme political actions. Fairness and
accuracy mean attributing political actions to the group,
government or party responsible, and not just to the religion,
which may have millions of followers with different beliefs.
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| 94. |
Is Islam a
violent religion? |
| |
The Quran teaches non-violence. Throughout history, political
groups and leaders have used Islam and other religions to
justify many things, including violence. |
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| 95. |
Are Canadian
Arab women subservient to men? |
| |
No sweeping statement can reflect all the roles of Arab women.
They range from leaders of matriarchal societies to independent
businesswomen to women living under extreme repression. In
Canada, their roles are affected by their country of origin,
whether they are from urban or rural areas, religion, degree of
assimilation and, of course, their own individual
characteristics. |
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| 96. |
What is that charm with the eye
or an eye on a hand? |
| |
Often worn as jewelry, the hamsa is a non-religious symbol for
protection or good luck. The eye, usually blue when colored,
wards off the evil eye or evil spirits. For example, the charm
may be put on a baby to protect the child from harm. Many people
of different religions share this cultural tradition.
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Coverage |
| 97. |
How can I find Canadian Arabs
in my community? |
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In cities where there are large populations, this is easy. You
can find restaurants, stores, markets and other businesses with
Arabic names or writing on them. Look for organizations,
community centres, churches and mosques that might be
Arab-related. Most likely you will have a Canadian Arab
neighbour right on your street. |
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| 98. |
Are there
issues about the way Arabs are portrayed in the
media? |
| |
Yes. In some cases, journalists seem to prefer to publish or air
images of people who look different, or exotic, and media often
focuses on crisis or conflict, simply because this is what sells
papers. Because of the prevalence of these
issues in the media, problems are of then made to seem bigger
and often it does cause problems for the community at large. |
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|
| 99. |
How can I
learn more? |
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We're glad you asked. This guide is just an introduction. Any
one of the 99 questions in it has answers that would fill a
book. Contact the Canadian Arab Friendship Association for more
information on the Canadian Arabs. |
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Resoucres |
