Recently I have met several young men/women from different Arab countries. In my trip to Dubai I have met the fashion designers who participated in Mission Fashion last year, and who came from different the Arab countries to compete for the Lancome Award in Dubai. Last week, a nice young woman from Tunis came to Jordan for a visit where I had the chance to interact with her and know her better as a good friend. Last year a good friendship was built between me and another two Arab guys where one came lebanon while the other came from Iraq.
While we all speak Arabic, when interacting with Arabs from different Arabic countries, one can recognize the differences in our dialect languages. We all speak Arabic, but we all have our ways in speaking out the words and giving those words different meanings.
Despite what looks as major differences between us as of for instance women living in Tunis versus women living in Saudi Arabia, or different mentalities regarding the set of beliefs for every single one of us, or even if you look at religion beleifs, or even class differences. One can still feel the bond between us as Arabs.
I used to look at Saudi women who have to cover their bodies with black whereever they go outside their homes, I used to stereotype them of having a kind of mentality that would make it hard for me to get along with. It isn’t the kind of prejudice where I think of them as bad or something (maybe a bit of sympathy), but I had a feeling of staying away because of my perception of the black cover as to minimize the women interaction with men.
when I met Solafa – The Saudi Designer – in Dubai, I was surprised of how close I felt to her. I was surprised of the ease of communication between us. We didn’t go deep into discussing each other way of thinking, but we were able to realize nice things in each other.
In fact, I am surprised of the amout of comfort I feel dealing with all the Arabs I met recently. Their seem to be a bond between us. Regardless of our differencece, I can see much commonolity. From the language we speak, and the history we share, to the current exposure of the same media. Even the looks of each one of us, and despite of the variations, you can still feel that their is something that makes us close to each other, maybe it is the blood as they say.
I have always considered my self a humanitarian. I have always felt the bond between me and any other fellow human being. But recently I came to feel the warm of the race bond.
It does make me feel that I love being an Arab.
And to be proud of it.
Fadi Zaghmout 
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