10 things that happened in 2011 that make me proud of being Arab

February 6, 2011 at 4:48 pm · Filed under Arabisms, Seriously

If you asked me a month ago to give you ten things that make me proud of being Arab, I would have listed ideas among the lines of we have very strong family bonds, we have awesome food, and our history is kick ass.

Today, in the wake of the Tunisian revolution and the Egyptian uprising, I have a very different list. I am neither Egyptian nor Tunisian, but what I do have in common with both countries is our shared Arab heritage.

Here are ten things that happened in the Arab world in 2011 that really made me smile:

1. Doctors, nurses, and regular people pooled knowledge and resources together to create a makeshift hospital in Tahrir to help the injured.

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2. With a tattered image, thanks to a few radicals, we prove yet again that our civilization is based on mutual respect. A human shield created of people who are either Christian or not praying protecting those in prayer. You can see the cross on this man’s wrist.

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3. People from all walks of life cleaning the streets of Cairo.

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4. Non-Egyptians like BloggerSeif and Sarah Karam stood and are still standing with Egyptians to support their right for dignity.

5. Civilian neighborhood protection units protected Egyptian neighborhoods from thugs. These men stood guard overnight to ensure that it is a safe environment for their communities. How awesome is that?

Mideast Egypt Protest

6. People in suits, in jeans, and in leather forming a human shield around Egypt’s priceless museums.

http://art-for-a-change.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/egypt_museum_human_shield.jpg

7. Giving out water and food in Tahrir to help others.

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8. Arabs go out to support Egypt by protesting in their own countries.
 


9. My Facebook stream becoming a mosaic of Egyptian and Tunisian flags, although most of my friend list does not consist of people from either county.

10. Different channels from all around the Arab world broadcasting AlJazeera in solidatity, after they were blocked by Nilesat.

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It’s been an awesome 2011 so far.
 
Dear Tunisians, dear Egyptians, thank you for reminding us that there is hope. Thank you for making it clear that the acts of immorality taking place in our region such as lack of acceptance, petty crime, and nonchalance are out of desperation, as opposed to lack of culture.

Thank you for proving that our integrity as human beings comes first and foremost, before our genders, our idealogical beliefs, and our differences.






  • http://dubai-ified.blogspot.com Sarah

    Arabs are amazing. As a race of people I couldn’t think of any other that is so committed and selfless. I hope you get all the great things you deserve. Superb photos.

  • http://emigrant2immigrant.wordpress.com Emi

    Roba, you just brought tears to my eyes. Beautiful.

    And btw, I have also been watching all of this in awe – to see all the Egyptians act together to stand up for what they believe in and TAKE CARE OF EACH OTHER AND THEIR NATIONAL HERITAGE.

    I am not an Arab. But I am proud to be living in the Arab world during this time… and I guess I should also add that I am proud that my half-Arab son and fully-Arab husband can embrace pride in their heritage now more than ever before. (Mind you, hubby always had pride. Now it’s just glowing!)

  • http://michcafe.blogspot.com/ Mich

    Great post Roba! I think it is a case of being even “more” proud and I hope it will continue to be so :-)

  • سعد

    تسلم انامللك ياخت العرب… لكي ان. تفخري فانت لعمري نقية النسب وانت لبنة من لبنات فجر جديد

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  • http://www.ihath.com ihath

    Indeed! in 2011 it is easy to be proud to be an Arab. This is an awesome post.

  • http://www.facebook.com/Mohd.Bana Mohammad

    Great article, amazing photos, specially the one where the Christians were protecting their Muslims brothers, this was the perfect way to show the whole world that no matter what religion we have, when it comes to civilization rights, WE ARE ALL UNITED.. God bless Egypt an its wonderful people..

    Gonna share this on FB, i hope you don’t mind..

  • Azab

    Absolutely, agree with every single word you’ve mentioned

  • Basma

    “Dear Tunisians, dear Egyptians, thank you for reminding us that there is hope.”

    “Thank you for proving that our integrity as human beings comes first and foremost, before our genders, our idealogical beliefs, and our differences.”

    Exactly!

    Thank YOU Roba

  • http://www.jackiesawiris.org Jackie

    right on right on right on roba … and all of us …

  • http://nadajaffal.tumblr.com Nada Jaffal

    and thank you Roba for such a sentimental post :) you made me cry!

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  • http://www.thisisjoe.net Yousif Jawhar

    As usual, really amazing content & an awesome way of presenting it with photo-documentations! Well done! :)

  • http://farismadi.com/blog Faris

    10 out of 1 billion!

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  • http://bagoftreats.blogspot.com Amina

    I don’t often classify myself as an Arab, but surely the incidents in Tunisia and subsequently Egypt have changed that. Today, i can proudly tell people that ‘Yes! I am an arab, and a proud one too. ‘

  • rosada

    The picture of the Christians protecting the Muslims should be turned into a poster and shown around the world.
    The news here in the USA is all filled with images of fighting. The pictures of people protecting the neighborhoods and sharing food and doctors working together gives a totally different impression. This is not a crazy mob to fear, these are role models for what it means to be human.
    Thank you,
    Rosada

  • amna

    assalam o alaikum
    great post, n yes not only the arab world but everybody with a little sense is proud of the egyptians and tunisians…
    thank you for sharing amazing pictures, love from Pakistan..

  • Michele

    Not Arab, but so grateful to Tunisians & Egyptians who have strengthened my very tattered faith in the the incredible potential of all humanity. thank you. thank you. thank you.

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  • Jessica

    As I wrote on my Facebook, those same reasons made me proud of being human. We have a lot to learn from them

  • lucia

    I support you all in your battle towards freedom from these awful dictators and the terrible life conditions they have given their people.

    It’s so nice to see young people standing together and fighting for one same belief of FREEDOM!

    MY HEART AND SOUL IS WITH YOU!!

    BLESS YOU ALL.

  • Fatma

    Am very proud to be an arab.I never thought about the protest in Tunisia,Eygpt,Syria,Yemen and Bahrain but I’ve realised that we can and able to fight for our rights.What happened to Gadhafi is not arabic culture,we can never dare despair a dead body.Arabs have a loveable history in all terms.Islam and spread of it,warm and welcoming culture and knowledge.We are the first to create numbers.The first lamp to be lightened was in Iraq.The Holy Quran has everything despite it being very old and is used by scientists everyday coz its proven to be right.An arab who says he is not an arab is a stupid brat.Its a disgrace and surely not part of us.They think westerners are best and by imitating them is cool.What a shame!They dont bother if you like them or not,they praise their culture and find you stupid not to like yours.Wether like it or not if your blood is of an arab you will remain to be one and wether you wear indecent clothes,intimacy in public or speaking their language doesnt change you! If only we arabs could stand together and fight invansion of westerners in the middle east then we would be perfect.Israel and palestine?NATO and Libya?Best of luck arabs be blessed and hold your head high”you are an arab”