"Do the Funky Arabs turn you on"... well, actually Mr Choueiry sorry but they don't

If you have yet to drop your jaws at the Jad Choueiry track Funky Arabs, perhaps you should not bother because if being accepted as a funky Arab is all about injecting botox, gyrating in a designer clad bikini getting my self forcibly tattooed in a public toilet, well, think I will leave it and take my chances with the conservatives. Now before you think I am going all ‘Mary Whitehouse’ on you I wish to reassure you that I am thrilled that “every individual who has participated in the following video is an Arab” but frankly this video should come with a health warning that states THIS VIDEO CAN SERIOUSLY DAMAGE THE CREDIBILITY AND CULTRAL BRILLIANCE OF ARAB COMMINTIES ALL OVER THE WORLD. such irresponsible visual communication about ‘Arabs’ dose little more then sell us as media whores, freak parents out, make girls strive to become airheads and make guys feel like a failure if they have not inherited great wealth or an intrest in blowing their brains out.

“We’ve got sexy girls – Arab youth that will rock your world, Loaded guys – you’ve got to see them when they get their highs”

Oh really…Well that’s good to know Mr. Chouiery. Perhaps you would like to run for a Party king of Lebanon and use that as your manifesto to mobilize apathetic and disillusioned young Arabs who are desperately seeking gainful employment.

For my own part, I am curious as to why the video has caused such a reaction, because after all, haven’t I supported young people across the region when they have wanted to make their voices herd? Perhaps my conservatism stems from my true belief that whilst watching this catchy, shallow video, I fear that tame extremists use it as an example of how hollow our lives have become, and more radical groups would point to these types of visual reference as proof that the devil has possessed young people who must be saved through the discipline of their version of ‘religion’ and that… in my map of the world frightens me. If the philosophy of being a part time Arab is about taking the best bits from 2 cultures and fusing them to become your own uber cultural party then Funky Arabs fails us all because if that is is the message we want to send out about ourselfs, what hope do we have in the way other cultures choose to communicate about us.

Lebanon makes it onto the list of least doveloped internet nations in the world shocker!

Although the country in 1996 was among the first Arab countries to introduce the internet, a decade later it ranked among the least developed internet nations in the world. In fact, according to a 2006 EU-funded research report, in terms of international bandwidth per capita Lebanon ranked just above countries such as Ivory Coast, Syria and Iraq, while it had lost the race with countries such as Egypt and Jordan.

Due to the country’s limited and outdated infrastructure, as well as the high cost of telecom supplies and the lack of a proper regulatory environment, Lebanon was not an attractive destination for potential investors, concluded the EU consultancy team. Apart from the introduction of a handful of ADSL lines mainly in Beirut, and much later than initially announced not much has changed since.

calling all part time Arabs

Not quite English enough to be British, yet definitely not Lebanese enough to be a Phoenician or a full time Arab...Like a huge number of the world’s population - I am part timing on both sides, sliding in and out of each culture with the blinking of an eye. I take the best bits from both and use them at my leisure, raising my eyebrows at the bits that don’t make sense, or do not work for me in my map of the world. I can ask questions and think for myself yet I exist within a culture that thrills me. I am clued up on politics and yet it is not the ruler of my life, dictating who I befriend or don't. I speak fluent English and pigeon Arabic and think in both languages. I love Zaatar as much as I Love Piccadilly chutney.I am new to planet blog and am thrilled to come across so Manny amazing blogs created by full and Part time Arabs and all those in between! I would love to hear from you, as I feel I am not alone in my part timeliness. Thanks for popping in and I look forward to hearing from you soon.