Is Lebanon really more "European" influenced than the rest of the Middle East? Do you think Lebanese people look similar to Europeans often, or is this also exaggerated?

Keep in mind that the responses in this thread will have political bias (Pan-arabism vs Phoenicianism).

Full disclosure: I'm against the idea that pan arabism is pertinent to Lebanon, and think that Lebanon has a special identity that separates it from the rest of Middle Eastern countries.

Is Lebanon culturally more "Western" than its Middle Eastern neighbors, or is this an inaccurate stereotype?

Lebanese culture is definitely a mix between "Western" and "Eastern". Both Christians and Muslims in Lebanon are definitely more Western minded than other Middle Eastern countries. Generally speaking, Lebanese are similar to conservative and (moderately) religious Europeans in mindset.

Do you believe Lebanese look similar to Southern Europeans? Have you been mistaken for one, or mistaken Southern Europeans for Lebanese? If so, from where? Or is this also over-exaggerated?

In appearance, I guess you saw it for yourself that there is no particular Lebanese appearance, we look Mediterranean in general.I was personally asked on multiple occasions if I am Spanish or Italian. People very rarely have Lebanese as a first guess.

Yet, when I met a few Lebanese international students when I was in university, I found that many of them blatantly rejected these ideas and considered themselves Arab, mocked people who say they are Phoenician rather than Arab, and didn't feel any similarities to people like southern Italians, French, or Greeks.

It depends whom you ask. Lebanese are "arabs" in the sense that they understand standard arabic, but even then the Lebanese dialect is quite unique. We are called "arabs" for political reasons mostly. Many "arabic" dialects (North African dialects, Iraqi dialect, ...) are complete gibberish from my point of view. I'm sure many Lebanese feel the same. Culturally, we are very, very different from non-Levantine "arabs", and remain unique from Levantine "arabs" to a significant degree.

Unfortunately some Muslims, feel that they have to deny a unique Lebanese heritage to feel a stronger connection to the religion (the prophet was arabic, the language of the quran is arabic, etc...). They forget that they can be muslim and non arab.

Personally, I was born muslim, but feel no connection to pan arabism. I feel the Lebanese identity in itself to be representative of me. I always felt Lebanon to be closer to other Mediterranean countries than to "arabic" countries.

I don't deny that arabic culture played an influence in Lebanon, but so did many others. Why define ourselves as "arab"?

Regarding the Phoenician matter, a genetic study has demonstrated that there is a scientific basis for Lebanese to claim Phoenician ancestry. I am not saying that we are Phoenicians (no, we're Lebanese), but it isn't inaccurate to say that Lebanese on average have Phoenician ancestry.

/r/lebanon Thread