Defending Arabic in Lebanon Against Calls to Replace It

What I am about to say is directed at anyone who feels jealous and proud of their identity and sense of belonging.

This is their chance to take revenge on the Arabic language by turning it into Syriac in Lebanon, and from Modern Standard Arabic to colloquial speech.

In the name of God, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful.

Dear may God Almighty bless you with His favors and make you one of His chosen ones.

At various points in time, we in Lebanon have heard people calling for replacing Modern Standard Arabic with colloquial speech. Okay?

Of course. Some even went so far as to reject the Arabic language and regard it as the language of conquerors.

Arabic is the language of conquerors, calling for its replacement with Syriac. These voices grew louder and quieter depending on the surrounding circumstances and political developments, and some people put their calls into practice through a book, a newspaper, or even a television news bulletin.

There were news bulletins in this format. This one.

Today, as a result of the surrounding circumstances and current developments this tune has returned.

What do you think? This tune has returned, stronger than before, As though it were an opportunity for them to consider dealing a fatal blow to the Arabic language in Lebanon.

So we began to hear and see in the media people openly declaring what was said earlier: “It’s the language of the invaders, and we want to wipe it out.

We don’t want Standard Arabic. We want colloquial Arabic, and we call it the Lebanese language.”

He began openly saying this, theorizing, philosophizing, and spewing chatter that is like children’s stories.

This call is growing day by day, along with what accompanies it: contempt, racism, and distortion of history, even going so far as to denigrate Islam, albeit in an indirect way.

This is happening now. We place all of the above in the hands of those concerned with this matter, and those who feel pride and dignity in their identity and belonging. We’ll leave it at that, and no more. Thanks.

Peace be upon you.