Ussama Makdisi sur Twitter :
"This image of the creation of “Grand #Liban” from 1920 sums up the tragedy of #Lebanon. And speaks volumes about the lasting legacy of French orientalism and colonialism: the idea that religious diversity in the Orient is inherently sectarian unless managed by Western power." / Twitter
▻https://twitter.com/UssamaMakdisi/status/1300763848627154946
The further tragedy is how many Arabs now accept this insidious myth. They ignore how much work and ideology goes into the creation of #sectarianism and its enabling structures. And they ignore how this region had a long history of #coexistence before Western colonialism.
We need to study this #coexistence critically, but this does not mean we should denigrate one of the most important ecumenical aspects of our historical experience, namely the insistence and ability of so many people in ME to transcend religious difference for common purpose.