14 Misconceptions You Might Still Have About Lebanon If You're Not Lebanese
Lebanon holds over 7.5 million in population in about 10,452 Km2 space area. This is fairly small compared to other countries and yet it has been largely prejudiced by misconceptions.
It hasn't helped that the international media stream as well as certain Hollywood-made movies tend to spread these misconceptions and even add to them by creating ones, let alone depicting an unflattering image of Lebanon and even its people.
We could name a few prejudicial movies that have done their shares of staining Lebanon's image or spreading falsehoods, but, hey, let's not promote them by naming them.
Let's instead go through these common misconceptions and prove them wrong:
All Lebanese are dark skin and dark eyes
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It has been an unfortunate topic in the west, especially the western media in recent times, to refer to all Middle Easterns including Lebanese as people of dark skin, or "brown" somehow somewhat. It is not only racist but untrue.
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The Lebanese population is formed of natives with different features and looks where blond and auburn hair and colored eyes are also common.
Narrow-minded people
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Another weird misconception with no basis since the Lebanese have always been open to the world, to the new, to innovation, and to progress.
They are welcoming and friendly to visitors and tourists. They are travelers, since the Phoenician era, and love discovering the world and sharing the best of their culture and talents.
Small Country = No Diversity
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The thing about Lebanon is that despite it being one of the smallest countries in the Middle East, it arguably has one of the most diverse religious confessions and subcultures.
It is multi-religious where you can find mosques and churches right next to each other and where diverse religious celebrations take place and are shared across the different communities.
The only or main spoken language is Arabic
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Lebanon, opposite to popular belief, is multi-lingual. The majority of people speak at least 2 to 3 languages quite fluently - Arabic-Lebanese, English, French, and even Armenian - and on a daily basis.
If you know someone Lebanese, they're much more likely to speak a language that is a mix of everything - Lebanese created and very common in everyday communication.
Mostly Desert?
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This misconception is most specific to outsiders or those who haven't visited Lebanon for the most part (or don't tune in to 961 to see the natural wonders of the country).
The cedar tree, centered in the Lebanese flag, should be an obvious analogy but some still seem to wonder.
For a fact, Lebanon holds a large area of green, nature reserves , and rolling hills. It contains excellent blues, gorgeous lakes and rivers, and a stunning mix of mesmerizing beaches and snowy winter mountains.
Strict Society
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Lebanon is quite the opposite of strict and scary. Anyone who knows Lebanon well will tell you that the people here are one of the most hospitable and welcoming in the world. They will invite you to their homes, feed you the tastiest of Lebanese cuisine , and even take you for a free tour around.
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