Reddit mentions of The Book of Khalid (Neversink)

My friend,

You gave a history lesson, so permit me a little lesson of my own. As someone who has gone through a similar experience to yours, what I can tell you is the following:

Lebanon is an ancient thing. You are Lebanese, by blood, and so your connection to the land that literally shaped your very genes cannot be denied.

Still, you are American by proximity, and so neither can you deny your connection to the land that shaped your very thoughts.

However, despite your ethnicity, and despite your psychology, you are a unique individual first, and the truth is that no matter where you go around the world, those on a good and honest path always share more in common with one another than they do with their own countrymen.

Do not allow your identities to dictate your understanding of the world. Instead, use their strengths to help you frame your own, distinct ideas, and let that become your identity.

The great Irish songwriter, Dominic Behan, got it right when he wrote The Patriot Game in 1956.

Truth be told, nobody will be able to bridge your opposing ideologies but you, yourself. However, others who have gone through the same thing can help, as I hope I might have, in some way.

I would also suggest you look into Being Arab by Samir Kassir, On Identity by Amin Maalouf and last, but most certainly not least, The Book of Khalid by Ameen Rihani.

You might also want to check out Cedars in the Pines, the documentary about the Lebanese in North Carolina that I posted a couple days ago.

Hopefully those will be good enough to get you started, and until then, just remember...