Sample
Writing 101, Essay #2

American Confusion about Middle East

Some American people think that all of the Middle Eastern countries have the same culture, religion and language. Is that true? No I don’t think so. Also Americans think that all Middle Eastern countries are Arabs but that is not true too. There are mixture of cultures, religion, and language in the Middle Eastern countries and they are not all Arabs.

I picked two Middle Eastern countries, one is turkey and the other is Saudi Arabia. They are very different from each other, it is true that both are Middle Eastern countries but they are totally different. Americans think they are both complete same, they think they both speak Arabic, and believe in one religion which is Islam, well they are wrong, because people from turkey speak Turkish, and Kurdish and some Arabic, but that is not how it is in Saudi Arabia they only speak Arabic. One similarity is that they both may speak some English too. Well if you go to Middle Eastern countries they may think that Americans speak Spanish because there is many Mexicans in the US. But I don’t think that work, right? Or is it English that they speak? Well who ever comes to the US has to speak English to become a citizen. Isn’t that right? Yeah because if you want to become a citizen you have to take a test, “an English test.” So we have to see for ourselves then say what is right, and what is not right. So not all Middle Eastern countries speak the same language, we have to be carefully and not hurt anyone’s feelings. Right? Of course right.

There are many cultures in turkey, there are Kurdish people, and some Americans, some Europeans, and many different cultures that Turkish people have that are different. On the other hand Saudi people have only one or two that are only from Saudi Arabia. Turkish people when a person gets marry they make a big party, and they invite everyone to their party and men and women dance together drink together, and have fun together. With Saudi people, when they have a wedding party they have two different places one is for men only and one is for women only. Is that same? No I don’t thinks so. Another, example is food. Food is very different in Turkey and Saudi, Turkish people make Doulemah, it is race, meat, and tomato, onions, and spice, they mix all together and put it in grape leaves then they cook it all together. When Americans eat Doulemah they think Middle Eastern Arab countries. What if Middle Eastern people thought Europeans and Americans eat same, talk same and do everything in a same way? I don’t think it will be fear.

Religions there is many, isn’t there? Well yeah. Turkey has many different religion; Islam, Judaism, Christian, Hinduism, and many more. But in Saudi Arabia there should be one only and it is Islam. Is that smeller? I guess not. In Turkey there are many different religions, some even don’t have a religion. They do what they want to do. They believe what they want to. But because Saudi Arabia is the holy land for Muslim, it should be for Muslims only. Even Muslim in turkey and Saudi have difference, Muslims in turkey are not force to wear hair cover but in Saudi Arabia a woman has to wear the hair cover when she gets out of the house. I think that is a big difference between the two countries, but that still can’t change American minds. But I got it; I will plan to change many minds as much as I can. Because not all middle eastern countries are same.

Now you think why did she do her paper one these countries? Are they the only countries in Middle East that are different or are there more? Well let me tell you something there is many countries in the middle east and most of them are Arab yah but there are a few who are not Arabs. Some other countries are Iran, Kurdistan, and Israel. Iranian people speak Persian, Kurd people speak Kurdish and Arabic, Israeli people speak Hebrew. Each country has it’s own culture; it doesn’t matter if they are Arabs or if they are not Arabs still the culture is different, But American don’t know that and they don’t want to learn that. They think they know enough they think they know everything, but no sorry not everyone knows everything. It is shame if you don’t know something and you don’t want to learn it, but it is not shame if you don’t know something and you want to find out about it.

So if you want to learn about each of the countries in the Middle East, all you got to do it to go on the net and search for it. It is simple. Ask and don’t be afraid to ask others if they know about those countries. Go to the library, it is free; all you got to have is a library card. Don’t be afraid of the Middle Eastern people, if you have a question go and ask them most of them are friendly. Look at the map of the Middle Eastern countries and learn what countries are in the Middle East. Go on the web site and find the country you are interesting and check about it. Learn about their languages, about their culture, about their people, and about everything you want to know.

http://menic.utexas.edu/menic.html go to this web site it shows what study and what countries are in the Middle East. http://www.expatsite.com/homepage/index1.php3 go to this one too and you’ll find different countries and what they are like and what they have and how they are, just select the country you want and it will tell you about it.

http://www.goodcooking.com/mideast.htm go to this web so you can see they foods some Middle Eastern countries make. http://i-cias.com check this web too it is cool.