I suppose I've always known this to some extent, but the other day it struck me with unprecedented clarity:
I was listening to music in my room and suddenly had an urge to listen to Fairuz. As I was enjoying the music it occurred to me that a few weeks prior, I hadn't liked Fairuz's music much at all. Now the long, foreign songs were familiar and beautiful. That was when it hit me that we like what we are familiar with. When I first heard Haifa Wehbe I liked her right away. Though her language and style differs from American pop, it is very similar. Although both Haifa and Fairuz are across the world, Fairuz's music sounded like it. Now it is familiar enough that I crave it. Similarly, the arabic language no longer sounds so incredibly strange and foreign. The Arab World is no longer something completely unknown to me. The idea of it no longer brings a hint of fear.
I have always considered myself open minded and tolerant, but I have now moved, on the topic of the Arab World, from open/tolerant to understanding/embracing.
The world if full of so many wonderful and different cultures. I hope I'll be able to gain a greater understanding of this one and many, many more.
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