That's very much open to debate. I for one do not necessarily agree with the opinion of the Egyptian-American, erm, sorry, 'Palestinian' Edward Said.
However that may be, note that I take a more advanced approach to the issue of Arab civil societies than Lewis. Civil societies have been emerging the past few decades, notably the past decade.
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Not to be disrespectful to your friend, but would you be awfully dismayed if I repeat my earlier (orientalist?) claim that an emotional invoking of shed blood and martyrdom is a commonly observed trait of a common Arab culture?
(One need only to walk into a Christian church to witness firsthand Middle Eastern martyr cultism.)
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