The irony of the US Embassy in Beirut’s recent travel advice to “exercise extreme caution in western-style areas” and “pay close attention to personal security at locations where westerners generally are known to congregate” was not lost on the Lebanese.

 

Within hours, locals had begun to post their satirical advice online for ex-pats wanting to blend in: “never drive more than 500m without using your horn”, “never arrive early. In fact, aim for twenty minutes late”.

 

The self-deprecating humour disguises serious questions about Lebanese identity. I would hardly be rich if I had a Lebanese pound for each time someone has told me “I’m not Arab, I’m Lebanese”, but you get the idea. [Link]