Is it normal to feel like lebanon is an unknown country?

I am a Lebanese/American and it seems like every time I tell someone where I'm from, they cringe, and then ask if I'm talking about Lebanon, Ohio... The point is that, is Lebanon a known country to the world, or just another dot on the map?

Is It Normal?
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  • Americans are known for being ignorant. The mainstream ignorance of my country makes all of the Americans, who aren't/try not to be ignorant look bad. If you told me That you were from Lebenon, I would automatically assume that you meant the country.

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  • I guess it depends on who you ask. There are some people that actually think that the entire continent of Africa is a country and some that can't even use a map.

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    • Didn't Brittney Spears think That ? Lol

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      • I don't know but, there's always Miss Teen from South Carolina's answer on geography. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lj3iNxZ8Dww

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  • That's because you live in america! They tend not to know countries that they havent been at war with ;)

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  • Not unknown to me. Even more known since I worked with a Lebanese man who was very proud of where he was from and showed me pictures of where he grew up and told me stories about Selim and Korkmaz.

    Alongside that, Lebanon was always in the news when I was growing up. Still is, I suppose, with the Cedar Revolution a few years back. And it's not many countries that have a history which predates China's.

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  • Lots of people are ignorant. There is a Lebanon in PA and it's famous for making sweet bologna.

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  • Besides, isnt there a "thing" for lebanese girls. When i was in high school all the guys would go for the lebanese women. I guess they were pretty.

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  • Isnt lebanon the paris of the middle east? And didnt lebanon have a landmark that was one of the finalist for the 2012 7 natural wonders of the earth? Why does everyone know israel not lebanon? Didnt lebanon go into war with israel twics and beat them both times? All i know is lebanon is beutiful and lebanese are intelligant

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  • I'm from lebanon too !!!

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  • It's normal. I'm from Croatia and I get it too. It sucks but don't let it bring you down. What really hurts is that if they have never heard of the country they won't care about it either.

    "Person A is from France! That's so cool! Person B is from Croatia... no one cares."

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  • I feel your pain! My parents and grandparents are from Lebanon. I always tell people that my ethnicity is Lebanese, and there all like " huh where's that" and I'm like *sigh*

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  • First off, what city do you live in? Podunkville? Or a major city? I live in a major city that celebrates its ethnic diversity! We even have a book that comes out every year called Best Ethnic Eats! There is an international fest every year too. Maybe you are living in some backwater town down in a hollow!? Time to move!

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  • Sorry im not a mapfan. I just dont care about anything, but my loved ones and myself.

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  • I agree that most Americans are geographically challenged. I can say it because I am American. However, I could fill in an unmarked American map with both state names, abbreviations and capitals, by I'm weird. Honestly, outside of that I can do western europe and the western hemisphere with confidence, but I can only hit most of eastern europe, Asia, and the northern and southern parts of Africa. I'm lost with central Africa, admittedly, and I can label Iraq, Israel, Afghanistan,Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait in the middle east. For all others I am never surprised by a name, and usually know "whereabouts" it is, but I probably couldn't label it on a map. When I do hear about a country that I'm not sure about, I do like to look it up on a map and then find out some stuff about it.

    Just wanted to let u know that there are some of us out there who try.

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  • Most Americans couldn't even find their own state on an unmarked map of the US so I wouldn't be too surprised when they don't recognize a foreign country. It's sad. Very sad.

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  • I didnt know there was such a country

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  • I thought I was the only middle eastern on this site lol damn u!

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  • Don't look at me. I still remember M*A*S*H*. Every so often Klinger would point out his Lebanese heritage. It even played a part in one of the episodes once.

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  • Last time I was in America was a month after 9/11. I met several people who didn't even know it happened. My point is: don't worry, if they dont know what is happening in their own country (not all just some of the Bogans) they are not going to know about what's happening internationally...

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  • I went to college with a guy who when i first asked him where he was from he said "beirut" then arrogantly added "you don't know where that is do you?" i replied lebanon then never talked another word to him again, hopefully you arn't all like that fool.

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  • when i tell people that my mums side of the family is Latvian, they always ask what country that is in. but lebs are everywhere here in aussie land.

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  • Really?? Here in Melbourne and Sydney in Australia were everywhere lol are Lebanese americans rare??

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