Hacker News Reader

After looking at the author's bio, I don't think that the author of this article is particularly specialized in the Middle East. They probably have the same level of understanding of the area's ethnography as most Americans: an Arab is anyone who isn't an Israeli.

Therefore, Persians, Assyrians, Kurds, and Lawrence of Arabia are all Arabs. It's unclear where Arab Israelis fall in this taxonomy.

View on HN

Assyrian here, I wouldn't blame the author too much, the journalism on this is certainly lacking.

As our land and people got colonized by turk/Arab/kurdish. Their voice dominates ours a million to one. So you will see them referring to us as Turk/Arab/Kurd Christians in their books and media. Which will lead journalists to such thing is true simply because it's so prevelant

It was only in 2004 Assyrians were recognized in Iraq, before we were Arab or Kurdish Christians.

They still refer to us as Arab or Kurdish Christians, but more commonly, they just simply call us Kuffars

Reply on news.ycombinator.com