Chile is the country on the Southwest Pacific coast of South America, which runs from a polar south to tropical north. 5% of Chile’s population is Arab, and the majority of that is Palestinian-Christian: Chilestino/Chilestinian.
Chile is a first world country now, very democratic. The Chilestinos are prosperous and wield incredible political power.
The Palestinian Community in Chile is powerful. About 500,000 Chileans are Palestinian in whole or part – roughly 2.5% of Chile’s overall population.
Another 300,000 Chileans are Lebanese or Syrian, etc., in origin. However, because the Palestinian-Chilean are the majority within the Arab community, they have above average clout.
Their demographic numbers and wealth can influence the debate among Chile’s other Arabs, and among Chileans in general. Palestinian-Chileans affect Chile’s policy at a national level.
The closest equivalent, oddly enough, is the political power of American Jewry.
117 Refugees came to Chile and it was major national news
Their community has gained an international reputation, and is being noticed.
The above report was by Telesur, a biased Venezualan outlet.
November 26, 2017 – Edited text, and corrected dead video link. Also combined two pages as redundant.
Channel 9, in Iquique, a Pacific coastal town in the tropical North of Chile.
A Christmas show. (Remember this is the Southern Hemisphere)
They brought in a dancing troupe of young Arab-Chilean ladies for TV.
This is gauge of how respected this is. You really would not see this so often on American TV.
As a side note: This would probably draw protests from the more conservative elements of American society; but it is apparently seen as cultural in South America.
Now, clearly, these Arabs are Christians. Jihadists shoot women for dressing like that.
All that aside, most Arabs are now intermarried, and what this shows is the mainstream penetration of Arab culture in South America.
Viña de Mar is a resort town on the Pacific with a climate similar to Los Angeles. Valparaiso is the adjacent city and a major port town.
They both have significant Arab populations.
Arabic dancing is ubiquitous in South America, and culturally equivalent to Celtic dancing in America. America has more Celts; South America more Arabs. But the cultural penetration is similar. Both have become mainstream, and now have drawn in membership from outside the original communities.
Look at the dancers. These are from middle class or wealthier families. A glance at their complexions will show that many are only partly-Arabic. Yet, this is how mainstream Arabic Dancing has become in South America.
In America, this might draw suspicion. In Chile, it draws respect, and to a degree, envy.
