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T HE P EOPLE

One family is usually made up of an older couple, their sons, daughters-in-law, and their grandchildren. Traditionally, daugh- ters remain in the home until they marry. Then they move into the home of their husband’s family. Sometimes other relatives also might be a part of the household. The oldest male in that family is the head of the whole family and has the final word on all decisions. The father metes out the punishment, which can be severe, while the mother tends to offer the love and compassion. As in other Arab countries, Iraq’s is a highly patriarchal society in which the male dominates, and male children are highly prized. In spite of changing times, in many families the father decides the activities of the members under him, even determining what jobs his sons will have. Along with his wife, the father will pick out a husband for their daughter. Marriage is much more of a contract between two groups than the personal choice of two people, because the marriage will affect each of the families involved. Marriage is also still largely endogamous, especially outside large cities, which means a preference for cousin marriage. This tends to cement relations among clans and help provide order and self- defense in the traditional absence of centralized state authority. Iraqis, like other Arabs, have a special love for the Arabic language. Since they believe the Qur’an represents the actual words of God, and since it was given to Muhammad in the Arabic language, it follows, then, that the original, classic Arabic is a divine language,

according to devout Muslims. There are different Arabic dialects , however. Many say that Arabic can only be com- pared to music in the effect it has on those who speak and listen to it. In The Arab Mind Philip Hitti, a leading Arab-American histori-

Did You Know? The words alcohol, algebra, admiral, elixir , gauze , and magazine all come from the Arabic language.