Lebanese, or Arab?

My coiffeur is still on holiday, so I was infidèle and got my brushing from someone else. Pierre wanted to make sure I knew he doesn't usually do brushings. "I cut the hair of the royal family of Saudi Arabia," he said.

"Do you speak Arabic?" I said.

"I speak five languages," he said proudly. "French, English, Spanish, l'arabe littéraire, and Lebanese."

I have often met Lebanese Christians in Paris who call their language and culture "Lebanese" rather than use the word "arabe."

"Arabe, c'est beaucoup dire*," said one when I asked why not.

Byblos, Lebanon

*"Arab" says a lot.