http://www.arabnews.com/?page=7§ion=0&article=61190&d=28&m=3&y=2005
Monday, 28, March, 2005 (17, Safar, 1426)
How to Influence Muslim Minds and Capture the Arab Hearts
Ibtissam Al-Bassam, Arab News
A few days ago the White House nominated Dina Powell to the post of
deputy undersecretary of state for public diplomacy and assistant secretary of
state for educational and cultural affairs.
Mrs. Powell is a 31-year-old Egyptian borne-American woman. She is a
graduate of the University of Texas, a mother to a three-year-old girl and the
daughter of a former captain in the Egyptian Army.
Her mother was educated at the American University in Cairo. Her parents
immigrated to America when she was four years of age. In Dallas, her father
drove a bus and opened a convenience store.
According to the American press, Mrs. Powell is pretty, eloquent,
attractive, confident and intelligent (a profile which many lucky members of
the fair sex are blessed with). She is fluent in Arabic and English and is
eager to share with the world her American experience and the American values
that she dearly cherishes.
Of the pretty Arab-American rising star, Andrew Card Jr., the White House
chief of staff says, " She is attractive, very competent, well-spoken, young,
she's got quiet confidant, and she is task-oriented. In other words, she gets
the job done".
Joshua Bolton, White House budget director, is confident that people will
be taken by surprise "when this young, attractive, really well-spoken person in
both English and Arabic makes a presentation on behalf of the president. That
sends really a strong message."
The attractive, bright, highly accomplished lady has been selected to
perform the task of polishing American image around the globe and marketing
American values in the Arab and Muslim world. Arabs and Muslims realize the
seriousness of the mission she will be entrusted with and appreciate the
enormity of the burden that fall on her young shoulders. They are aware of the
many challenges she will face and the many obstacles she will have to surmount.
No doubt Mrs. Powell will need every help when she walks in a bumpy road,
"where angels fear to tread" (sincere apologies to E.M. Forster for borrowing
his words without permission).
Mrs. Powell left Egypt when she was a tiny, little child. Early childhood
is the most beautiful, yet the least remembered phase of one's life. Arabs and
Muslims should not feel disappointed if Mrs. Powell has very faint
recollections of her years in the land of the Pharaohs. They should not look
for traces of the impact of the Arab culture on her well- developed character.
They should be generous with hints as to how best she can succeed in carrying
out her difficult mission.
The following suggestions might be of help to Mrs. Powell and to American
friends, who are genuinely interested in reviving the shattered confidence of
Arabs and Muslims in Western democracy and Western values.
The world is told that Mrs. Powell speaks Arabic fluently. Arabs will
have ample opportunity to judge for themselves the extent of her mastery of the
language.
They do expect Mrs. Powell to speak the musical Egyptian dialect and they
sincerely hope that she will not flavor it with a foreign accent
Arabs and Muslims will not be impressed if Mrs. Powell uses their
language with the sole purpose of marketing Western values and Western ideas.
They will welcome her with open arms if they find that she is familiar with
their culture and their history, possesses a good understanding of their values
and has great respect for their religions and traditions.
Since Arabs have little tolerance for people who criticize their faith or
disparage their culture, Mrs. Powell should refrain from any criticism of the
way Arab and Muslim men women and children eat, live, think or dress. She
should avoid stating, or insinuating that Western values are superior to Muslim
and Arab values. She should never recommend that they exchange their cherished
identity for a Western one.
Arab hearts and Muslim minds are at present shut against Western-style
"democracy" and Western "freedom". It is highly recommended that Mrs. Powell
postpone any discussion of these two sensitive concepts until she has won
enough trust and has had sufficient chance to participate in brainstorming
sessions with Arabs and Muslims.
Mrs. Powell should be aware that Arabs and Muslims do not trust "Sawa"
and "Al-Hurra". They consider them pure propaganda instruments.
The effort of Mrs. Powell will be greatly appreciated if she succeeds in
repairing the shattered bridges of friendship and confidence between America
and the Muslim world and if she erases the erroneous, unfair impression many in
her adopted country have of Arabs and Muslims,
May the young Egyptian-born American succeed where others have failed!
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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