One of the faults of our political and media rhetoric is that it is
riddled with enmity toward the ‘other’. Anyone listening would imagine
that the world is full of ‘enemies’ whose greatest concern is to find
ways of harming and conspiring against us. This is evident from the
current situation as we live with daily dramas surrounding America’s
plan to launch war against Iraq. The prevalent language of the media and
the politicians portrays the entire West and all of America as
indiscriminate enemies of Arabs and Muslims. In fact, many commentators
have noted the strong opposition to the American position by Western
governments and by the millions who took part in the protest marches.
These commentators have said, “It is all a ‘play’ designed to
distribute roles among the ‘actors’ and everyone is looking out for
his own interests and share of the cake - which America wishes to keep for
itself!”
I remember that not so long ago I lectured on the image of Islam and
Muslims in the West and how it needed to be changed to reflect the truth.
I touched on the need to differentiate between Western nations with a
negative view of Islam due to ignorance, lack of information and lack of
communication and between governments, centers of power and
decision-makers who base their enmity on strategic planning and self
interest. I also mentioned that we should not lose hope of changing the
distorted image, especially on the popular level, and I recommended
serious work and sound planning in order to achieve that goal.
After the lecture, a number of young people insisted that the hope I
spoke of was a mirage. By their argument, they confirmed that the West -
government and people - is the enemy and to discriminate between the two
is a trick and a delusion and that we will never be able to alter our
image. For evidence they used the Holy Qur’an: “Never will the Jews or
the Christians be satisfied with thee unless thou follow their form of
religion.”
What is required, they said, is that we consider them enemies
indiscriminately and deal with them on that basis! Some will say that this
dark image which those young men spoke of is a natural result of the
bitter reality of their lives, seeing greedy enemies of the Ummah on every
side and feeling bitterness at the injustice aimed at Arabs and Muslims
first and foremost.
This explanation is correct but the question is: Is it fair or even in
our interest that we should be driven by depression and feelings of
injustice into generalizing? Is there no way to see the world except from
a perspective of hate and injustice?
The world is not as pitch black as it is portrayed in Arabic politics
and media and people aren’t all our ‘enemies’ - among them are
friends, the fair ones and those who are neutral.
We should not look at the world with hostility and rejection; we should
deal with people as individuals even if we disagree with them. Enemies
aren’t all alike either — some are our enemies from premeditation and
differences in ideas and values. Others are enemies from whimsy or self-
interest.
Still others are enemies purely because of ignorance and because they
have been deceived. Each of them must be dealt with differently.
The language of hatred in our political and media rhetoric is harmful
both to us and to our interests - we should stop making enemies. We need
to deal with events objectively and rationally lest we wake up one day to
find enemies in plenty and not a single friend.
Dr. Abdul Qader Tash, Qadirtash@hotmail.com