20 - 26 September 2001
Issue No.552
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Al-Ahram Weekly Online 20 - 26 September 2001 Issue No.552 |
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Limelight
'Faith, hope, charity'
In dark smoked rooms they huddled cheerlessly, arguing and fuming in hushed tones, hissing threats and menaces between clenched teeth. They banged their fists, they ripped their notes. With grim determination, they stepped out onto long narrow corridors, out of the massive building, out of the swinging gates, out of Durban, South Africa, out of the World Conference against Racism. The clouds in the horizon were gathering, the bird of ill omen spread its mighty wings -- some heard the knell of foreshadowing doom.
For days, the world has been paralysed, saddened and stunned by the senseless bloodshed and destruction; by the immeasurable grief of broken hearts and homes. The contempt for and condemnation of this heinous act is universal. Amidst this fog of darkness and confusion, a cry of innocence was heard! News anchor Peter Jennings of the American Broadcasting Company, in an effort to more thoroughly analyse the tragic events, went to a classroom in Manhattan seeking innocent children's impressions. The voice of a young girl asked: "Are Americans getting a taste of their own medicine? Why do they hate us so much, what have we done?" She queried "Did we do the same to them? I mean, did we kill their families with our sanctions and all -- by not sending medicine and food that they needed?" The glib newsman was speechless. He let one of her classmates try to answer -- he could not.
There is neither excuse nor justification for such a horrific crime; but for the sake of this child, full of queries and full of compassion, arises a need for more understanding. The simple answer may pose yet another question: "Where are the profound human emotions of faith, hope and charity?"
Arab civilisation dates back to 3000 BC. Under Muslim leadership in the 600s AD, the Arabs united, and conquered vast areas establishing Damascus as their capital, and Arabic as their official language. The Omayad Empire spread as far North as Spain and Africa, and as far East as India. Despite many conflicts and disagreements amongst the Muslims through many centuries, their culture and religion remained firm, their civilisation mighty. The Ottoman Empire conquered much of the Arab lands by the 1500s, absorbing their religion and some of their culture. By the 1700s the Ottoman Empire's decline brought about European powers that gained control of much of the Arab world. After WWI, the League of Nations gave Britain and France control of Arab lands once held by the Ottomans, and by 1920, most of the Arab World was governed by these two countries. After centuries of occupation, Arab countries have finally gained their independence..
The British who ruled Palestine, partitioned the land after WWII, giving the Jews a homeland, leaving the Palestinians without one. This clearly damaged the relations between East and West, Muslim and Christian. Today, the regular support of the US for Israel, despite several UN resolutions for justice and fairness, have widened the chasm between the two camps.
America, this "sweet land of liberty" forever extending her arms and borders to all people, all races, all religions, making up the melting pot of the New World, is not perfect. The Lady of the Harbour, torch in hand, with silent lips, cries:
"Did we do the same to them?"(photo:Reuters)
"Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses
Yearning to be free"
And they have come, and continue to come, free to wear different garbs, speak different tongues, practice different religions. No human, no country, no government is perfect. It is here, the greatest democracy in the world that the native Indian was massacred and almost eradicated; slaves were bought and sold, abused and persecuted, well after gaining their freedom and equality. Martin Luther King's dream is every minority's dream, as yet to be fulfilled.
While the film industry has helped in the battle against racism, it has also perpetrated it. Efforts like In the Heat of the Night (1967) and Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (1967), and the gentle black and white classic, To kill a Mockingbird (1962) are admirable. Akira Kurosawa, Japanese director's masterpiece Rashomon (1951), must also be included. The focus on one group or another, to abuse and ridicule, is a common practice in films, especially Hollywood films. The purpose is mainly humour, for local consumption, but unintentionally it inflicts hurtful and lasting damage. In the past, Hollywood's image of the Arab was the passionate lover, like The Sheik of Araby (1926). Since the emergence of Israel, the Arab has replaced the Jew as the object of hate. The new face of the Arab is the greedy oil sheikh or the corrupt, sneaky, fat, scheming crook. The most recent favourite view is the crazed Islamic fundamentalist terrorist -- strangely prophetic given the recent tragic events.
The film, Rules of Engagement (2000), is a fictitious story written by James Webb, directed by Oscar-winner William Friedkin. The original story, set in an unnamed Latin American country was, for no reason relocated in Yemen. American Marines mercilessly massacre turban-clad Yemenis. Hussein Ibish, spokesman of the Arab Anti- Defamation League, remarks: "this was the most racist film ever made against Arabs". American critics were equally disturbed. Paul Clinton of the Boston Globe wrote: "It is blatantly racist, using Arabs as cartoon-cutout, bad guys" and Godfrey Cheshire of the New World Press believes Arabs are: "The only vicious racial stereotypes that are not only permitted, but are actively endorsed by Hollywood."
They demonise Islam for the despicable acts of a few, and the backlash against Arab-Americans is already under way. The crazed hatred of misguided fools has destroyed many innocent American lives. Soon it will destroy many Arab and Muslim lives.
It is a world gone mad, little girl -- with a mind full of questions and a heart full of compassion. Little girl, please do not condemn all Arabs or all Muslims for the acts of a few madmen. Islam is the most peaceful of God's religions. Its very name means "peace." Read about it. Remember the world did not condemn all Americans and all Christians for the acts of Timothy McVeigh and his mad associates. The world has lost all love and compassion, but you have not. Cling to them little one, they may be fast a-fleeting. Be reminded of the old lesson of love and kindness in First Corinthians "Love is the indispensable crowning glory." In them we find solace, wisdom, and love. Let us heed their sound advice. "Though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains and have not charity, I am nothing." Charity in the ancient Biblical texts does not mean giving alms or feeding the poor -- it is explained -- "though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing." Modern versions of the Bible have replaced the word "charity" by the word "love." It is the noblest of virtues, encompassing kindness, compassion and affection. It is the benevolence of God towards man; the love of man for his fellow man. It is the purest and rarest of all emotions -- brotherly love. You, dear child, with the sterling heart, you know all about it. These lofty and noble ancient words are needed now to heal the tormented soul and dress the gaping wounds.
"And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity." Read it all little one -- read all Paul's letters to the Corinthians and heed his words, and pray that this mad world will heed them too.
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