It has become appallingly clear that American intellectuals do not know much about Arab and Muslim culture. Obviously, false or distorted notions about our culture and religion will not be helpful in promoting understanding between Arab and American cultures.
It is also a painful reality that Arab thinkers, intellectuals and media men are totally absent from the American cultural and media world. This is one of the reasons why the relations between the two societies have become schizophrenic.
Arab-American relations in the past six decades have mainly been confined to political and economic spheres. Arabs have scarcely been noticed at cultural and intellectual levels, either as individuals or institutions.
The reason for Arab absence in the American cultural scene can be attributed to the discouraging attitude of Arab ruling and political establishments toward the participation of thinkers and intellectuals in the agenda of diplomatic and political activities. The attitude springs from their shortsighted refusal to give intellectual and cultural dimensions the consideration they deserve when planning a national political vision. While drawing up the outlines of external relations, Arab political establishments are guided by a narrow vision dictated by transient international and domestic situations. In contrast, Western countries draw up their policies on a long-term basis giving due consideration to cultural and intellectual aspects.
Collective cultural, social or institutional activities have become rare in many Arab societies while the role of thinkers has been reduced to individual efforts of a local character. Organized cultural activities are looked upon with suspicion because of exaggerated security concerns and unjustified fears of political and social consequences attached to such events. This adds to the isolation of intellectuals, already rendered ineffective by the widening gap between them and political establishments.
If we want to get out of this schizophrenic state in our American relations we should strive to change our shortsighted policies. This change can be effected by reconsidering the role of intellectuals and thinkers and giving them effective participation in framing political and national policies and in guiding and participating in those activities, both inside and outside their countries.
It is also required that intellectual and cultural activities should be given an institutional base by setting up cultural establishments with the freedom and opportunity to bring together our intellectual elites and ensuring a congenial atmosphere for them to practice their expected role in society both internally and externally side by side with other governmental organizations
However, the responsibility for introducing a new ethos to our national life is primarily that of intellectuals and thinkers. Their role is to lead, to show the way and to chart new courses. So, they should share with the state the responsibility of achieving the two goals of redefining their role and institutionalizing cultural activities. They should take the initiative to outline new polices and then demand their implementation — while contributing real hard work to prepare the ground for the new ethos.
