Despite the Middle East’s critical role in both America’s own self-interest and global security and stability, America’s knowledge about Arabs is scanty and generally biased. Researchers at the Middle East Studies Association found that secondary school textbooks — where Arabs are still described as backward and nomads — give a distorted image of the Middle East. These negative stereotypes, prevalent in television programs and films, not only devalue Arabs as a culture and nation, but they also have a profound impact on people’s minds and feelings.
The tragic events of 9/11, furthermore unleashed a torrent of criticism against the Arabs. Concerned by the negative image of Islam and Arabs in the West, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, minister of foreign affairs for the United Arab Emirates, organized a meeting in 2002, which was attended by ministers from the Gulf countries and Americans. In his concluding remarks, Sheikh Abdullah said:
“We Arabs will never be able to help you Americans understand us unless we understand you first. Similarly, you Americans will never succeed in your efforts to communicate to us who you are, unless you take time to know us first.”
Makkah Gov. Prince Khaled Al-Faisal also became aware of a gap growing between Americans and the Arabs. He created the Arab Thought Foundation in June 2001, a think tank whose goal is to promote a better understanding between Arabs and the world. Zogby who was invited to meet the members of the Arab Thought Foundation, suggested Saudis tell their story to the Americans, so they may understand the nature of the Arabs. At that point, Prince Khaled wondered whether the Arabs really knew who they were. This question gave rise to an in-depth poll of Arab public opinion, conducted by Zogby International. This was the second extensive poll made by Americans since Dr. Henry King and Businessman and Diplomat, Charles Crane, conducted the very first Arab public opinion survey in 1919.
The results, released in Cairo in October 2002, showed that Arabs are more concerned about issues close to home. The issues that mattered most to them were: The quality of their work, family, religion and job security. Asked about their most important political concerns, the rights of the Palestinian people ranked third. This poll also clearly showed, that the Iraqi people requested the help of other nations, like Saudi Arabia (60.5 percent) more than the United States (35.5 percent).
The findings of this poll, however, were either ignored or misinterpreted by government officials. Former US Vice President Dick Cheney in a notorious interview on NBC’s, “Meet the Press,” misconstrued the information. Zogby immediately responded with an op-ed piece in The Guardian: “I set the record straight about what the poll really found and pointed out that the administration’s abuse of poll numbers resembled the way it used intelligence data to make a false case justifying the war,” wrote Zogby.
Zogby rightfully criticizes Thomas Friedman for his demeaning description of Arabs, in the New York Times. He also mentions the well-known US based British Orientalist, Bernard Lewis, who believes the Arab World cannot progress by itself. On this particular subject of change, the polls make it clear that Arabs refuse to change on American terms. Furthermore, the activists who wish to forcefully advance women’s rights in the Arab World, often fail to ask Arab women what changes they really want in their lives.
“Understanding where our help and assistance is requested not only makes sense; it also assures that our time and money will be much better spent and can create conditions for future cooperation on reform. But that requires listening,” said Zogby.
Although “Arab Voices” is based on the latest Zogby Polls, the book is infused with the author’s intimate knowledge of the Arab world. Zogby rightfully reminds us that “Iraqis from all sects and in all regions overwhelmingly identified ‘achieving national unity’ as the most important goal.” This point is often overlooked by journalists and politicians who prefer to focus on the sectarian problems.
I recommend anyone having given up on understanding the Lebanese quagmire to read Zogby’s five pages — a brilliant summary on a country which defies reason and logic, but is permeated with an incredible will to survive and enjoy life at all cost.
The piece on Palestine is rightfully entitled: “A Wound in the Heart”. Once again, in just over eight pages, Zogby succeeds in giving us an excellent recap of what has happened to the Palestinians since the creation of the State of Israel. He brings up a fact ignored by many in the West:
“In the late 1970s, the Israeli right wing under the guidance of a young Benjamin Netanyahu, organized a media campaign designed to define the Palestinians as terrorists and agents of the Soviet Union… The negative stereotypes they projected achieved their goal of defining the Palestinian reality and desensitizing Americans and Europeans to the suffering of Palestinians who weren’t seen as real people but ‘objects’, be they ‘terrorists’ or mere body counts,” said Zogby.
The Palestinians failed to respond actively to this well-orchestrated campaign aimed at erasing the history, culture and traditions of the Palestinians. The author remembers attending an event celebrating Palestinian folklore with the famous Palestinian poet, Zayyad. When a group of children, dressed in khaki military dress and carrying wooden guns, appeared onstage, Zayyad told Zogby these telling words: “This is not our culture or our tradition. This tragically is what has been forced on us. It is not to be celebrated.”
In the aftermath of 9/11, a number of Arab American immigrants endured acts of hatred and discrimination and many were profiled. Moreover, the number of Arab students coming to the US has dropped from 150,000 before 9/11 to 85,000 in 2008.
If the author wishes that America should appoint more Arab Americans to government posts dealing with policy and diplomacy, he also stresses the need for Arab governments to send citizen delegations to meet communities around the world and for Arabs to bring their culture to Western audiences.
The book ends as it started with a call to bridge the gap between the West and Arabs — a call to “Listen to Arab Voices and hear what they are saying.”
Zogby concludes: “An enlightened and aware public that better understands the Arab World can not only help change the ways that Arabs see us, but can also help to transform how the Western governments relate to the Arab World.”
