America Has Changed the World for the Better
McQ over at
QandO links to and comments on an article from
Dr. Abd Al-Hamid Al-Ansari, former dean of the Faculty of Islamic Law at the University of Qatar which was published in the London Arabic-language daily Al-Sharq Al-Awsat.
bq. Dr. Al-Ansari: "The other problem is terrorism. We have suffered from terror and we cannot get rid of it. If terror had not struck within America we would not be able to fight it. It is true that America transferred the war to the terrorists' own territories rather than waiting [until they struck]… "
bq. McQ: Much to the chagrin of the terrorist and the anti-war folks.
bq. Dr. Al-Ansari: "But might alone is not enough. Terrorism has an ideological and cultural base that must be dismantled, and therefore America needs to encourage the countries to reexamine their educational systems in full – not only the curriculum – and must give financial and professional aid in developing the educational system…"
bq. McQ: Bingo. Sound advice we need to heed.
bq. Dr. Al-Ansari: "Our third demand of America is connected to the Palestinian problem and to improving the image of America, since the [Arab] media focuses on the negative aspects of America and does not mention its positive face. The media help vilify the image of America and increase hatred for it, but it is not acting in a vacuum. America's bias in favor of Israel provides fertile ground for blackening the image of America in the Arab and Muslim public awareness … and as the emir of Qatar said… We call on America to view our problems with greater balance, justice, and honesty. This is what will improve its image in the Arab and Islamic world…"
bq. McQ: Yes. This IS the crux of the image problem in the Arab world. Until it is resolved, doing the other things which need to be done will remain virtually impossible. THIS is where eveyone, the Arabs, Palestinians, Europe, Israel and the US, need to focus their attention until a solution is reached. Until then, we can expect more of the same.
Good stuff...
Posted by DaveH at February 13, 2004 11:34 AM