June 3

ELZA MAULOOF INTERVIEW

I hope this download works. It is an interesting look at women in developing nations and I feel I can relate to some of it as they talk about Middle Eastern women in this part of the world some.

About her: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elza_Maalouf

The radio show: http://www.box.net/shared/static/yaq1zp6bu0.mp3

ISLAM

This blog is mostly about a reaction I had to something. You can see some of my experiences in examples given. Warning – you might not enjoy this read.

Someone sent me a video that was supposed to make me worry about President Obama being too close to the Islamic religion.

So, this is more about a mix of discussing Islam and discussing Pres. Obama’s approach.

I really don’t get the problem with all the “proof” that was presented about his connections. I think his speeches and comments about the Muslim faith and Middle East culture is a great strategy for bringing a bit more peace to the world.

When you go to another country, you need to help them relate to you so you can start a friendship. That is what he is doing I believe.

Example, I decided not to show my photos from America here, because the Maldivians are so poor compared to my middle class family. If I show them the pictures of my families’ homes, they would think I was so wealthy and I fear it would separate us more – not just language and looks and clothes, but then also money. What is the point of dividing people around the world?

Islam is in America and there are mosques in America. Is this news to Christians? Why does it scare them? There are Catholics, Jews, Mormons, Christian Scientist, and many others as well. If you feel your religion should be the only one, then just see if you can convert people to your way of thinking through sharing or example if you are so inclined. Don’t just put people down without understanding where they come from and what they are looking for in life. And if they don’t convert, why should this matter to you? Do you seriously think America is about to fall and will become exclusively Islamic? America will never force you to be one religion or another. Focus on living your best life and stop feeling like you need to control others or living in fear. It will get you nowhere you want to be I think.

Pres. Obama brings up quotes from the Koran…I didn’t hear those quotes, but actually, the Koran and Bible have a lot of the same stories and information and lessons I have been told by a devote Christian. Again, you can show how much alike you are in values and beliefs and that can bond people and build friendships and trust. Again, why would you want to do anything but build positive connections? Focus on what is good and educate people to see what is common.

Also, one needs to show that they appreciate another’s culture in order to build friendship; Pres. Obama does that in the video clips in my opinion. He talks about their cultural history and inventions. What is wrong with that? You show that you have educated yourself on their culture and why not appreciate the genius of any individual or groups no matter where they were born and grew up? Maybe they will look at America and say, “Hmm… they have good people and good things and an interesting history too. I can appreciate that.” Show them how to appreciate and accept facts without becoming fearful or defensive and they may do likewise.

It is shocking that I find there is such a lack of education by Americans on what people know about this part of the world, and I am shocked by what the SW Asians know about Western culture (I say SW Asians since that is where I am now). When I try to talk about things, they can’t relate to it. If the textbook talks about planting something in “early fall”, they can’t grasp what that means. There is no fall season here. There is only rainy season or sunny season. The concept of planting in a season left blank faces. When I said there was a dog riding in the car in a picture, they didn’t believe me. They don’t have dogs here and dogs are thought to be bad animals, so they can’t comprehend one being in a car. That may be hard for many reading this to grasp, but it is just a tradition and what they have been fed. They don’t know differently and they are unlikely to have the chance to experience any of these things since they live here and not in America. They even told me they don’t study Maldivian history or World history in school…maybe in sixth grade they had some class about something related my students told me. And sure enough, they don’t know the name of the Eiffel Tower though many knew of it. They couldn’t name anything that symbolizes Japan or other countries really. They knew the Taj Mahal and the Statue of Liberty (not by name) and that was about all. Another teacher said they asked about Maldivian history in the 1930’s or 1940’s and they don’t know about it. History and world knowledge is not something that taught or valued at this time here it seems. They are in a different stage of evolving here. We have to understand that coming from our stage in America. It would be nice if they expanded their knowledge, but we in America still have some expanding to do too.

An example of how we might not understand them: There was a taxi driver in Male who is extremely proud about his career. It seems near the bottom of the barrel in America perhaps, but when you hear his reasons you can understand his happiness. Before he worked at sea and was away from his wife and children most of the time for decades. Now, he can go home nightly and be with his family and he doesn’t have to answer to a boss anymore but only himself since he owns his car. It is cultural and life experience differences.

Another example is an American who said her approximately 7-year old was almost not accepted (or not accepted – I can’t remember) into a western school because they couldn’t pass an entrance exam. Example: Draw a line from the umbrella to the weather symbol. Draw a line from the letter to the building you go to mail the letter. Her child drew a line to the sun (since many countries like here use umbrellas daily to keep the sun off of oneself, and I am wondering if it is too windy when it rains to use an umbrella) and a line to the airport (since that is where they could send letters off – there wasn’t a post office where they lived so they went to the airport to get letters out of the country). The school couldn’t believe the mother’s defense of her son’s answers since they had zero exposure to other cultures and those answers were unbelievable in their minds. Even here, I can’t receive a letter at my home. There isn’t mail service. If I put the company address as my residence, I get a sticker that tells me to come to the capital city for my mail (or I assume the nearest city for other areas of the country). It s important for people to understand there are different types of environments and ways to do things. We need to understand and respect it just as the people here need to open their minds to other possible ways in the world.

The call to prayer is like a song in the quiet. What is wrong with saying it sounds beautiful like Pres. Obama did? In addition, it is a childhood memory for him, so that in itself may make it sweeter too. Do you find cicadas or a whippoorwill sounding wonderful – a reminder that summer is there? It is just a connection to your past that may have good memories. And the call to prayer is a chant so it sounds slow and musical. And if he can say it perfectly…well, I can say, “The weather is nice today, isn’t it?” in perfect Japanese and people mistake that I can speak Japanese based on that…It only means I have heard it enough that I picked up the right sounds. Especially children can pick up sounds easily; so Pres. Obama can reproduce what he heard several times a day as a child….I don’t see the fuss. But, I need to be understanding too - the Americans bashing his interviews have not experienced life in a Muslim country. They can’t comprehend the experience since they have nothing to base it on.

Back to the video: I understand someone being sworn into office with a holy item from their religion (in the case mentioned – a Koran) since that holds more significance to them, but I agree that a Bible would be good to add under the Koran (I am not sure if it was or not) since it represents the nation and would be a common representation of the swearing in process. But, wouldn’t you trust the person’s word more if they swore on something important to them more than on something that doesn’t hold so much if any meaning to them? I would. And, isn’t America about freedom of religion? Is that going to change and people will be forced to be Christian? Is that what people really want in America? Forced to worship a certain way and adhere to one standard?

I am glad I am not forced to practice Islam here. I wouldn’t want America to force their religions on newcomers either. I do choose to respect some of the customs here like not showing cleavage or too much skin. I don’t have to comply, I chose to since I can imagine their impression of people in shorts and tank tops looking like they just left their bedroom without clothes on! I try to dress fairly appropriately NOT because I am Muslim or because they are forcing me to; it is just a sign of respect and they will appreciate my show of effort I believe and it could potentially help future relationship with them and other foreigners they meet in the future or dissipate the negative words preached to them by some extremist. Why not do things that may have a positive impact?

I think it is because of their religious convictions that things are so peaceful here. If it weren’t for being reminded daily of some power greater and 10 Commandment type things that Christians have too, these people would be restless perhaps?! (Well, I think there are severe laws where you can be whipped for getting pregnant and such, so that controls people too, but that is another issue!) In fact, I have to watch my moods here in Maldives – it is hot, I don’t have lots of money (same as them), care of our health and safety doesn’t exist in many ways, food is not easy to get or prepare, you have to go elsewhere for good education and medical care, and there isn’t much for entertainment since everything would cost money. Isn’t it better they use religion to bring order and a feeling of comfort to their lives? It seems better than disrespect and unrest that could be occurring. Let them promote peace in the most effective way I say. Islam is here and already accepted so use it for something positive.

Yes, there are radicals. They are Muslim ones and they are Christian ones and they are more from other religions too. But they are the minority. The majority of people here do not approve of violence I am sure. They seem to want a peaceful life – build their own homes, start a business, become a manager at their current companies, and take care of ailing family members. This is what I have read n their English journals. They are just so poor that they can’t imagine they might fly on a plane, travel to another country, or own a car. I am sure they look at the rich countries like America and feel some envy…that is human nature though religions tell us not to envy. But that envy doesn’t mean they will promote the downfall of America…especially if they meet nice Americans and Europeans.

I don’t know how you will view this since I guess 2 people can look at the Obama clip and one sees something to fear and the other sees someone building bridges across cultures. So, one may see this blog and think I am defending Islam and putting down America where another will see that I am saying we should just all try to have patience, understanding, and help in peaceful ways to bond people so there can be a happier and more prosperous future. I am not saying I support Islam. I am saying it exists and it is serving a positive purpose. I am saying you can’t criticize most people on how they worship because they are likely doing what is passed down to them and it is just tradition and culture. And even if it is a choice, who are any of us to choose how another chooses to live their life if it doesn’t harm. And no, Islam itself is not harming just as Christianity itself doesn’t harm; it is just some people that take it to the extreme or try to force their beliefs on others.

I choose not to fear that America is being greatly influenced by Islam. I don’t think that fear is realistic. Is it possible to look at this from my perspective? Maybe fear makes things seem worse than they are. Try seeing Pres. Obama’s actions and words as a strategy for helping in the long run with international relationships and America’s economy and other such matters.

Do you have a better solution to help improve relationships with this side of the world? Does war really work better than friendships among people? And, can I believe the solutions you present to me? How much experience do you have to speak of how to create peace and co-existence among people? How many foreign friends and connections have you developed to prove to me you might have a better solution than Pres. Obama’s attempts? From my experiences of living abroad and from what I have seen in his life experiences, I trust that showing commonalities, appreciation for other cultures and people, and showing that you have personal experience in their cultures is the best way to open up talks on more difficult subjects and to earn respect that may lead to positive outcomes. I trust that non-Americans I have come in contact with everywhere will hesitate before criticizing or harming Americans because they will remember that I am a peaceful person and they will wonder if there are other Americans like me. They must question any negative propaganda. I am for the strategies I saw in the video clips sent to me.

I am tempted to go on, but I think it would veer too much from the video. I hate talking about religion and politics because it divides and causes negative emotions within and among people. I just felt compelled to try and put an end to what seems to be another attempt to put down someone who is trying a positive approach to massive problems. I fear that I have just created barriers in my personal relationship with some of you by voicing my opinion. I am deeply sorry if that is the case. Let’s just not discuss these topics if possible.

I think this is the address for the video if you want to see it: http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=tCAffMSWSzY#t=28

In hopes of a peaceful world,

Vickie