A R C H I V E S
Madinat al-Muslimeen Islamic Message Board
| to saudi: Treat us the way you wish to be treated |
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| jaihoon |
| 08/04/02 at 01:11:59 |
| Our reputation abroad Tariq Ibrahim/Al-Watan The American campaign against our country taking many forms before and after Sept. 11 may be understandable but not acceptable to us. Expressing anger and dismay over the campaign will do us no good; nor will citing excuses like hatred and bigotry, the influence of the Jewish lobby or economic interests, though all these factors may be behind the campaign. It is also futile to keep talking to or attack others as a means of self-defense when the language and tools used have very little or no influence abroad. In my opinion, we have not used personal relations and initiatives as an effective means of spreading positive ideas and correcting stereotypical images. This has been the case even before Sept. 11 Over the past 30 years hundreds of thousands of Saudis have lived in America for varying lengths of time. They include students, employees sent for training, tourists, businessmen, sport delegations and others. Throughout this period we have not seen any proof of our success in influencing the American people whom we came in daily contact with. The opposite is true. Many of Saudis returned home with vivid memories of their stay in the United States and praising the respect and good treatment they received there. On the other hand, here in the Kingdom we continue to host more than six million expatriate workers and still complain of their ignorance about our religion and culture. It is from here that attacks against us come. Millions of people from all over the world visit our country each year for work, as pilgrims or for other reasons. The question is: What kind of relationship do we have with these people, and what kind of impressions would they carry with them of us once they leave Saudi Arabia? Facts show that we have failed to introduce ourselves and our religion to people abroad, just as we failed to convey the message to those at home. Throughout history so much has been achieved through good conduct toward the other, and it is through wisdom and beautiful preaching that Islam spread all over the world. When we fully understand this, we should start asking ourselves what is required of us when traveling abroad and whether we are able to contribute, even modestly, in a wider effort to project our country and religion in the best possible light. Domestically, we should start rethinking the way we continue to treat those living among us and ask whether they are satisfied with this treatment and what memories they will carry with them when they return home. |
Madinat al-Muslimeen Islamic Message Board |