In The Land of Mosques and Bars
Mosques and Bars in the same sentence can make anyone crazy but this notion is very much evident in Dubai, the place were I was raised for 19 years before moving to California.
I read an article by Mona El-Naggar in NYTimes few days back but didn’t get a chance to reflect on it. The whole purpose of the article is to solve a mystery which is Dubai, confusion and amazement but somewhat an inspiration.
The article tries to tackle and solve the mystery of Dubai and does a pretty good job at it. I just felt that the article was little short of substance because it only talked about the issue of non-local Arab workers who are definitely a minority in Dubai’s huge labor market.
Young men made their way to a mosque at prayer time.
Photo: Shawn Baldwin for The New York Times
If you want to see men in Speedos and women in full Hijab covered to head to toe, go to any Dubai beach. It is tolerance of both the western and the Arab cultures all right but how come no animosity towards one another? Answer is simple, happiness and prosperity. Both the sides are being kept happy, local Dubai Arabs have the best jobs, a lot of money and freedom to do whatever they want to (nothing illegal though). On the other hand, westerners feel at home even when they are not exactly at home.
Young people enjoyed a night out at Elegante, a popular Dubai disco.
Photo: Shawn Baldwin for The New York Times
The question then becomes why has Dubai been so successful and has been able to set an example? I would say it is because of security and very tight Government control over every aspect of society. It is a dictatorship that is not interested in brutalizing its own people and other foreign nationals by imposing a certain kind of belief on every individual.
Dubai’s population is mostly foreign nationals but there is more emphasis on Arab culture than there is on Islamic culture. This philosophy doesn’t alienate anyone; there is bar and there is a mosque, drink if you like, pray if you like.
I don’t know if this is how it will stay forever considering the fact that the world is getting smaller every day. My time in Dubai has contributed a lot towards my understanding of other religions and cultures. I guess moving to California wasn’t that big of a shock as people here are as understanding and tolerant as people in Dubai but it feels good to live in a democracy and voice an opinion.
Muslims in Positive Spotlight
Recently there has been a buzz about something much unexpected at least from a political point of view; Muslims have received some positive light in the news media and have gained some respect which they might have lost after 9/11. How could such a thing have happened?
Kudos to Collin Powell, yes you read that right! Powell changed the way Muslims have been perceived in the media since 9/11 by bashing the entire republican party involved in the smear campaign against Obama by claiming that he is a Muslim. More or less he was also able to answer one very important question; just because there is someone living in America who happens to pray facing Makkah doesn’t make him or her un-American. He asked the American people what exactly is wrong in following a religion and being American, isn’t that what America stands for?
Since that day… Muslims are being portrayed in the media as very much involved with the upcoming elections and how they are actively exercising their right as an American by making sure that they do vote. The problem is, all this was happening even before 9/11 but at a very slow pace. Now, it has just been more streamlined because of one man, Obama.
When I personally look at Obama, I am looking at America. When I look at him I see a person that represents the American dream! A new kid on the block senator who most people didn’t even know until 18 odd months ago now has a shot at becoming the first truly diverse American President.
Obama’s journey in itself is a message of Hope which most muslims would relate to. I really think it was about time that someone did something to bury the propaganda that’s being used by the neo-cons for the past 8 years.
Just for the record, please Americans… elect a president who you know is better than you and will lead you in a direction that historians will decide if it was right or wrong and not someone who you can have a beer with.
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