Singing for political leaders is not a new phenomenon in the Arab World. In a matter of fact, 20% (my guess) of all produced songs typically glorify the wisdom of various Arabic heads of states. These songs are typically state-sponsored and broad-casted by the state controlled media. However it seems that we are entering a new era with Ahlan Ezayak (how are you doing in Arabic). The song is Egyptian but American-produced. A whole cast, of technicians and artists, was brought from France and other European countries to take part in the video-clip.
Shmas, a beautiful Arabic woman is debating weather she should accept President Bush's proposal for marriage, which is a symbolic figure about embracing the new American initiative to democratize the region. So as any typical Arab girl, she tries to check his values, reputation, credentials and deeds. The first problem is that she can not tell who (he really is) as his face features continue to change. His(American)ideals of liberty, democracy and human rights are checked out and discovered not to be so different from others(Arabic dictators)' marriage proposals. Bush, according to the song descended from one of two well-known serial killers (Raya and Skinna),two sisters who terrorized Egypt and the Arab World by killing thousands of innocent people while living in a building just behind the main police station.(while other dictators discended from the other one).
The song has a social message as well. In a boxing arena, Shams as an Arab woman faces Rice in a boxing match, and tells her that she better leaves. This specific scene ridicules the Western concept of feminism and women empowerment as it shows an Arabic woman with a boob job, hinting to what Arab women had got so far from this movement. The song is causing a media uproar, not only in the Arab world, but around the world and clearly presents another bad news for this American Administration and its effort to change its tarnished image in the region. The vedio clip ends with Shams dumbing Bush and marrying Naji Al-Ali, the immortal Palestinian Cartoonist; a solid advocate of the Palestinan refugees' right to return to Palestine. This end indirectly hint to Bush, who was the first U.S. President to tell Palestinians refugees to forget about ever returning to their ancestral homes.
Few years ago, people' eyes would shine when they hear words as "democracy and liberty", but nowadays those exact words ended up being the butt of the joke in the streets of the Arab World. "Do not piss of America, otherwise it will punish you with democracy," a famous bump-sticker says. This vedio-clip might be just a song, but for me it is more that that. It is another proof, that the Arab World is in a much worse place with the "March for Freedom" agenda. What bothers me the most is that great values such as democracy and liberty which many moderates in the Arab World have fought for being associated with foreign interference, capitalism and imperialism. The lesson of the day is: True democracy is served by INFORMED consent and INFORMED dissent.
15 comments:
Hi Shifaa,
I hope this message finds you well. My name is Mehdi Alhassani. I am currently a Fulbright Fellow in Amman, Jordan. I am also helping organize a conference for Americans and Jordanians in Amman on April 19th-21st. Can you email me your address so I can send you more information? My email address is Mehdi33@gmail.com.
I hope to hear from you soon.
All the best,
Mehid
Mehid,
Currently, I am not living in Jordan but thank you for the invitation. May be sometime else.
lynne
Mar 25th, 2007 at 7:28 pm
Shifaa, interesting post. Do you really think that the Arab World is worse off today than ten years ago, or twenty? That is not a challenge; I’d be interested in hearing your point of view. Overall, the world seems in terrible shape–all of it, not just the Arab World. Perhaps there are some peaceful places, and if I knew where they were, I might move there. I’ve spent my life looking for Utopia. Conflict and any kind of violence is repulsive to me.
I did not vote for Bush, and in fact, until recently quite detested him. Like most of us, he has flaws. I wonder though (considering the fact that he has two daughters), if he is deliberately making decisions that are bad, or whether he is simply making mistakes and using poor judgment. There is a difference between being in error and in deliberately trying to do harm.
Now that the US is involved in Iraq, it seems to me that the US has a duty to try to stabilize the country. Some groups in Iraq and areas are definitely better off (the Kurdish people, for example). It seems that there are hot spots of violence in Iraq, but also areas that are fairly calm and productive. Perhaps there is some hope for democracy in Iraqi, with the diverse groups having a voice in government.
From my days of studying political sociology, a couple of things come to mind. All groups seek to enhance their power, prestige and influence. All of them seek to push their agenda, so there is nothing new about that in the ME or anywhere else. This occurs in small groups like religious groups and larger groups such as countries—seems to be human nature. The problem occurs when those groups resort to violence to get what they want. It is certainly clear that the US is trying to push its influence in the ME.
I doubt that getting rid of Saddam was the entire motive–though honestly, if he was in fact killing so many of his own people, he needed to be stopped somehow. (I did not like to see him executed though—more violence!) Perhaps the Kurds are glad that he is no longer in power, and maybe other people within Iraq are as well. I don’t know.
I am one of those people (I realize that I am inviting “attack”–so ahead, we are friends)—who does not think that democracy is the only type of good government. Democracy only works when it is combined with respect for other’s opinions and heritage, tolerance for diversity, and equal opportunities for all within the society. This is difficult to achieve and requires a huge commitment from the government to promote these values. Without these philosophies in place, democracy can be just as bad as any government system.
Yaeli
Mar 26th, 2007 at 5:25 am
I don’t know whether it is the push for democracy that is making the mid-east a place fraught with upsets more so than before democracy was in the picture. Historically, our little corner of the world has been fraught with upset for many reasons and over a very long period of time. It was not Bush and democracy that fomented a civil war in Jordan in the 70s, or the war between demascus and acre back in the 19th century that quickly became sectarian in nature and pulled in Egypt as well as the french. Iran and Iraq have been feuding and fighting for a very long time. There are so many wars and mini-wars, sectarian strifes and clan battles in the relatively recent (last 200 years) past. I think what we are seeing is the grabbing of the next convenient excuse for engaging in the fight for power between the same groups that have been at odds and fighting for power at various times for centuries. Change of any kind brings about strife and problems.
I agree with you fully that Democracy, like any other form of government, is only as good as the people who implement it and it is not something that can be imposed from the outside.
I wouldn’t count on the U.S. bringing stability to Iraq because the leadership is about to change there and I think the push will be for full withdrawal and a “washing of hands” –which I think will make the situation worse but there you have it.
3 Rob
Mar 26th, 2007 at 5:50 am
The Middle East must take responsibility for its own state of affairs, and stop blaming the west. Sure, the nations of the ME have been hard done by. So have we all. Eventually, after a torrent of blame directed at everyone but ourselves, we picked ourselves up out of the mud and got on with it. If the Arab states want democracy they have to chose it. They have to do what we did. If they don’t, they have no-one to blame but themselves. No-one else is going to make them free. And it’s no-one else’s fault if they don’t make it.
Hard lesson of history #1.
4 Yaeli
Mar 26th, 2007 at 6:27 am
Hey Rob, where are you from? Just curious.
5 leo
Mar 26th, 2007 at 11:14 am
I’ve seen the video.
This girl is hot.
Unfortunately, I could not understand a word but it was fun to watch.
As to “The song is causing a media uproar, not only in the Arab world, but around the world and clearly presents another bad news for this American Administration and its effort to change its tarnished image in the region.”.
I do not know about Arab world or Europe but as of today in US there is no uproar. I run in to youtube link by accident while browsing one of Egyptian blogs.
I agree had been unstable since God created Adam. However, the post was about the lack of enthusasim in the street for noble ideas such as democracy and liberty. Teh only three countries that have elected government in the Arab World are: Iraq, Palestine and Lebanon. All of them are on the verge of civil war. Most people who were calling for deomcracy to roll over the land are very causious to do so now!!! Sadly
7 lynne
Mar 26th, 2007 at 6:10 pm
Perhaps the big push in the ME should be developing a philosophy of tolerance for the diversity that exists there and a resolution to find solutions other than resorting to violence.
To blame the West for everything is to relinguish responsibility and to become a victim. Whenever groups choose that role, they are doomed to misery and failure. I would hate for that to be the fate of any group of people. I want better than that for everyone. As a teacher in the US, when I see my students choose the victim’s role, I really worry. It’s a defeatist position. Don’t misunderstand me, Shifaa. I am not aiming this at you, Shifaa, for clearly you are not a victim– you are a successful person. I do agree with Rob though, that the attitude that gains the most happiness and success for the individual or the group, is one where there is a positive outlook and an awareness of the power of individual action and commitment to a goal. I am a great admirer of the Dali Lama, who says in his book, The Art of Happiness, that we can none of us really be truly happy until we reach out with caring and support for others.
Yes the Arab World as a whole carries the ultimate responsibility about choosing to adopt democracy as a way of living. However, you guys need to understand the socio-political
context of the environment to develop this attitude. Unfortunately, democracy, feminism, individualism have been introduced first to the Arab World through colonization.
Particularly, through the British and French. Interestingly, the British commander who colonized Iraq early in the 20th century addressed the Iraqi people asking them to welcome his forces as liberators not occupiers. The same exact words we heard in 2003 shortly after the second gulf war.
I am not trying by any means to endorse blaming and pointing the fingers to the West for all of our problems but to ignore the whole political and historical context of this conversation seems to me as very naive.
Rita Rosenfeld
Mar 26th, 2007 at 9:29 pm
Rob is right on the money.
Abu Yussif
Mar 27th, 2007 at 1:44 pm
Rob,
Salman Ruhsdie says the same thing. If the world gives credence to the notion that anger over _____ (fill in the blank) results in unbounded violence and murder, then terror is legitimized and will never end. he should know.
Personal responsibility for one’s actions is taboo in this part of the world, which is why we see all of the barbarity committed in the name of a religion, of all things.
Mar 27th, 2007 at 9:25 pm
Shifaa, I do agree with you. You raise an important point about the introduction of democracy through colonization. And, as you say, the historical context must be considered.
Abu Yussif, you are right. I hate the justication of violence and terror. It is inexcusable.
Hi, Rita! I’ve missed your comments for the past few days and glad to see your comment here
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