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Ex-patriot
Jun. 10th, 2004 10:44 amWarning: grumpy, self-righteous post ahead.
I've just been reading a library book on Islam, which begins with the traditional "we aren't all suicide bombers" chapter discussing how Muslims and Arabs have been stereotyped and maligned in the Western media.
Suddenly I started thinking about two conversations I had yesterday that left me feeling annoyed without knowing why -- and I think, having read this chapter, I now know why I felt so annoyed.
We mentioned to two people that we are moving abroad next year. We've had this conversation with dozens of people, and it usually goes one of two ways.
Conversation 1:
Us: blah blah blah, because we're going abroad next year.
Them: Oh, wow! Where are you going?
Us: Qatar.
Them: <blank stare>
Us: It's a small country on a peninsula on the eastern side of Saudi Arabia.
Them: Wow, never heard of it.
Us: Not many people have. It's smaller than Connecticut and has fewer residents than Allegheny County. It's strict Wahhabist Muslim, like Saudi Arabia, but also Westernized in many ways -- for example, women can drive.
Them: Gosh, how exciting! What an opportunity! To be able to live in an Arab country -- you'll learn so much!
Those are the fun conversations. (Thank you to those of you with whom we've had this conversation.) The other ones go like this.
Conversation 2:
Us: blah blah blah, because we're going abroad next year.
Them: Oh, wow! Where are you going?
Us: Qatar.
Them: <blank stare>
Us: It's a small country on a peninsula on the eastern side of Saudi Arabia.
Them: <nods sagely, trying to look like they knew that> Um, why are you going there?
Us: Carnegie Mellon is opening a branch campus, and we're going to help out... and because they offered us the opportunity, and we don't want to pass it up.
Them: Oh. Um, aren't you scared of [all the terrorists / having to wear a burqa / getting your hand chopped off if you steal something]?
Us: Um, Qatar [hasn't had any terrorist attacks / doesn't require women to wear burqas / doesn't chop people's hands off].
Them: No?
Us: No.
Yesterday's conversations were of the type 2 variety. In fact, one person even ventured that, at least since we're moving in August, we'll be able to see by then if the transfer of power has gone over well or not. Um... we're not moving to Iraq. Qatar's government has been quite stable, thank you. But when I say stuff like that (toned down to be polite, of course), people tend to just look at me like I'm painfully naive. Some have even muttered something about the domino effect (which, of course, was such a helpful theory in the '60s).
Am I being naive? I'm I deluding myself into a sense of safety because I want so much to go, and so I want to believe it's a good idea to go?
Reading the book on Islam this morning made me realize that what was really bugging me yesterday was this: that having admitted that he had never heard of Qatar, he was still trying to give me sage advice on its political situation. On what basis? The basis that it's in the Persian Gulf? The basis that it's an Arab state? I really don't know. But it bugs me.
On the other hand, am I so superior? My understanding of Qatari culture is hardly less stereotyped... just a few days ago I was writing about the associations "Arabia" has in my mind and how they color my expectations. But I am intending, at least, to go and learn more. Here's a quote from Supreme Court Justice Kennedy that I read today and liked:
In other news, the new Harry Potter movie opened in Doha today. Maybe I should tell the neighbors that when they make comments about the barbarianism of my new country of residence? ;-)
I've just been reading a library book on Islam, which begins with the traditional "we aren't all suicide bombers" chapter discussing how Muslims and Arabs have been stereotyped and maligned in the Western media.
Suddenly I started thinking about two conversations I had yesterday that left me feeling annoyed without knowing why -- and I think, having read this chapter, I now know why I felt so annoyed.
We mentioned to two people that we are moving abroad next year. We've had this conversation with dozens of people, and it usually goes one of two ways.
Conversation 1:
Us: blah blah blah, because we're going abroad next year.
Them: Oh, wow! Where are you going?
Us: Qatar.
Them: <blank stare>
Us: It's a small country on a peninsula on the eastern side of Saudi Arabia.
Them: Wow, never heard of it.
Us: Not many people have. It's smaller than Connecticut and has fewer residents than Allegheny County. It's strict Wahhabist Muslim, like Saudi Arabia, but also Westernized in many ways -- for example, women can drive.
Them: Gosh, how exciting! What an opportunity! To be able to live in an Arab country -- you'll learn so much!
Those are the fun conversations. (Thank you to those of you with whom we've had this conversation.) The other ones go like this.
Conversation 2:
Us: blah blah blah, because we're going abroad next year.
Them: Oh, wow! Where are you going?
Us: Qatar.
Them: <blank stare>
Us: It's a small country on a peninsula on the eastern side of Saudi Arabia.
Them: <nods sagely, trying to look like they knew that> Um, why are you going there?
Us: Carnegie Mellon is opening a branch campus, and we're going to help out... and because they offered us the opportunity, and we don't want to pass it up.
Them: Oh. Um, aren't you scared of [all the terrorists / having to wear a burqa / getting your hand chopped off if you steal something]?
Us: Um, Qatar [hasn't had any terrorist attacks / doesn't require women to wear burqas / doesn't chop people's hands off].
Them: No?
Us: No.
Yesterday's conversations were of the type 2 variety. In fact, one person even ventured that, at least since we're moving in August, we'll be able to see by then if the transfer of power has gone over well or not. Um... we're not moving to Iraq. Qatar's government has been quite stable, thank you. But when I say stuff like that (toned down to be polite, of course), people tend to just look at me like I'm painfully naive. Some have even muttered something about the domino effect (which, of course, was such a helpful theory in the '60s).
Am I being naive? I'm I deluding myself into a sense of safety because I want so much to go, and so I want to believe it's a good idea to go?
Reading the book on Islam this morning made me realize that what was really bugging me yesterday was this: that having admitted that he had never heard of Qatar, he was still trying to give me sage advice on its political situation. On what basis? The basis that it's in the Persian Gulf? The basis that it's an Arab state? I really don't know. But it bugs me.
On the other hand, am I so superior? My understanding of Qatari culture is hardly less stereotyped... just a few days ago I was writing about the associations "Arabia" has in my mind and how they color my expectations. But I am intending, at least, to go and learn more. Here's a quote from Supreme Court Justice Kennedy that I read today and liked:
"I hope that in the next century we will come to terms with our abysmal ignorance of the Muslim world. Muslims aren't a bunch of wackos and nuts. They are decent, brilliant, talented people with a great civilization and traditions of their own, including legal traditions. Americans know nothing about them. There are people in that part of the world with whom we are simply out of touch. That's a great challenge for the next century."He said that in 1999, so I guess this is the next century, and I am doing my part to get back in touch with the world of Islam. Go, me! (or something)
In other news, the new Harry Potter movie opened in Doha today. Maybe I should tell the neighbors that when they make comments about the barbarianism of my new country of residence? ;-)
