The film that we viewed last class, "Not Without My Daughter", I viewed as an extremely controversial film, but at the same time it thoroughly explained the views of what makes the Orient so different from the United States. In a completely non racial way, because I think there was a considerable amount of racism in the film, I somewhat agree with what the film was attempting to portray. If i were in the shoes of the mother in that film I would have gone through the same steps to free myself and my child from the world that they were put into using if not the same desperate measures that she did, if not even harsher ones. Growing up in the United States, I grew up enstilling values of freedom of speech and dress and mind, while being allowed to express myself to the fullest; including ideals, fashion, etc. When entering a world of dress codes and forbidding a specific sex from making certain decisons and restricting a way of life, of course it would seem wrong. I completely understand that the headscarf is symbollic in the culture of the people who she was surrounded with and she was in their country, and one fact that I know would make me different from the film is that I honestly would not ever have the desire to go to the Middle East. I am 22 years old, and since I was born we have had on again off again conflicts with that area of the world, and this may be the American media talking, but I would be petrified to ever enter one of those countries. This is going to sound harsh, but the only way that I think you could get me to step foot on the soil of an Islamic country is if I were a soldier for a branch of the United States Military in fatigues and carrying weapons; otherwise, I honestly would fear for my life as a woman.
Does anyone agree? Think I'm wrong in feeling this way?
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The fear that most people feel is normal but you have to understand that it is not the same in every part of the Middle East. Of course there is conflict but there are areas that are completely not affected and where people live out their normal lives. Also in many countries such as Lebanon, Jordan and Palestine the head scarf is worn at the choice of the woman. Of course in many places a male dominated society is present but times have changed. Women have rights. Women's suffrage was achieved as early as 1952 in Lebanon and 1956 in Egypt.
ReplyDeleteI personally know someone whose family member is the caretaker of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and he says that tourism never fades down. I think that the fear comes due to the media but the Middle East is a vast area and if the areas where trouble is known to occur are avoided, a visit is not life threatening.
Your views are normal to an American who has been socialized to think the way you do. "Freedom" in America has many different meanings and raises the question: freedom for who? Its nice you think you grew up in a great America to think, dress, and act "freely." But the reality is so much more complicated. Your strong bias against the Middle East shows that America has taught you well, and when the truth is revealed you have no choice but to fear it.
ReplyDeleteI will leave you with a comment my prof. made:
There is the way you think the world works, and there is the way the world works.
I really appreciate your honesty in this entry. I think it takes a pretty big person to admit that they are afraid of something! Honestly, I would be pretty apprehensive to say the least about entering a country in the "Middle East." Not only is their culture completely different from ours, we don't even realistically know what their culture is! It is portrayed by our country to be so backwards and barbaric etc, but when it comes down to it - what does that really mean?
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