OPINION & EDITORIAL
Discussing Middle East? Go there first
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Also by Adam Lichtenheld:
- American policy not very 'Christ-like' (November 26, 2007)
- Media martyrdom plagues shootings (November 14, 2007)
- Discussing Middle East? Go there first (October 31, 2007)
- 'Awareness' weak on Islamic reality (October 17, 2007)
Related Stories:
- Moderate speech a must in Middle East (September 14, 2006)
- Let's show Horowitz we value free speech (December 10, 2001)
- Welcome back, Mr. Horowitz (October 22, 2007)
- Letters to the Editor (October 1, 2001)
- Have some manners, liberals (October 24, 2007)
by Adam Lichtenheld
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Of all the controversial remarks David Horowitz made last Monday, one actually resonated with me. “You know,” he said in response to a critic, “I came up with this idea of a Fulbright scholarship for all you leftists, to send you to the radical country of your choice so you could live there and enjoy the rights of their people.”
The guy was on to something. I would have preferred to one-up him — and rounded up every audience member, liberal and conservative, and put them on a direct flight to Kinshasa, capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. “Here,” I would have said, handing them each a backpack of essentials as we landed. “Hang out for a while.”
OK, so this deluded fantasy is a bit over-the-top. But it’s well known that a lack of international exposure severely undermines the ability of the American public and the people they elect to drive the most influential, far-reaching foreign policy in the world. Save the occasional all-inclusive vacation to the Caribbean or Mexico, most citizens have spent little time around the globe. The ignorance that results permeates even the upper echelons of our government — a reality most evident in the occupation of Iraq, whose strategic blunders were at least partially a consequence of U.S. policymakers’ inept understanding of the Middle East.
Fortunately, trends are changing. Young people today are utilizing the accessibility of a globalized world in which it is easier, more affordable, and for many, professionally necessary to spend time outside U.S. borders. According to the Institute of International Education, the number of college students going overseas to study, work or volunteer has increased dramatically over the past decade. More importantly, nontraditional destinations in India, China and South America are becoming more popular. Studying abroad in Barcelona, Rome or through Semester at Sea — programs that typically amount to five-month vacations — no longer cuts it for students determined to obtain a more meaningful, life-changing experience by becoming acquainted with the harsh realities of the third world.
While many hail the intangible benefits of these experiences on a personal level, no one suggests what the cumulative effects of citizens spending time overseas — especially in developing countries — could do for focusing and strengthening the political debate here at home. Last week’s Islamo-Fascism Awareness saga showcased people from all ideological leanings making judgments on societies they have never experienced in countries they have never visited. Yet no one pointed out that certain arguments by both “leftists” and “rightists” would have carried more weight if backed up by firsthand experiences. No one suggested that students would be more “aware” of the issues in the Islamic world if they actually went there — instead of relying on pamphlets, documentaries and the ramblings of political commentators.
While it’s difficult to fully judge another part of the world if you’ve never been there, it’s nearly impossible to fully judge your own country if you’ve never left it. After spending most of the past year abroad in Uganda and Egypt, I realized something. A lot of people in this country are generally ungrateful. Ungrateful at the most basic levels. Those on the right persistently gripe about America’s tax burden without acknowledging that the projects taxes pay for — paved roads and highways, affordable public transportation, clean cities, public education and police protection — enrich their lives beyond comprehension. Those on the left accuse our government of being corrupt and oppressive without realizing that the rights they retain in America afford them a quality of life most people in the world cannot fathom. Day-to-day suffering has been minimized to such an extent in the U.S. that citizens actually have the luxury of focusing the political debate on relatively insignificant issues, whether abortion or gay marriage, animal rights or legalizing pot.
The unappreciative conservative might recognize the importance of taxes if he experienced living without basic amenities like paved roads, running water or public sanitation services. The ungrateful liberal might get some perspective if he lived under a truly oppressive government without the rights that allow him to criticize leaders in this country. Both would be forced to confront myths and assumptions about other countries and the people who live in them, and discover that the complexities of the world do not fit neatly into the plain little boxes crafted by their oversimplified judgments.
Imagine this in the aggregate. The left would be a little less naive. The right would be a little less closed-minded. Everyone would be a little less ignorant. And the political debate would be brought from the poles of extremity back to a common ground where actual, important issues are decided through real, intelligent debate based on informed, legitimate arguments and experiences. It could happen.
Or maybe I’m just naive myself. Guess I better catch that flight to Kinshasa.
Adam Lichtenheld (alichtenheld@badgerherald.com) is a senior majoring in political science and African studies.
Anonymous (October 31, 2007 @ 4:10am):
did this article actually say anything?
Anonymous (October 31, 2007 @ 7:59am):
Spot on, Adam!
Anonymous (October 31, 2007 @ 8:51am):
4:10, no, the article says nothing, but the title is supposed to get lots of online comments.
The only reason ANYONE gives a damn about the Middle East is OIL. Let's ACTUALLY do something to make the Middle East irrelevant.
Anonymous (October 31, 2007 @ 9:28am):
Why would you denigrate a semester in Barcelona or a Semester at Sea? Studying abroad is not somehow a more inauthentic international experience than "hanging out for a while in Kinshasa". Aren't all overseas experiences valuable in some way? Semester abroad programs often open the door for young people to take a first step into the world, and the experience often leads to further international involvement, living abroad after college, and deepened sensitivity and understanding.
Anonymous (October 31, 2007 @ 9:35am):
Self-congratulate much?
Hey everybody, I've been to the turd world-- you should go and learn to be smug and condescending, too!
Get over yourself.
Anonymous (October 31, 2007 @ 9:49am):
Just go to the UK to see the future of "multi-culturalism"...
Books calling for the beheading of lapsed Muslims, ordering women to remain indoors and forbidding interfaith marriage are being sold inside some of Britain's leading mosques, according to research seen by The Times.
http://timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/faith/article2767252.ece
Anonymous (October 31, 2007 @ 11:17am):
allow me to translate this article for everyone that doesn't want to actually take the time to read it: I love myself. I am amazing. Everyone who went abroad other than some impoverished nation is ungreateful.
Anonymous (October 31, 2007 @ 11:35am):
Adam, you could stand to make a trip there yourself. You've clearly demonstrated your ignorance of the Middle East, especially of Israel, in many of your previous columns.
Anonymous (October 31, 2007 @ 12:34pm):
Adam, bro, you don't have to go to Africa to experience the third world. Just travel to rural Mississippi, an Indian reservation in the Dakotas, or South Chicago.
Traveling to Africa only temporarily abates your white-man guilt, don't fool yourself.
Anonymous (October 31, 2007 @ 1:27pm):
Most of these comments appear to be defensive of their Western study abroad experiences and upset at this article for pointing out that while study abroad in places like Australia and Spain might be a fun time, it doesn't change your perspective or broaden your understanding of the world in the same way that working abroad in places like China, India, Uganda, or Cairo does.
In general, I'm pretty surprised that so many people are willing to attack Adam personally for advocating the necessity of building international understanding through abroad experiences in places that challenge our assumptions.
Anonymous (October 31, 2007 @ 1:37pm):
Most of these comments appear to be defensive of their Western study abroad experiences and upset at this article for pointing out that while study abroad in places like Australia and Spain might be a fun time, it doesn't change your perspective or broaden your understanding of the world in the same way that working abroad in places like China, India, Uganda, or Cairo does.
In general, I'm pretty surprised that so many people are willing to attack Adam personally for advocating the necessity of building international understanding through abroad experiences in places that challenge our assumptions.
Anonymous (October 31, 2007 @ 1:38pm):
Most of these comments appear to be defensive of their Western study abroad experiences and upset at this article for pointing out that while study abroad in places like Australia and Spain might be a fun time, it doesn't change your perspective or broaden your understanding of the world in the same way that working abroad in places like China, India, Uganda, or Cairo does.
In general, I'm pretty surprised that so many people are willing to attack Adam personally for advocating the necessity of building international understanding through abroad experiences in places that challenge our assumptions.
Anonymous (October 31, 2007 @ 1:45pm):
I don't think liberals criticizing government corruption in America means we don't understand things are worse overseas. It just means we expect the U.S. to be held to such a standard as to not be compared to 3rd world countries.
But mad props for adding in this straw man, as any good liberal simply MUST do when writing a respected, serious op-ed piece.
Anonymous (October 31, 2007 @ 1:46pm):
Studying abroad in Spain/Rome is like going on an alt-break to Cancun.
Anonymous (October 31, 2007 @ 2:30pm):
i agree that experience abroad is wonderful, but i can't stand the arrogance among those of us who have had that privilege-it's as if those who have never left the US are stuck in plato's cave, while just crossing some imaginary lines or an ocean lifts you to the world of Ideals.
anyone who is logical, open-minded, curious, and reads frequently can have a completely sophisticated understanding of the world. foreign travel does not make one an enlightened being; lack thereof is not a preclusion.
also, as i know from my experience in kenya, we temporary visitors can never truly appreciate the experiences of the people in the poorest countries. we rarely if ever live like they do while we're there, and we always have the comfort of knowing that we'll be able to leave whenever we want.
finally, its a nice sentiment, adam, but the experience of other countries doesn't provide all that valuable of a lens or guide for our politics. it is a creature of our experience and our culture. going abroad will not take away our prerogative to focus on issues such as abortion, and we will continue to. and anyways, from the sound of it you seem to think that such a practice would only generally support liberal policies, which i don't think is accurate.
Anonymous (October 31, 2007 @ 7:44pm):
As a former participant on Semester at Sea, I take offense at it being called a 5 month vacation. It was very much a life changing experience. It might not be for everyone but any experience out of the USA can be a meaningful one. It's what you as an individual put into it.
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