Monday, March 3, 2008

Put on your thinking caps!

I was thinking today about what I was going to write in my blog. Maybe something spiritual, something informative, something artistic, or something just plain goofy. Then I came to a realization, I don't know what you think about the Middle East. How can I provide a real look into my life in Jordan, when I don't know what you picture in your mind. So, I am going to ask you some questions and I want you to think hard and not just click the comment button and write whatever. I want you to be honest, real, and don't be afraid to express how you feel and I will try to clear things up for you. You can also email me at petitbateau17@gmail.com. Here we go!
  1. When you think of the Middle East what is the first thing that comes to mind?
  2. What do you think the people do during the day?
  3. Do you support the war in Iraq? If so, how can you justify all the deaths of innocent civilians?
  4. Do you feel educated enough on the turmoil in the middle east to make statements about the situation?
  5. Do you think the media is bias when providing information about the Middle East?
  6. What do you imagine the Middle east is like? You can pick a country and state what you think about that one.
  7. Do you think that every Muslim is a terrorist?
  8. Do you know all the countries that make up the Middle East? (not looking at a map or google =])
  9. Do you travel outside of North America? If not, why not? Are you afraid?
  10. Would you ever travel to the Middle East? Maybe see Petra or the pyramids?
  11. Please provide me with any feelings you have towards the Middle East (Maybe about the women, children, daily life, Islamic extremists) Or if you have any questions please email me and I will have to have a sit down day and go through all of them and address them!

These are questions that have been buzzing around my head because I want to understand your point of view. I have had some horrible generalizations about the Middle East that need to be cleared up and before I can provide the correct answer to questions and address these generalizations, I need your input. I believe that I owe to you to show you a real perspective of this world, my experience, observations, and feelings.

2 comments:

Matt Theado said...

When you think of the Middle East what is the first thing that comes to mind?
When I was about twelve years old, I remember seeing TV news that showed conflicts in the Middle East. I remember mustached men in blue and white head wraps and the desert background. I remember columns of black smoke in the background. These impressions have stuck with me. All during high school, we might joke about “unrest in the Middle East,” pretending that it was a topic that we knew about. Example: “Hey, what are you boys doing here?” “We were just discussing the recent developments in the Middle East.”

What do you think the people do during the day?
I am sure that in the cities folks do pretty much what people do in cities: work for businesses, work in banks, work in restaurants. I also imagine that many people do not live in cities; they live in the desert regions and they farm or raise chickens or else make crafts.

Do you support the war in Iraq? If so, how can you justify all the deaths of innocent civilians?
I have been against the war in Iraq from before Day One, and I think that it has led to further terrorist actions and to a decreased sense of the U.S.’s reputation in the world. We should first understand the Arab / Israeli situation and what our role is in it.

Do you feel educated enough on the turmoil in the middle east to make statements about the situation?
I read a book by Bernard Lewis called “The Middle East: A Brief History of the Last 2,000 Years.” I found it to be enlightening and I recommend it. However, I must admit that at some point many of the facts began to run together. If I re-read it, I would be able to make a few fact-based points about the region, and I have been developing my general opinion over many years. My opinion of the region is connected to my opinion of people in general and how I relate to others.

Do you think the media is biased when providing information about the Middle East?
Well, there are all kinds of media, from Rush Limbaugh to Al Jazeera, from the New York Times to Fox News. I think that media is a tool of the people behind it, and certainly many people who control the media have not interest in being unbiased.

What do you imagine the Middle east is like? You can pick a country and state what you think about that one.
I have learned about Jordan since you have been there – before you went, I could not have picked it out on a map! Nor would I have guessed that there was a city such as Aqaba! I wonder if beer is available in Jordan? I know that many Muslims swear off alcohol (I live in the South, and many Christian conservatives believe the drinking of alcohol to be sinful). Maybe a few beers would improve their dancing . . .
Do you think that every Muslim is a terrorist? Not any more than I think that every Christian is an abortion clinic bomber – or is homophobic.

Do you know all the countries that make up the Middle East? (not looking at a map or google =])
I will give it a try: Jordan (that’s one), and let’s see now, hmmm: Israel, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Palestine (I realize that this is not actually a country, but its status is confusing to me), and are Egypt and Saudi Arabia considered Middle East? (this show my ignorance – I confess)

Do you travel outside of North America? If not, why not? Are you afraid?
Yes, I have traveled outside the US – to Europe Central America, and Japan – and I love the experience. There were several times in Guatemala when I was afraid – I had gotten out from the towns, and I was alone, and I wasn’t sure of the political situation or what folks might think of me if they saw me out there on the trails alone.
Would you ever travel to the Middle East? Maybe see Petra or the pyramids? You have inspired me to want to go!
Thanks to you, I have gotten a glimpse of the people and the atmosphere of the Middle East, at least in Jordan, in Wadi Rum. I believe that those people are benefiting from having you there as a representative of the US, and I am proud to have you represent us there. I’d rather have you there tending camels than military personnel with guns.

Jennifer Haase said...

Bailey, you present a lesson of which I am hungry to learn. Please come back and answer these questions of which I barely have even one confident answer to!

Thank you for being a willing and spirited teacher. how lovely to be a messenger of global truth.