Mensa
Non Compos Mentis
- Joined
- May 25, 2000
- Posts
- 4,107
While New York's mayor, Rudy Giuliani's, gesture of returning the ten million dollar cheque to the Saudi prince was understandable, given the circumstances, it raises some troubling consequences. The Prince's remark that America's close relationship with Israel may have been the cause of the attack was regarded by most Americans as both insulting and wrong. What they failed to realize was that what the man was telling them is that this is the prevalent perception in the Arab world
Americans believe, and rightly so, that nothing could ever justify such an horrendous outrage. But by this one act they may have worsened an already toxic situation. The Arabs are an extremely proud people and returning the proffered donation so coldly will have repercussions in the Middle East. It was an insult to an Arab leader and will be regarded as such in most Arab homes serving to reconfirm their belief that America favours the Jews over the Arabs. By rebuking this one Saudi Prince, America will be seen as rebuking all of the Arab world. This is not the way America sees it but it is the way the Arabs will view it. They would never so state publically but the word will be passed from person to person in the homes, markets, coffee houses, and mosques. Just one more perceived insult to add to a growing mountain.
President George W. Bush remarked at one point during his address to the nation that he was "surprised" at the level of animosity directed against the United States by so many in the Arab world. Most Americans, if they're even aware of it, share his feelings. They can't understand why anyone would dislike them because they believe themselves to be a "good" people. The unfortunate truth is they are a very good people, generous, kind, caring, and have the noblest intentions. But they also have a fatal character flaw, an achille's heel. They are, at present, the wealthiest, most powerful, and most important nation on earth; and they act like it! They feel because they "pay the piper" they should "call the tune" and perhaps they should.But it is this attitude that grates and is often regarded by non-Americans as being told that their ideas, cares, and concerns are of little or no consequence. We are the United States of America and we will decide what's best for you. Americans know that they have the best of intentions toward others and want to do as much good for others as possible but fail to realize that it is this attitude that fouls things so. The recipient's resentment toward it grows and the Americans feel that they're being ungrateful when they should be thankful. Few Americans have any inkling as to how deeply embedded is the resentment against them.They just don't understand why it exists.
We in the west understand why Mayor Giuliani did what he did and generally support his actions. I'm afraid, however, that this act will return one day in some form or another as retribution. The Arab holds grudges long and hard, even passing them on to subsequent generations. This slight will not be forgotten! What should he have done instead? That's problematical, he had to refuse it under the circumstances, but how best to do it without ruffling too many feathers. Had he accepted, he would have been excoriated for doing so. Rejecting it so coldly was akin to telling the Arab Prince to "take your money and stick it where the sun don't shine". It might make you feel good but was very undiplomatic and could come back to haunt. A better way perhaps to get the message across without too much insult would be to say that no policy of the United State's could ever justify such horror and just to prove that America values the friendship of the Arab world as much as that of anyone, they would take that ten million dollars and give it to the Afghanistan relief effort. Diplomatically speaking, this would kill two birds with one stone, rejecting the assertion that America bore any culpability, placating Israel by the rejection, while showing at the same time that America wants to mend fences with the Arabs by this humanitarian gesture.A gentle rebuke eliciting no deep resentment. Unfortunately , Mayor Giuliani did the worst thing possible for the best possible reason His actions can't be faulted, merely regretted.
Americans believe, and rightly so, that nothing could ever justify such an horrendous outrage. But by this one act they may have worsened an already toxic situation. The Arabs are an extremely proud people and returning the proffered donation so coldly will have repercussions in the Middle East. It was an insult to an Arab leader and will be regarded as such in most Arab homes serving to reconfirm their belief that America favours the Jews over the Arabs. By rebuking this one Saudi Prince, America will be seen as rebuking all of the Arab world. This is not the way America sees it but it is the way the Arabs will view it. They would never so state publically but the word will be passed from person to person in the homes, markets, coffee houses, and mosques. Just one more perceived insult to add to a growing mountain.
President George W. Bush remarked at one point during his address to the nation that he was "surprised" at the level of animosity directed against the United States by so many in the Arab world. Most Americans, if they're even aware of it, share his feelings. They can't understand why anyone would dislike them because they believe themselves to be a "good" people. The unfortunate truth is they are a very good people, generous, kind, caring, and have the noblest intentions. But they also have a fatal character flaw, an achille's heel. They are, at present, the wealthiest, most powerful, and most important nation on earth; and they act like it! They feel because they "pay the piper" they should "call the tune" and perhaps they should.But it is this attitude that grates and is often regarded by non-Americans as being told that their ideas, cares, and concerns are of little or no consequence. We are the United States of America and we will decide what's best for you. Americans know that they have the best of intentions toward others and want to do as much good for others as possible but fail to realize that it is this attitude that fouls things so. The recipient's resentment toward it grows and the Americans feel that they're being ungrateful when they should be thankful. Few Americans have any inkling as to how deeply embedded is the resentment against them.They just don't understand why it exists.
We in the west understand why Mayor Giuliani did what he did and generally support his actions. I'm afraid, however, that this act will return one day in some form or another as retribution. The Arab holds grudges long and hard, even passing them on to subsequent generations. This slight will not be forgotten! What should he have done instead? That's problematical, he had to refuse it under the circumstances, but how best to do it without ruffling too many feathers. Had he accepted, he would have been excoriated for doing so. Rejecting it so coldly was akin to telling the Arab Prince to "take your money and stick it where the sun don't shine". It might make you feel good but was very undiplomatic and could come back to haunt. A better way perhaps to get the message across without too much insult would be to say that no policy of the United State's could ever justify such horror and just to prove that America values the friendship of the Arab world as much as that of anyone, they would take that ten million dollars and give it to the Afghanistan relief effort. Diplomatically speaking, this would kill two birds with one stone, rejecting the assertion that America bore any culpability, placating Israel by the rejection, while showing at the same time that America wants to mend fences with the Arabs by this humanitarian gesture.A gentle rebuke eliciting no deep resentment. Unfortunately , Mayor Giuliani did the worst thing possible for the best possible reason His actions can't be faulted, merely regretted.
