June 02, 2006

Re-Thinking

It was an evening in Manhattan. The gathering was a cross-section of New York society and the discussion was about the issues connecting the West and the Muslim world. In that mostly American audience, it was good to see some Pakistan-American youth curious about the world and concerned about their future in it.
Meanwhile, the Pakistani-American community continues on its path. In the aftermath of 9/11, many suffered unjust detentions and arbitrary deportations. These highlighted vulnerabilities and the multi-layered groups within.
There are highly educated young Pakistani professionals who have financially done well. Undoubtedly, many are competent in their respective fields but some may not be adequately comfortable about their Pakistani roots and heritage.
The Pakistani proletariat – exemplified by cabdrivers, vendors, kiosk-owners, and small businessmen – is the bedrock on which the Pakistani American community life is built. They are the first to rally around and the last to leave whenever tragedy befalls and trouble begins. Many cab drivers, when they realize that the passenger is from Pakistan, refuse to charge taxi fares.
Making these groups click together would need some homework and teamwork. The post-9/11 scenario has demonstrated that the Muslim community can ill-afford to remain isolated. They require inspirational and intrepid leadership. If they begin to realize that all of them may be sailing in the same historical boat, then that could be the stirrings of a broader community awakening and collective action.
While there is considerable criticism of Pakistani diplomatic missions abroad – and some of it is justified – it is good to find a diplomat who strives to reach out and connect. One such person is the incumbent Pakistan Consul General Haroon Shaukat at New York. His empathy and accessibility has enabled him to connect with different segments of the community while at the same time he has been able to streamline passport and visa processing services at the Consulate.
The enthusiasm of some of the Pakistani youth is infectious. Zeeshan Suhail, a student at City University of New York, has impressed his faculty and fellow students for his attempt to bridge the divide between Muslims and non-Muslims on campus.
Shaheryar Azhar, a senior city banker in New York, has become an effective compere for ARY TV, conducting lively forums on major issues bereft of the usual mud-slinging and personal innuendos which typically characterize talk shows.
And there is former Test cricketer Shahid Mahmood, who spearheaded pioneering efforts 30 years ago in the Tri-State area to galvanize the Pakistani community.
Then, too, there is a compelling need for the community to rally around significant and existing media endeavors, such as the California-based Pakistan Link – an unusually thoughtful voice – which is read throughout North America and beyond.
There are thousands more whose efforts are unrecorded and unsung but who unselfishly provide a base for the community to make its mark thousands of miles away from home. What is needed now is a vigorous effort to connect with the mainstream American society.
The average decent American is clearly now uneasy over the direction in which his nation is heading. Public opinion surveys show that a large majority thinks that President Bush is leading the US on the wrong track. There is loss of confidence in the competence and credibility of White House leadership. If there is one central issue which has triggered this tumult, it is Iraq. By not clearly winning there, America in American eyes is losing. Americans have still to relinquish the post-9/11 trauma of vulnerability which has punctured the bubble of invincibility.
During an afternoon in Washington, a group gathered at the historic Dumbarton House to mark the 25th anniversary of the Washington Report on Middle East Affairs, a monthly journal. Its publisher is Andrew Killgore, former US ambassador to Qatar, and its editor-in-chief is Richard Curtiss, retired US Foreign Service officer. Richard Curtiss; his wife, Donna; daughter, Delaney; and an extremely committed staff have kept this monthly periodical alive and afloat in Washington. It is a voice for sanity, humanity, and decency in the Middle East. They feel that the battle for peace and justice in the Middle East has to be fought and won in Washington. They have been unrelenting critics of US policy in the Middle East and they believe that the responsibility for that flawed policy rests squarely on the Washington Establishment. They have been sympathetic to Muslim causes, including Kashmir.
Former Congressman Paul Findley, who wrote the best-seller book, They Dare to Speak Out, on the excesses of the pro-Israeli lobby, said in his remarks on the occasion that the United States “is in its worst difficulty since the Civil War. Much of the blame can be traced to the US Middle East policies. Most Americans are unaware because major media, religious leaders, and academia rarely mention it.” Findley went on to say that he found it “not only embarrassing but inexcusable” that publications like the Washington Report can barely meet their operating expenses due to a lack of donated funds. He said also that General Dwight Eisenhower “remains the only US president wise and brave enough to forthrightly face down the Israel Lobby and force the government of Israel to behave.”
It is a sad commentary on Muslim priorities that such publications are stranded and face extinction because of insufficient funds. Forbes magazine recently published a list of the 10 richest men in the world. Four of them were Muslims from the Arab world and Brunei.
Israel is lucky that it encountered a Muslim Establishment which has never seriously or sincerely contested its writ in Washington nor had the courage to stand up to its media juggernaut.
Not enough Muslims realize that there are enough Americans in America who share their concern about the direction of Washington’s policies. The hands of these Americans are seldom strengthened because of (a) the Muslims’ own ineptness to reach out, connect, and build alliances, and (b) their incapacity to convert their massive economic potential into effective political clout.
However, the force of circumstances may compel Muslims to re-think and realize that they cannot afford to remain isolated and silent any more.