Page 6 - Pakistan Link - August 25, 2023

P6 - PAKISTAN LINK - AUGUST 25, 2023 OPINION
n By Dr Akbar Ahmed In the Islamophobic currents flow-
American University American Civility at Greenbrier ing in parts of the land it was another
Washington, DC remarkable act of vision and faith, a
tribute to the American spirit of toler-
o invite a scholar named ance. Here was genuine reaching out.
“Ahmed” to this distinguished The House was clearly asserting its
T gathering of America’s politi- American identity based in the prac-
cal elite was an act of vision; to charter tice of religious pluralism.
a plane and fly a man The entire gathering boarded the
called “Ahmed” to the special train for Washington and 6
gathering was an act hours later it pulled into Union Station.
of faith. It had been a fast journey. There were
I made these re- no stops. The atmosphere on the train
marks to open my talk was that of a friendly family club. The
to the Congressional coach at the end had been given over
Bipartisan Retreat in Greenbrier, West to children.
Virginia, on March 1, 2003. Through I noted on arrival that there were
snow and fog, I had been flown in no trains on either side of ours. Before
from the Dulles Airport when I arrived the passengers were allowed out, the
from O’ Hara in Chicago where only a Secret Service spent a couple of min-
few hours earlier I had given the key- utes securing the area. Then, we walked
note address at the annual banquet of through the main station flanked by
the Averroes Academy where 500 of DC’s finest. The police were facing
the city’s elite had gathered. That was the crowds who they held back so that
mainly a Muslim audience, but my the temporary corridor that they had
theme was the same. formed would allow us to move out
My talk was called “American Val- quickly.
ues -- Islamic Values”. Vision and faith There could be no better location than the Greenbrier, which traces its origins to the middle of the 19th century. Well away As we got into a taxi to head for
were more important than ever before from Washington (250 miles), and spread over 6,500 acres, it creates the atmosphere of being cut off from the real world. home, I realized what an extraordi-
to build relations between the United Little wonder that at the height of the Cold War, the United States government chose Greenbrier to construct the now nary experience and privilege we had
States and the Muslim world and pre- famous bunkers where the government could escape to and conduct business in case of a nuclear war – Golf Magazine been given. I wondered whether the
vent the growing divide between them. weekend had been a dream. Was it
We were on the threshold of a war in acutely aware of the post-September end had the air of a high-class interna- to music; this was after all an Ameri- another America, an America of civil-
the Middle East and new uncertainties. 11 world. That is why they decided to tional conference and a well-organized can Retreat. Bering Strait, a new pop ity and hospitality, from another time?
These were dangerous times. give the luncheon slot to a lecture on family retreat at an exclusive club. The band with a Russian background, sang Was the “real” America here, in this
In my talk, I pointed out the simi- Islam. The idea had come from Alcee Secret Service and the police had sealed haunting melodies. Members of the city where the talk of terror levels and
larities in American and Islamic val- Hastings (Democrat Florida). off Greenbrier during the Retreat. group had recently migrated from Rus- war kept people in a constant state of
ues, the differences and the way ahead. The Retreat is a recent initiative, Perhaps the air of relaxed civility sia. They were on their way to becom- paranoia, panicking them into buying
One of the suggestions was to develop Cox, my host, explained to me: “The was also encouraged by the absence of ing superstars. Truly, the shibboleth, duct tape and plastic sheets one day or
Abrahamic dialogue which would need was to better educate ourselves the media which can become so intru- only in America, applies to them. storing up food on another. Having
bring Jews, Christians and Muslims on Islam. Too often, we get a distorted sive in the lives of public figures. A karaoke session allowed Con- glimpsed another side of America, I
closer together. version in the media.” In spite of the press not being al- gressmen to indulge in nostalgia by felt deep sorrow at the damage Osama
lowed, the story had leaked and was re-
ported in the Financial Times, London
(February 27, 2003). It had pointed out
Tom Friedman of the New York Times
and myself as the speakers. I also saw
our friend the respected Karen Arm-
strong who was much in demand to
speak on Islam.
My wife, Zeenat, my daughter
Nafees and I were warmly received.
Members of the House and their spous-
es would constantly stop us and invite
us to share meals and conversation.
Considering I was the only Muslim
speaker on that—or any previous—oc-
casion I never felt for a moment either
alien or out of place.
American historical figures from earliest times – Robert E. Lee – to the present “Americans are such warm people,”
– Kennedy and Clinton – have come to enjoy Greenbrier. – www.History.com said my wife again and again. “This is UCF Libraries
a side of Americans people need to see
It was a sophisticated audience. This Cox introduced me and Mark more of these days. Thank God that singing their favorite old tunes. John Bin Laden had inflicted. His blow had
after all was the cream of the Ameri- Udall (Democrat Colorado) gave the Osama has not been able to change ev- Denver’s, Country Road and Elvis been deadlier and darker than even he
can political cream. I received a warm vote of thanks – everything there was eryone.” Presley’s Don’t be Cruel were sung by could have imagined.
response. There were many questions in the spirit of bipartisan cordiality. There could be no better location America’s leaders. The younger genera- We would all, the entire world,
and concerns. Mark recounted a story of a Muslim than the Greenbrier, which traces its tion sang more contemporary tunes. soon be on a roller coaster led by
A few weeks earlier, Congressman woman in a hijab who was harassed origins to the middle of the 19th cen- Fittingly, Sunday began with an America. The Afghan war, the Iraq
Christopher Cox (Republican Califor- by a woman in his State. She com- tury. Well away from Washington (250 interfaith prayer service. The Gospel war, the use of American drones to
nia), Chairman of the Policy Commit- plained that her son was in Kuwait miles), and spread over 6,500 acres, it singers, the Edenton Community Male kill tribesmen on the Afghanistan
tee of the House majority, had written for the war against Iraq and blamed creates the atmosphere of being cut off Chorus, sang beautifully. Congressmen – Pakistan border, the rise of Chi-
to me inviting me to the Greenbrier’s her. The woman in the hijab pulled from the real world. Little wonder that read from the Hebrew Scriptures and na and India at the very same time
Retreat. His assistant Ms Sarah Petry, out a photograph of a young marine at the height of the Cold War, the Unit- the Gospels. commentators were writing of the
just out of Princeton, worked on the and said, “So is my son”. ed States government chose Greenbrier Then, Republican Congressman decline of America and the crazy as-
almost impossible logistics with a for- I talked of the essential philosophy to construct the now famous bunkers Mike Pence read respectfully from sault of Russia on Ukraine exposing
midable combination of efficiency and of Islam based in notions of compas- where the government could escape the Qur’an. It was a thoughtful and its weakness. Add to that the out
imagination. I had to get from Chi- sion and kindness, of the reverence Je- to and conduct business in case of a quietly powerful reading. He then in- of control climate crisis, the arrival
cago after dinner to Greenbrier before sus and Mary have in Islam and some nuclear war. vited me to speak again about Islam. of a virus that will not go away, the
lunch. of the challenges facing the Muslim Golf courses (there are three top We had been at the same table for awareness of the dangers of AI and
Cox explained the purpose of the community. quality ones), hiking, rafting and riding dinner the night before. Mike and his the deadly persecution of the minor-
Retreat: “The idea was to know each Cox was pleased with the response are available to the energetic. Green- wife Karen were amiable and friend- ity populations on every continent
other better. This would enable people to the Islam lecture, he told me. It had brier’s spa is renowned and the Sulphur ly and insisted we join them next and you have the measure of the

to work together better. Also, to allow served its introductory purpose. in the water is said to cure all kinds of morning for the prayer reading. A few journey that lay ahead.
us to explore the difficult issues that About one third of the House of ailments. American historical figures years later Mike became Vice Presi- (Distinguished Professor Akbar
face our nation. Not to tiptoe around Representatives of 435 came for the en- from earliest times – Robert E. Lee – to dent of the USA. I kept my distance Ahmed is the Ibn Khaldun Chair of
them”. The first gathering took place tire weekend on a special Amtrak train the present – Kennedy and Clinton – and made no attempt to reach out to Islamic Studies at the American Uni-
in 1997 and it is now held every two from Washington DC. They brought have come to enjoy Greenbrier. him. Scholarship is best served at a versity in Washington DC and Wil-
years. This year, the planners were their spouses and children. The week- Saturday night had to be devoted distance from the centers of power. son Center Global Fellow.)
www.Pakistanlink.com