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April 22, 2005
Impressions from the field
The conference "Democracy and global Islam" organized by a group of institutions at UC Berkeley drew a number of speakers, among which, Nadia Yassine, the spokesperson of Islamist movement Al Adl Wal Ihsane (Justice and Charity) from Morocco. Yassine, who describes herself as somebody who "works in the field" says that many factors are responsible for the anti-American feelings in the Arab world. "The double-standard policy of the U.S. towards Israel is condemned by the population of Arab countries who see the Palestinian suffer from occupation. Globalization created an ocean of exclusion and the mass-media creates frustration among the youth who watches all day long programs showing the "West" and its "marvels".
For Yassine, the Gulf war increased the hatred among illiterate people who just see civilians being killed and homes destroyed. For Ali Ferdowski, the chair department of History and Political Science at Notre Dame de Namur, "Arabs' sympathy for other Arabs who suffer is natural. It's a matter of history and memory".
Speakers at the conference talked about elements encouraging radicalism but also suggested education as one of the most effective ways to counter fight extremism.
"The best way to exacerbate anti-American feelings is the "Nescafe democracy" imported and quickly made, says Nadia Yassine, who adds that the democratization of Arab countries along with a better-thought U.S. foreign policy could change a lot...
Posted April 22, 2005 10:06 PM
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