Try Walking A Mile In That Dress

One of my most lasting memories of our visit to the Middle East will always be the warmth and sincerity in the way that people greeted us, and asked us questions about our lives back home. In the back of my mind, I guess I truly believed that I might be turned away or treated poorly by Arabs who dislike Americans when visiting the UAE.

That was NEVER the case. In the course of the week, not a single one of us was treated badly or disrespected because we were American. As women, Yoko, Rumbi, Rene, Krista and I all dressed very Western. Although we did observe the Muslim customs as much as possible, and we did keep our shoulders covered out of respect, the only time we actually put on traditional clothing was when we entered the world's largest mosque in Abu Dhabi.

Why didn't we get the cold shoulder? I was expecting it. I have seen so many FOX News shows talking about the rampant hatred that all Muslims inherently have for Democracy, as if it's instilled from birth. Could it be possible that we might be getting some bad information through our media and stereotypical views?

Well let's take a minute to see what Islam actually says about people who are different:

Allah does not forbid you respecting those who have not made war against you on account of (your) religion, and have not driven you forth from your homes, that you show them kindness and deal with them justly; surely Allah loves the doers of justice. - the Qur'an

Oh, but wait!

The US has made war against countries in the Middle East, on more than one occassion for multiple reasons, many which are justified and some which are not. And yet, we were still welcomed with open arms.

People often spoke to me about American tv shows [including Jersey Shore. Please God, don't let Snooki be our ambassador of culture throughout the world.], and even Al-Qaeda.

A man I met on our last night in Dubai said, "The media talks about Al-Qaeda. No one here in Dubai or Saudi Arabia knows anyone in Al-Qaeda. We're not related to Al-Qaeda. It's like you hanging out with someone in the KKK. Or a neo-Nazi group. Do you? Are they your neighbors, or your friends?"

Nope. They're not.

But I'm sure someone with a whacked out perception of people or reality does live somewhere near me, and there's probably more people living here with a bias against Muslims than the opposite in Dubai about Americans.

Don't believe me? OK, try this.

If you are a female, put on traditional Muslim black dress, and go all the way - all the way up to wearing a shella with just the eyeslits open. Then wander down to your local American mall. Here in Atlanta, head down to Lenox Square.

Wander around for two hours and see how people treat you.

Do you feel welcomed? Stared at? Looked down on? Is anyone laughing?

You and I both know that if I wandered into Lenox Mall dressed that way, people wouldn't be running up to me with open arms. Yet, there I was in the Middle East, dressed obviously Western and acting incredibly, loudly Western, and not a single person had anything nasty to say. Not even a dirty look. Not once, in an entire week.

We like to believe with all of our freedoms, and money, and "opportunities" here in the United States, that our culture is the best in the world. That's what we tell ourselves through media, politics and educational B.S. every day.

Well, I hate to say it, but if your culture is one that makes others feel less than or unwelcome because they dress differently than you, or have a different faith than you, your culture is not better. And if that's how you act as an American, you aren't adhering to the value system that this country was built on.

Some fantastic thoughts to consider are below. You may not agree, but that's not the point. The point is simply to think.

Any piece of clothing can be sexy with a quietly passionate woman inside it. - O Magazine

God wants us to pray for the people who have hurt us, but it's really hard to pray for people you hate. And you have a really hard time hating someone that you're praying for. - Joyce Meyers

What you have when everyone wears the same playclothes for all occasions, is addressed by nickname, expected to participate in Show And Tell, and bullied out of any desired form of privacy, it is not democracy; it is kindergarten. - Miss Manners [...or a fraternity - Lisa]