Why do I say this? Because the last sentence in this article (Arabic) REALLY t-ed me off!
According to the article, Hamdi Qandeel (famous Egyptian journalist) concluded his talk to the students at the American University of Dubai by emphasizing that their real responsibility to the Palestinian cause is the preservation of Palestinian culture, starting from the clothes and ending with the cuisine. Yes, I am serious.
I have nothing against celebrating and preserving culture, and it is especially important in the case of Palestinians because of Israel’s attempts to completely erase any sign of the Palestinian people, including their culture.
However, it is important to keep it mind that for the most part, ‘preserving culture’ is the definition of pro-Palestinian activism in this part of the world. Enough. There is SO much more to do! How far has preserving culture got us? Nowhere!
What happened to raising awareness? How about becoming successful lawyers, polticians, journalists…who can make a difference in the world and help establish justice? What happened to the other parts of culture besides food and clothes?
Is the message you want to give to a group of eager 18 year olds that their primary responsibility and roles toward the Palestinian cause is to go and learn how to make msakhan?!!!
I am very disappointed Mr. Qandeel.
If the AUD students are reading this – please please don’t let this society convince you that all you can do for Palestine is to preserve the culture. If only you knew how much you can with your time and talent – there are so many opportunities out there. And if there aren’t – you have all it takes to create them!
al. said
well I attended this lecture so I’m going to give in my two cents. He did say that people in university should stay away from getting involved in politics and while they should stay aware of the things happening, they would do better to preserve the Palestinian culture because it’s so rich. I was delighted to hear quite a few objections to his comments during the Q&A session – one of them from a bright Lebanese/Palestinian girl who requested that our generation not be isolated in the struggle for justice. She argued that we, as much as the generation before us, witnessed too much pain to keep silent. ‘The blood of our brothers and sisters in Gaza the past month and in Lebanon 2006 hasn’t dried yet – so don’t deny us the right to resist’, she said.
Qandeel then attempted to clarify his point saying that what he meant was that we shouldn’t associate with any specific faction i.e Hamas, Fateh etc. because that will take away from the struggle. I personally was not impressed. I felt that he too gave in to the forces that make sure our youth care for nothing but the likes of Star Academy and Superstar, that make us feel that we aren’t capable of implementing change in our world today.
Wish you were there!