TRY IT OUT YOURSELF

By Jim Haske
(Age 25, Qatar)

Violence seems inescapable today. Every region appears to be plagued with its own violent dilemma. Whether you are living at the epicenter of violence or thousands of miles away, we are all affected in either a direct or indirect manner. As terrorist threats and national security warnings rise, so do suspicions toward people of the unfamiliar. Young Muslim males are no longer viewed as being possible friends, but as potential enemies. If you have a beard and pray to Allah five times a day, well then you must be a terrorist. As the United States government and media bombard its citizens with negative images of young Muslim men, it is hard for the average individual to not become distrustful. I am hoping that my personal attributes along with my present living situation will help erase some of the skewed images that people have regarding young Muslim males.

When my friends learned that I acquired a job educating learning disabled students in Doha, Qatar there were many questions that they had for me to answer. Some of the questions were simple inquiries related to my job, but others were questions of ignorance related to the culture and region I would be exposed to. "Are you worried about suicide bombers?" "What is it going to be like having tanks and soldiers all over the streets?" "What will it be like to live in a third world country?" I was surprised by the lack of understanding these people had for life in the Middle East, but I also believe that it is easy for one's perceptions to be manipulated by today's media. Chances are you're not going to book your next vacation to the Middle East if you just got done watching the evening news. How can you even leave the country in the first place if you are part of the 80 percent of Americans who don't even have a passport? I truly believe that you cannot develop an accurate outlook on a culture or region unless you experience it first hand.

In college I studied history and archaeology and developed a curiosity for the world. I acquired an appetite for learning about other cultures and decided that I would one day like to take my own "field trip" around the globe. At this point in time my curiosity and sense of adventure landed me in Caesarea, Israel where I had the opportunity to work on an archaeological dig. Between classes and digging in the sand I found time to explore the area. My excursions up and down the country allowed me to talk to people of various religions, and experience a mixture of cultures that unfortunately do not always get along.

My parents always taught me to be patient, to listen, and to always try and understand. These three qualities were an essential part of carrying on my interactions with those that I came in contact with. Everyone had an opinion and a story to tell. They were happy they could pass on their message to someone with open ears, and I was happy that they were willing to share.

Today I find myself living in Doha, Qatar and these attributes are still essential tools for developing relationships at work and within the community. When teaching teenage Qatari males about history and current events, being able to show patience, interest, and understanding is priceless. These same qualities are useful when communicating with my co-workers and friends whether they are from Iraq, Palestine, Jordan, or Lebanon. Talking to an Egyptian male in the souk on a Friday night is no different than talking to a friend from Ramallah or a friend from the United States for that matter. We are all interested in sports, troubled by politics, and concerned whether our loved ones will be safe tomorrow.

I am grateful that I have the opportunity to live in the Middle East and experience a part of the world that has been labeled "backward" and "evil" by so many. My only hope is that the stories I share with family, friends, and strangers will help create a more positive perception of individuals from the region. Maybe one day they will take the time to get a passport so that they can come and experience what the Middle East has to offer first hand. After all, they have a free place to stay.