Christian Character in Community: A Problem with My Arabic Studies
Since we haven’t done highs and lows, I thought maybe I could vent a low on the blog and maybe people could offer advice and support electronically.
I’m frustrated with my Arabic class and thinking of dropping it. It’s a really sad thing for me, but all semester I’ve been upset about this teacher (a TA) who for many weeks seem to come to class unprepared and then just talk us through the textbook. I’ve tried to make suggestions, some of which he has implemented half-hazzardly, but the classroom is still very one-directional and I want to have more control over what I learn.
Outside of Arabic class, I’m still dealing with my experience in Egypt where I felt myself grow more prejudiced rather than less. You might’ve heard me talk but here are some of the things I noticed:
1) My male boss talking to my female assistant in a tone that I don’t deem respectable in any situation and her taking it like because she had wronged she deserved it.
2) Egyptian men (other than my ex-) treating me like a child who shouldn’t disagree and needs to be cared for. Well actually now that I think about it, even my ex- did, although he was nicer about it.
3) My assistant taking me to a Mosque when it was prayertime and seeing that the women worshiped in what I thought was the mosque’s broom closet (it was a tiny, undecorated room behind the shoe shelves.
4) (Although not while I was in Egypt, still relevant) Seeing a documentary by a Yemeni woman about a teenage girl who doesn’t wear the veil. When they interviewed the men on the street and asked them what they would do if this girl was their sister, they said they would beat her and “hang her from the ceiling”
Note: I can’t imagine any of the Egyptians I met saying that beating a woman is ok, but they would agree that the veil is a sign of a respectable Muslim woman.
How do these separate? Where does humility about not understanding another culture end and the statement of moral absolutes begin?
What do you think Jesus would say or do after having these experiences?
How do I live with my experiences and still follow Jesus’ example?
How do I give up Arabic when I’ve spent so much time and money in learning it as a step to better understanding a people who many Americans think of as “our enemy”?
If I give up Arabic now, why did God lead me to learn it in the first place?
There’s more in my head but hat’s all I can articulate for now.
Thanks guys I really appreciate your time and thoughts!
Imy :)
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6 comments:
Hey Imy,
(this is Anne) I wanted to offer an initial response and also a promise to keep thinking and praying about everything you mentioned in your post.
I can hear how close this all is to your heart, and the first thing that struck me is that I think God honors your willingness to allow the world in as much as you have and to wrestle with it. That doesn't solve any problems, I know, but I think it does mean that you might just not get to know for a while where this path is leading you. I had some similar feelings/questions/frustrations after I came back from working abroad in Nicaragua (6 yrs ago) that are still with me to this day.
The other thing I thought of is that there is a difference between giving up Arabic and dropping this particular class. One option is taht you could drop the class and think about it as just laying Arabic down for a while, especially since there are so many other issues intertwined in this for you.
I will keep you in my prayers (which are wandery and self-conscious things, but earnest), and if you want to talk more, let me know.
Anne's suggestion of perhaps putting Arabic aside this semester is a good one, since you've already tried to improve your classroom experience (kudos to you for that); but perhaps you need to stay in the sequence of courses--I can't advise you on that. Whether you soldier on with this disappointing course or not (but especially if you do not), please find the courage to gather your thoughts and speak with someone in the Arabic department. They will appreciate it--and perhaps the TA will too, if s/he lacks teaching skills. (On the other hand, it might be laziness.)
As to your other comments, I have heard elsewhere that Egyptian men do have a paternal manner with women. However, as a Christian and a feminist, I do not believe violence is ever acceptable, whatever the culture. Islam and Arabic cultures can do without the patriarchy, too, as Christianity and Western cultures are (still) learning. But don't let tolerance, multiculturalism, etc. make it okay for "them" to do things "that way." Jesus assures us we are all children God and deserved to be treated so.
I hear you articulating some disillusionment. In many ways, you've hit on the challenges of interfaith and inter-cultural dialogue. I feel you have nobly pursued a path of understanding a culture that is typecast as evil by many within our society either ignorantly or for the political purposes. Yet, as with our culture, Arabic culture is extremely complex and there are parts of Arabic culture that do not meet well progressive Christian sensibilities, gifted to us by the movement from a medieval to a modern/postmodern society.
It's awfully hard to know what Jesus would do. (For instance, veils were common in antiquity.) But the real issue (if I read you correctly) seems to be the need for equal respect for men and women and, by extension, for you personally. I'm inclined to think that to be in an environment that doesn't give someone due respect is unhealthy.
Jesus called people to be in deeper relationship with God and with the world around them. You have certainly embraced this call in a particular way that felt true to you. Yet deeper relationship calls for deeper vulnerability, and I suspect you've experienced a great deal more by opening yourself up to the "other" in our world, even if not all the experiences were positive. Whatever comes, this is valuable. Where is the line for you between reconciliation and irreconcilable differences? Can reconciliation hold within it a prophetic, loving spirit? If not the current path, then for what other vocations are you gifted when your many gifts and graces combine with the gift of your knowledge of Arabic language and culture (those you perceive to be good and bad)?
I fear I haven't scratched the surface here. You are certainly in my prayers as you wrestle with these experiences and questions and I'm always available to listen. On a personal note, seminary brought up feelings and questions on the same level as yours, some with which I still wrestle but with which I feel more comfortable.
Wow, Anthony, that was deep. Thank you for that perspective.
I echo Kristen's comment about the intersection of multiculturalism and violence. With Jesus as our example, we should be intent to act in nonviolent ways and encourage the same in our interactions with others Certainly we should not sacrifice our ideals in our work to understand others; dialogue need not sacrifice integrity.
From the Wesley UMC Spire, the Book of Discipline says,
"The United Methodist position on
nations and cultures: As individuals are affirmed by God in their diversity, so are nations and cultures. We recognize that no nation or culture is absolutely
just and right in its treatment of its own people, nor is any nation totally without regard for the welfare of its citizens. The
Church must regard nations as accountable for unjust treatment of their citizens and others living within their borders.
While recognizing valid differences in culture and political philosophy, we stand for justice and peace in every nation."
I particularly like the part about how not all nations are perfect in their treatment of the least among us.
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