Overcoming differences

One of the hardest perspectives to gain about the Middle East is that of someone who was born, raised, and still lives there. The Middle East is split up into different regions and I will take focus on the Arabian Peninsula throughout my blog.

 The Peninsula is home to a variety of Arab tribes and is the birthplace of Islam. Its geographic location places it in contact with trade routes connecting East Africa, Central Asia, and East Asia to Europe. These different people, their culture and their products have made contact with the Arabian Peninsula.  Additionally, it is important to note that this interaction is hundreds of years old and a blending of cultures developed. This differentiates the Arabian Peninsula from the rest of the Middle East and even more so from Pennsylvania.

Overarching all other differences between the Arabian Peninsula and Pennsylvania is religion. Islam defines the Middle East while Christianity defines my state. Government, work schedules, colloquial language, food, and kinship relations are just some examples of how Islam has penetrated into the daily lives of those living there. Although there is a presence of Hindus, Buddhists, Christians, and Jews on the peninsula, Islam remains the state religion of the countries there. 

Adding to religious differences is tribal identity. Last names and the reputation of those names are much more significant than in Pennsylvania. Tribal affiliation groups hundreds and even thousands of people together. The power these tribes can produce when united has threatened governments in previous history while also being used as a way to unite people under a national leader.  There are many people in Pennsylvania with similar names coming from German and English roots but do not mean enough to even strike up the idea of a common identity. 

Within Middle Eastern culture exists kinship norms that are completely different from those found in Pennsylvania. Gender Spheres strictly segregate Males and Females in everyday life in the Middle East. They are so significant that intermingling with non related people of the opposite sex can lead to a tainted reputation and severe social sanctions that can reflect on the whole tribe.

More general differences exist between Pennsylvania and the Arabian Peninsula. Geography and climate are the most obvious. The United States is separated from the rest of the world thanks to the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. Americans, including Pennsylvanians, do not get the ease of traveling to a different country let alone a different continent as easily as those living in the Arabian Peninsula. The cultural exchange found in the Arabian Peninsula does not happen in the US as a result of our distance from the other continents. Geographic location is the reason for climate differences as well. The Middle East and especially on the Peninsula is very dry and marked by deserts that get little rainfall. Resources taken for granted in Pennsylvania, such as water, are considered security risks for countries in the Middle East. Pennsylvania is known for its agriculture due to the wet climate that is responsible for large amounts of arable land. However, Pennsylvania is landlocked. Since the Arabian Peninsula is rich in hydrocarbons and has a very large coastline, the climate and geography have been the reason for industries such as fishing, oil, natural gas, and ocean commerce to grow. 

Now to find a common ground on which to move off into a more understanding between Middle Easterners and myself seems very difficult. Apart from reading books on the Middle East and taking a few classes in college I have found out through traveling and meeting new people in college and abroad that tolerance and respect are key to any form of understanding. 

 Being genuine and tolerant to show  someone from the Middle East that you respect them is a simple way that can lead to a long lasting relationship. Friendship is the perfect way to overcome the differences I discussed above. Friends will be willing to teach you and will want to learn from you as well. The exposure to new ideas, religion, and language present new things to learn. Another way to overcome these barriers is to use the benefits of globalization. American media is everywhere and it is in demand. Saudi Arabians can watch the same cartoons and shows that Americans watch. It is not unusual to hear Eminem, Akon, and other artists from the American Top 40 being played in Oman or the UAE. 

To fully gain a new perspective as well as to share one’s own is to put a face to the differences. Educating oneself is critical but actually meeting and talking to someone from the Middle East will instantly make the learning more relevant.