Re-branding America: A process yet to be recognized

 

One morning I woke up with the news of a car filled with explosives that had been discovered on Times Square, New York.

Still somewhat perplexed, I watched the reports and the Press conference by the New York mayor, with the chief of police and high-level representatives of all relevant securit agencies, on CNN in my hotel room.

Something was remarkably distinct about the news footage. Merely a few minutes later, I realised what.

The reporting style had left behind the always ready to accuse Islam on-the-spot pattern of the Bush-era and had turned towards a sober, calculated and rational new communication policy.

continued to listen attentively to further analyse this new policy and wondered if my fellow Arab citizens had equally noticed this difference. It did not yet seem to have translated well into the Arabic media.

This new strategy has produced particularly cautious wording with regard to suspects and their potential aims.

Away from the still familiar “terrorist” and “attempted terror attack” terminology, we are now observing “crimes against civilians”, a language that pursues criminals, not Muslims.

This is far removed from the “Islamist” labels that incite hatred against members of a certain faith.

I admit that I am amazed by the effectiveness of the Obama administration’s change of language, which goes hand-in-hand with a new foreign policy and a reviewed image of the US.

However, in the perception of the wider Arabs that I come across, this image is solely associated with the charismatic figure of President Barack Obama.

It does not expand beyond his individual strength, to the recognition of a peace-promoting policy change and a revised strategy for communication with and media coverage of Islam.

For example, it has not been brought to the wider attention in the Arab world that Obama appointed Dalia Mugahid, to my knowledge the first hijab-wearing woman to ever take an official White House position, as his adviser on Islam.

 

Her role, “to inform and not form decisions of the Obama administration”, is crucial and could be better utilised; to not only improve communication with Muslim citizens in the US, but also to establish a new perception of US policies in the Arab world.

An increased exchange with Muslims in Muslim-majority settings could likewise assist in communicating the multi-faceted and multi-layered aspects of Islamic identity and culture, to the US decision-makers.

To facilitate such wider mutual exchange and recognition, I would be delighted to invite Ms Mugahid, or her potential successor following the reconstitution of the Advisory Council on Faith-based and Neighbourhood Partnerships in late spring this year, to the Kingdom of Bahrain in the Arabian Gulf.

A visit would better communicate the new image of the dialogical White House in the Arab world.

At the same time it would allow the adviser(s) to learn from Bahrain, a multi-faith, multi-sect, culturally diverse and peace-loving ancient nation.

I am convinced that Ms Mugahid, or her successor, would gladly accept this invitation, if the White House is seriously interested in understanding the international Muslim perception and its policy changes.

Al Zekri is a Bahraini independent cultural anthropologist