From Dani Parnass, Academy class of 2007
With all the media frenzy surrounding the 2008 U.S. Presidential elections, we’ve heard time and again that Sen. Barack Obama’s candidacy is historic for our nation and for the world at large. But we’ve also seen criticisms– does he have enough experience? Will his foreign policy of diplomacy really work? Is he an elitist?
One theme the 2007 participants and I came across, over and over, was that of perspectives. We had students from around 20 different countries composing the most diverse group of students and faculty with which I have ever been associated. From day one we encountered divergent views on a variety of topics, most of which we explored with each other both inside and outside the classroom—the media, climate change, terrorism, religion, globalization, and so on. I’ve taken some of those conversations back to the states with me, and especially in my thinking about US politics and representation.
A recent column by Thomas Friedman in the New York Times (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/11/opinion/11friedman.html?_r=1&th&emc=th&oref=slogin) explained just how Obama’s nomination “has done more to improve America’s image abroad… than the entire Bush public diplomacy effort for seven years.” He describes how many Egyptians and Arab Muslims view Obama very favorably and would see his election as a significant step toward improving dwindling American-Muslim relations. But Friedman also started off his column with a caveat, saying that “this column will probably get Barack Obama in trouble.”
Well, as part of that constituency Friedman was probably referring to when saying Arab support could hurt Obama’s image, I’m glad that on a personal level I can distinguish between staunch nationalism and the importance of mending relationships and listening to diverse viewpoints, regardless of pride and politics. I’ll cherish those conversations I had with friends from the United Arab Emirates over how similar our Jewish and Muslim faiths are, and where religion, culture and politics collide. Or those long debates over Israeli-Arab relations, where I was constantly being challenged while also challenging others in a place that fosters healthy academic discourse. And without those late nights in the Bier Stube (which you’ll soon learn to love) debating such issues with students from backgrounds wildly different than my own, I’m afraid I wouldn’t have this perspective.
