It was fascinating listening to those who work in the Arab world, as my experience is more limited to Turkey and Central Asia. Though many Westerners, when they hear the words “Arab world,” imagine desert and drabness, it is actually a diverse world. If you stop and really think about it, Arabic is the lingua franca of a vast swathe of land, including the eastern and southern Mediterranean, stretching from Lebanon and Syria to Libya and Morocco, and extending down across the Arabian peninsula, including Saudi Arabia and Arab emirates such as Dubai. And we must not forget all the Arab speakers who’ve emigrated to Europe; therefore, Arabic now links major capitals such as Paris, Amsterdam and London.Whether it is a group of young people sitting around campfires in the desert in Yemen, over hookah pipes in a modern port city such as İstanbul or Beirut or a cafe in Paris or London, they are all searching for their identities. More to the point, the search for identity involves the lives of many and their futures. This is an important point to remember as Turks go to vote on constitutional reforms on Sept. 12.
Young people across the Muslim world are searching for their identities, as well as for opportunities. Let me put it this way: Wars and legal restrictions hinder the search. Ranging from some young ladies in Turkey who want to attend university while wearing their traditional Muslim head covering to those living in lands torn apart by war, such as Lebanon and Palestine, there are many obstacles to this quest. Muslims who live in the West may have the freedom to act or dress in a certain way that reflects their religious beliefs or home culture, but this may sometimes cause suspicion and distrust.
In Marion James’ book review in Sunday’s Zaman (Aug. 29, 2010) she reviews the book “Beirut 39,” published by Bloomsbury (2010). James recommends the book if you are interested in learning more about young Arab writers who share their life experiences and challenges in the form of poetry and prose. She writes: “Speak they do: of living in lands torn apart by war, of the struggle between generations as a traditional way of life rubs against modernity, of love for history and the need to express oneself in a thoroughly new way, of the tensions of living as emigrants and immigrants, of the Arabic strongholds of honor and shame and of the universal concepts of love and betrayal.”
If you missed the book review let me just briefly explain that the book is about the 13 writers chosen by the experts at the Hay Festival and how their writings bring the Arab region to life. The poems and prose collected here in this pan-Arab literary movement are translated into English from their original Arabic or French, the first language of second-generation immigrants from former French colonies. I’d like to share one piece -- a poem by Abderrahim Elkhassar -- that best sums up both the desire of these vibrant young voices to be heard by the world and the need to discover who they really are as young Arab Muslims at the start of the third millennium.“Oh world, whatever shall I do with you, when all I own is paper and a pen?
I stay awake at night refining words.
It is the desire of water to know its source
Before the waterfall drags it away
It’s my desire to turn and look behind
So as to reveal my face
That it may be clear, like my reflection in a mirror.”
The referendum vote in Turkey is an opportunity to bring about change for the better and the future. The Hay Festival judges aimed for an ideal mixture of tradition and modernity to truly represent the region as it is today. Let’s hope such an ideal mixture remains after the upcoming vote. Perhaps a similar poetry competition for the Turkic-speaking world would be appropriate. Both those who want a chance to freely express themselves in poetry and prose and their readers would appreciate it.
Note: Charlotte McPherson is the author of “Culture Smart: Turkey, 2005.” Please keep your questions and observations coming: I want to ensure this column is a help to you, Today’s Zaman’s readers. Email: c.mcpherson@todayszaman.com
