Saudi Arabia: Letter from America

MINNEAPOLIS: For the last few days I have been seeing the American political process firsthand as part of a delegation of women from the Middle East organized by American University and the US State Department. We started by meeting with President George W. Bush, but since that time, we have been traveling across the country in the time running up to election day. What we have seen is truly an inspiration and an eye-opener about the potential for participatory democracy in our part of the world.

In the Arab world, limited elections, however, hardly give one a taste of the incredible power of democracy as it is practiced in the United States.

The election day will find American men and women all across this sprawling nation exercising their votes in many political races, from deciding upon who shall hold city offices to who their state legislators shall be; who their senators, congressmen and women shall be as well as which presidential candidate will lead the free world for the next four years. Additionally, across the nation, many will express their wishes at the polling places on a variety of issues and referenda relating to laws and taxation. All these issues will be decided by an informed public representing a vast diversity of races, religions and political leanings.

Many of us back in the Middle East watch American news broadcasts with a certain fascination, but to meet the voters, the candidates and the campaign volunteers is marvelous by comparison.

Here in Minneapolis, the state capital of Minnesota, which is one of America’s north central states, the fever of elections is everywhere, with posters, television ads, rallies and door-to-door campaigning. American citizens truly believe that it is the biggest election of their time, and everybody is involved — men, women, young and old; all want to have a say in who will lead their country.

A fact that should provide some comfort to those of us in the Middle East is that everyone we have spoken to has been eager to express a genuine dissatisfaction with the way their country has been run during Bush’s administration, and Democrats and Republicans all say they want real changes in the policies that affect their lives.

Another aspect of the American election process that should provide hope and inspiration for the disenfranchised women of the Middle East is the role that women are playing in these elections at every level from city councils to vice presidential candidates. Women by nature of the human condition represent about half of the population of most nations, but in this nation they are encouraged to make their wishes known and vote heartily for men or women candidates as their conscience dictates. Imagine what the ramifications would be for our societies if our women were so empowered.

I was particularly impressed and inspired by the campaign strategies of women running for office. The percentage of women who are represented in government in Minnesota is larger than in other states. Women have been able to enter politics more easily because of support from other women and because of the strong civic sense that is prevalent among the people here.

Rep. Erin Murphy, who was elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives in 2006 and is currently running for re-election, shared with us her experiences as a state legislator and talked to us about the need to include women in politics so that issues related to families, education and health care can be addressed. She said women are more willing to listen and are more oriented to political negotiation and compromise than some of their male counterparts. The legislator also said that women can be better politicians because they can connect better without demonizing or dehumanizing each other.

Most impressive are the young Barack Obama volunteers who brave the cold weather and snow to support their candidate. They provided clear instructions to the campaign workers and urged them to support their Democratic candidates.

One 26-year-old woman spoke to the volunteers during an Obama rally with eloquence and passion though she had no prepared text. She was actively and intelligently engaging young people with a true understanding of these serious national issues.

Even children in attendance seem to have some grasp of the matters at hand and enough information to form their own opinions. Meeting some of these volunteers, I was really touched and surprised by the feelings of a young lady who asked me to tell my world that Americans do not like the warlike policies of Bush and to tell them that they are very angry and they are not very happy about it. They want an end to this administration, and that is why she is working hard to campaign for Obama who symbolizes change to them.

If there is great power in the United States, it does not come from the military or Wall Street but from hundreds of millions of people living in freedom empowered with a voice and, as importantly, the information to let their will be known. We may have a way to go to attain this level of participation, but if the people of the Middle East truly want to embrace such empowerment, it will require education, tolerance of differing viewpoints and a willingness to make the compromises that can allow us — as a people — to move forward together toward a bright future.

-- By Samar Fatany, Arab News