Arabic Language in Seattle High Schools

The Seattle Times reports on a non-profit group that is organizing after-school Arabic language classes in Seattle high schools. I think it's important that more Americans study Arabic. We're engaged in that part of the world and it's essential for our long term interests that more Americans understand those societies and can use the language. But I am unsure about the philosophy of the people who are organizing this particular program.

Hayden said she started OneWorld after the 9-11 terrorist attacks, with the goal of increasing youths' understanding of global issues and to improve the image of Americans abroad.

I'm mostly on board with this. On the other hand, although the 9-11 terrorist attacks had everything to do with the "image of Americans abroad", it is a correct image of Americans that is so offensive to the terrorists. Teaching more Americans Arabic is a good idea, but it's not likely to change the "root causes" of terrorism, which have more to do with fanatical hatred of American values of freedom and gender equality than anything else. That hatred is a problem that is endogenous to the terrorists, it is not a problem that exists within ourselves. The only way we might change to become more popular among Muslim fanatics is to adopt more anti-modern Islamic values, which is probably not what many Americans are inclined to do.

And who is taking the Arabic classes? The Times article gives us only this example

Student Nabila Aliyee, a Muslim whose parents speak Arabic at home, said she already reads and writes Arabic but joined the class because she doesn't speak it well

Posted by Stefan Sharkansky at October 17, 2003 12:59 PM