George Bush is a ‘Texas Bedouin’ …

Should the case of George W. Bush – a ‘rural boy from Texas,’ give hope to the marginalized of Kuwaiti society? According to this article from Kuwait’s Al Seyassah, the fact that President Bush reached the White House despite his rural upbringing provides a lesson for Kuwait, as it tries to instill greater cohesion and acceptance of diversity amongst the Kuwaiti people.

“We offer the example of the American President from Texas within the context of our discussion of Kuwait’s national unity … The fact that Bush possesses the cultural legacy of the ‘countryside’ hasn’t hindered him from reaching the White House’s threshold.”

By Dr. Khaled al-Jenfawi

Translated By James Jacobson

December 17, 2007

Kuwait – Al-Seyassah – Original Article (Arabic)

We have discussed more than once the issue of “national unity” in Kuwait, and have stressed the importance of preserving and strengthening the “sense of patriotism” of the ordinary Kuwaiti citizen by providing a cultural mold, “in which citizens share common social and intellectual inclinations.” And in this endeavor, we have called on intellectuals to debate not only traditional models of “national unity,” but to focus on the social and cultural diversity within our own society. While the average Kuwaiti possesses a general cultural and doctrinal heritage, these aren’t necessarily identical to those of their fellow citizens.”

In other words, our “public assumptions” about national unity should allow for the following: Any normal human society must contain diversity and disparity in relationships, in its social and cultural past, in the way members of society exercise these relations, and in the way they address differences – because what is today found in Kuwait’s towns and cities is not a unitary, all-inclusive, formulaic Kuwaiti culture, but rather a “cultural and social mosaic” which could occupy a comprehensive wall chart.

Take for example our friend, American society, and how it contains so many especially active ethnicities and cultures, all of which act within and generally accept America’s social environment. And they manage to do so with all of its racial differences, diversity and disparities between cultures, social orientations and religious and sectarian groups.

American President George Bush, for example, is a “country boy” from Texas, or as one might say in Kuwaiti terms, “Bush is a Texas Bedouin.” However, we have yet to hear any member of Congress criticize his performance or his policies based solely on the fact that he comes from rural America, which is what one would expect in human societies that endeavor to become sophisticated, civilized and cultured, and which reject stereotypes in favor of inclusiveness.

[Editor's Note: While it's true that George W. Bush has carefully cultivated his Texas image, it's also true that he has had more than a little exposure to northeastern high society, having been born in New Haven, Connecticut and graduated from Yale ].

We offer the example of the American President from Texas within the context of our discussion of Kuwait’s national unity, in order to deliver the following idea: In any normal human society, social and cultural differences between members of that society are considered a “virtue,” not a “sin” that must be eradicated. The fact that Bush possesses the cultural legacy of the “countryside” hasn’t hindered him from reaching the White House’s threshold. The American President is still a U.S. citizen that cherishes his local Texan culture even as he continues to adhere to the wider American culture.

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