Inspiration 101

Inspiring post by Adam :

What is it Good for?

After what appeared to be a quite successful and stimulating GMM, I've been consumed with insurmountable thought processes on the vitality of Salaam. And I'm not necessarily referring to the more rhetorically inclined notion of erasing the overt subconcious hostilities that exist between the two cultures. Rather, I've been reflecting on Salaam's ability to empower.

Now, this may seem obvious. But we usually think of AIESEC--particularly the traineeship focus--as changing perspectives, beliefs, assumptions; meeting and befriending individuals; bridging distant cultures; developing global leaders. But at the root of all that lies the fundamental promise, which will be fufilled even if all the other abovefore mentioned are not: empowering the individual.

This is so important, because in presenting Salaam, I remember the almost hysterical emotions that washed over me on the morning of 9/11--waves that I believe consumed most of the people of my generation. As I went home for lunch on that day, my eyes glued to the television, an undeniable and gut-wretching feeling of absolute powerlessness inspired an overflow of tears. Sure I wept for the victims, for the families, for mankind and the lengths to which we hate. But the tears of sadness became tears of frustration. I began crying for myself--something needed to be done, but as a young, naive high school junior I lacked the tools to do anything.

I never would have expected that four years later, as a still young, naive, college junior, I would already possess the tools to finally erase what I felt on that morning. With the much-anticipated opportunity looming on the horizion, I realize that Salaam offers a direct chance to "do something" more than anything else. Much more than disconnected diplmats meeting at a summit in a far off mansion. Much more than heads of state conferring at the White House. Salaam offers as much a tangible and relevant road as being the future President of the United States. This is the chance to interact with the common individuals of society, in its purest and most uncensored forms. To speak with those who the world tells us are our "enemies." I remember Mix recalling the manifestation of the perceptions of a young Egyptian boy, and the corresponding thought: who's telling this ten year old boy these things? Well, who do we think is going to be responsible for stopping the youth of our nations from growing up and believing these things? Presidents and prime ministers, or common citizens? Who truly possesses the capacity to change minds--and who ever has?

Regardless, the hypothetical results are secondary. But the ability to empower yourself--and encourage others to do the same--is all you can ask. And that mentality--that provocation--spawns the snippets of definance that culminate to resonate real change. These are the things that revolutions are made of. Soon we will roam a planet where people stop taking another's word for it.

I've always wanted to serve an as ambassador for my country. Yet I always thought of it as a far-off goal: Peace Corps in four years, foreign service in eight, political office in twelve, global leader in twenty. Why not now? Who is set to inherit the world from the current decisions (and the corresponding mistakes) made by today's leaders? We convince ourselves that we have the power, that we have the mechanisms, and we take the chance to shed the layers of helplessness that past events have instilled in us. We try to conceptualize it for our own good, if for nothing else. In the words of Martin Luther King, "Shallow understanding from people of good will is more frustrating than absolute misunderstanding from people of ill will."

It's not about trying to convince those who do not want to know that they should go. It's about showing those who do want to know that they can go. Empowerment is inspirational, empowerment is contagious, empowerment is the basis for progress. That's all you can promise but, really, that's all you need.

Cartoons and violence

This blog has been neglected for a while only to be reawakened, yet again, by the ongoing clash between cultures. By now we have all heard about the cartoons published in a Danish newspaper depicing Mohamed in inappropriate ways to the Muslim world. Any thoughts, comments, reactions?

4 years ago today

Today marks the fourth year annivesary of September 11th 2001. The world has changed so much since then, perhaps one of the good events which came from that day was this program. The Salaam program. Addressing the relationships between Arab and US people's so that something like this never happens again. I know this is an idealism ... but it is a powerful one.

How do you feel on this day ? What does it make you think ? As an Arab ? As an American ? As anyone ? I am an Australian and my life has been changed from these events. I now live in the US andmanage this program. I would never have thought about that when I first heard of the September 11 attacks.

We talked at the Salaam meeting in Colorado about how this day four years ago effected your life, the life of the people in your communities. Any thoughts on that today ?

Goodbye Aqeel

"I woke up today and it was different! I didn’t want to be awake because that mean new day and today is the 24th of August – one day before leaving the United States– God!! Every step I took out of my room felt strange. I walked to the bus stop and it felt like it’s the first time to walk up to there, things looked new! New faces, new streets new trees!! Combination of feelings I can not describe.In the bus ride I realized that these are the feelings of leavingsomething that I love... I was sad!

My phone rang to awake me upand take me to the real world … it was a blessing conversation withone of my best friends ever! I was happy to get her phone call. Few mints later I got to work... short day but guess what was special about the day?! It was the surprise Good bye party!! I didn’t expect that but the staff at my work organized a “Good Bye Party” for me!

That made me happy for sometime then I got sad again. (I am leaving) that’s all what I can think of right now … and God how hard is that.Things are hard to say right now Salaamers and Aiesecers! It’s has been my honor to know you all and share the Salaam experienc ewith you. I am glad that I had the chance to meet you at Colorado. I might be leaving the United States by my body but my soul will stayhere with the desire of the Salaam!

I am overwhelm and don’t know what to say… I will not say Good Bye …I will see “See you around” with the hope to meet every one of you one day somewhere. "With Respect and Admiration my name is Aqeel and I Love you all."

Thoughts from a returned trainee

I intended to blog regularly during my stay in Egypt (6/1/05-8/6/05), but I quickly learned that my reflections were not particularly appropriate for a public blog. Now that I am home in Baltimore, I have decided to publish excerpts from the emails that I sent my friends and family.

Check out this blog : Alli's thoughts on what her experience was like in Egypt.

Thoughts from Salaam Conference in USA

"I wanted to tell u how much i really enjoyed this conference, it added to me through lots of discussion and the diversity of prespectives we had, i really learnt a lot about other arab nations that i never had the proper chance to know, i really thank u becoz of the uniqueness that was within each one of u, showed me a lot of new and different horizons."

- Fady, Egypt : traineeship in Santeon, DC.

"I just wanted to let you know that i've reached saFeLy and haPPiLy..i had SuCh a GreaT time that i'LL neveR 4get !!The ONLY thinG i hated bout the conFerenCe is that you get to meet uPwith SuCh amaZinG peopLe and become good-friendz with them in SuCh ashoRt time...but then you have to leave eaCh other and go in totaLLydiFFerent directions..this makes me sooo sad....i dunno if you noticedme ..but the last day, i was busy writing littLe cards to aLL thosewhom i deveLoped a 'close' frend relationship with durinG those 2 days ..."

- Fadi, UAE : traineeship in WTC, Chicago.

"First I want to say that I miss you all and I really felt home and I had looked into a new window of future young diplomatic, open minded and smart minds of both genders. I had the pleasure to meet you all guys, I'm really so proud about that conference and I wish I had more time to spend with all of you guys. Discussions were really outstanding and beneficial. Personalities, backgrounds, Cultures were all exchanged in a very smooth and organized way, so thnx for the OCs and all who had a hand in making this conference successful.

HAVING DIFFERENT POINT OF VIEWS DOESN'T MEAN WE OPPOSITE, BUT IT MEAN THAT WE SHOULD ADD AND LISTEN MORE TO EACH OTHER."

- Sarah, Egypt : traineeship in AMIDEAST, DC.

Perspectives

Thoughts from Gannat :

Since I came here some of my perceptions about issues in life have been changing & i would like to share one of those with you, i'm an average Egyptian person that was raised seeing Rafet el hagan we Gom3a el Shawal knowing that Israel is a sort of enemy because of the Sinai war & the current problems with Palestian & juish in general was associated with Israel But here i have met a juish person which is my boss & really she have changed my perception of all juish people she is a very nice, understanding, intelligent & proffesional person i even spend a weekend at her house where she took me in a tour in San Fransisco & i really felt the juish hospitality & i have learned never to judge a whole group of people according to movies & stories that aperson can hear as i also don't want any person to judge all muslims people based on the aggresive unmercufull action that some people do & say that they are muslims & we all know that our mercufull religion would never say to kill inoncent people that has nothing to do with war.Now it's the responsibility of each muslim person to give the correct image of our religion & we should all contribute to delivering the correct image & trying to eliminate any stereotypes any foreigner person have about us & that is also one of the goals of the Salaam program.........