From Iraq to Doane: Fulbright Scholar El Ghannam
Mohamed El Ghannam spent three fall weeks on Doane's Crete campus through a Fulbright program. He kept an office in Gaylord Hall and walked the campus in its fall glory. He debated with students in the peaceful forum of a classroom. He met with lawyers, senior citizens and grade- school children in four Nebraska communities where the biggest controversy may have been the score of the Husker football game.
When he left in November, he headed back to Iraq's Green Zone. There, mortar fire is background noise. When a door slams, the heart races, thinking it's gunfire. When a tire blows, people hit the ground, sure that it's a bomb.
The two places could not be more different. But it's important for places such as Nebraska and Doane to learn about Iraq and the daily life of the Middle East, El Ghannam said.
"Listening to people here I get the feeling Americans give a blank check to their government for foreign policy. The biggest point I made while here was: ‘Don't think of yourself as separate from the rest of the world. The rest of the world knows more about you than you about them,'" El Ghannam said while wrapping up his stay on campus.
He left with Nebraska friendships and an affection for the Midwest, which he called "the real America." "I know what I'm saying is not an easy message to deliver. But people were really polite, really receptive, even those who weren't interested."
El Ghannam's visit was part of the Fulbright Visiting Specialist Program called "Direct Access to the Muslim World," which promotes understanding of the Muslim civilization through U.S. higher educational institutions. El Ghannam is a Muslim and native of Cairo, Egypt. In addition to his knowledge of the Muslim world and Islam religion, he also shared first-hand knowledge of life in Iraq, where he spent 16 months in Baghdad on a United Nations Mission to review and implement the Iraqi Constitution.
Currently a legal affairs officer for the U.N. Office of Constitutional Support in Iraq, his career also includes years as an officer, prosecutor, judge and head of court. He was working for the United Nations in Beirut when asked to take the Iraq position.
The Iraq constitution, drafted in 2005, is currently under review. El Ghannam calls it a secular constitution with the most progressive human rights chapter in the Middle East. "But there is a huge difference between drafting an excellent constitution and implementing it," he said.
During his stay, he interacted with Doane classes such as world geography, race and nationality and contemporary political issues. With each audience he shared the background of religious discord that defines nearly every conflict in the Middle East.
He also answered the most-asked question of his stay: "Why do Arabs and Muslims hate us?"
"I tell you that is a misconception. We don't hate Americans -- we disapprove of U.S. administration because it is harming our territory. But you are a democracy and we hold you responsible because you vote. I wish I was living in a democracy. Your vote matters. Mine does not."
El Ghannam pointed out that the violence of Sept. 11, 2001, was condemned by every Arab leader.
Islam and the war in Iraq dominated the discussion at his presentations.
In his opinion, Iraq was not a war for democracy or against terrorism, which has worsened since the war's start.
Now, the U.S. is stuck in Iraq, he said. It will take 10-20 years to rebuild. Iraqis don't even have the basic needs of health service or water met on a daily basis.
"You are building a country from scratch."
Most Iraqis live in the Red Zone, which he called "a hell," where they leave their houses in the morning, not knowing if they will return.
At least 200,000 Iraqi civilians have been killed in the war; 60,000 flee homes each month and more than 1 million Iraqis are displaced, he said.
"Overthrowing Saddam was a good thing - but was war the right measure to overturn a tyrant? I'm not sure."
El Ghannam said a carefully planned withdrawal is needed, along with assisting Iraq to set up government that shares power between Kurds, Shiites and Sunnis.
One argument against withdrawal is that it will start a civil war, he said.
"They might have a civil war, but who told you this is not happening now?"
El Ghannam shared his views and opinions with honesty that was both blunt and courteous.
"If what I say prompts (audiences) to read more, learn more, that will fulfill my visit to Nebraska."
He gave students, in particular, topics to make them think.
Do you know, he asked, that many believe the United States created Osama bin Laden? He explained that the United States hired bin Laden during the Cold War to declare a holy war against communism, and backed him with weapons, training and more.
He said oil is the reason behind the war and translated the cost of the war into numbers that affect everyday America.
"The cost of the war is expected to be $600 billion by end of 2008. Nebraska's share in this cost is just over $3 billion. What could you do with this money instead? Two million children could have been insured for one year. Nebraska could have hired an additional 57,923 public school teachers...It's a bit pessimistic, but that's what I'm here for, to give you another side of Iraq."
He encouraged Americans to diversify their media outlets to better learn what's happening globally.
El Ghannam said he would leave Doane with a new perspective of America.
"This was a shifting point for me. It shaped my views of Americans as a people. I spent a year in D.C. but now don't consider it representative of the U.S."
He was surprised and pleased by media coverage of his stay. The coverage was very fair, he said, and included five newspaper reports, two radio segments and one television piece.
Among audiences ranging from high school students to church congregations he faced some disbelief, but said the few who were not interested or were borderline rude were the rare exception.
"In the Midwest - these are the real people. They are good, cheerful, friendly. Family is important here."
He was told by many that he was coming to a close-minded portion of the U.S.
"Overall, some people are a bit, but much less than the perception."
He'll miss the steaks he ate in Nebraska and the football and sports emphasis that fascinated him enough to buy his own Husker red cap and sweatshirt.
But most of all, he'll cherish the friendships he made here.
"I consider this a starting point. I created friendships and bridges. I hope to be available for Doane in the future."
His visit was sponsored by Doane and First-Plymouth Congregational Church in Lincoln. He spoke in Lincoln, Beatrice, Grand Island and Crete.