Tannishblog

Karen Hughes is finding out some interesting things. Not what she intended, perhaps, but interesting nonetheless. On her visit to a Saudi university, she open up to a group of black robed women to state her hope (that is the hope of our sociopathic ruling party) that Arab women would be able to drive and “fully participate in society.” No doubt she envisioned them all huddled around the TV watching Oprah reruns.

But she encounters resistance. “The general image of the Arab woman is that she isn’t happy,” one audience member said. “Well, we’re all pretty happy.” With that, the room resounded with applause. Imaging that! Women, whom the Americans have been seeing as an oppressed subculture within the Arab world, having the audacity to say they like their lifestyle. It makes sense to me that Arab women have somehow managed to come to terms with their own culture over the past 3000 years or so. Several women later noted that Americans failed to understand that their traditional society was embraced by both men and women.

What I find amazing is the lack of brainpower at work within the conservative elite and the plethora of squawk boxes who gleefully echo rightwing mindlessness. To wit: some underlying assumptions of Karen Hughes’ message to the world.

1. Americans have the only true culture, no other way of life is right for you.
2. You can’t possibly know the glory of American life, therefore you’re ignorant, and we are here to educate you.
3. All markets throughout the world are in reality American markets – we are what we sell you, and what we sell you is what you need because we tell you so.

Again, we meet resistance. In Turkey, following the Saudi visit, Mrs. Hughes takes flak about our (insert tongue in cheek) foreign policy. It seems they’re not really happy with the ongoing Americanization of Iraq.

Regarding our nations conversations with the global community, Mrs. Hughes says “we’re beginning to hear other voices,” by which I would guess other voices beside Jesus whispering into our president’s ear. The voices are whispering, too, that the world doesn’t want to be Americanized. Maybe its time for Tommy Hilfiger to come out with his 2006 line of abayas.