Editorial

Perceptions of America

US President Barack Obama’s ratings had been sinking across the Muslim world.

Editorial May 21, 2011

Even before Osama bin Laden was killed in that historically significant raid in Abbottabad, US President Barack Obama’s ratings had been sinking across the Muslim world. A survey by the Washington-based Pew Research Centre, conducted over a month in March and April this year, found only 11 per cent looked at the US in a favourable light, compared to 17 per cent last year and 16 per cent in 2009. The findings may be tied in with the fact that 78 per cent of people believed laws should be based strictly on religious belief. This could, of course, be a factor in the strong anti-US sentiments, though they are clearly not the only ones. The drone attacks, US involvement in the Middle East and the manner in which Washington seems so often to be giving orders to Islamabad, are all factors in this.

It is not insignificant that similar views appear to prevail across the Muslim world, with the exception of Indonesia. There has been almost blanket disapproval in these states for the US handling of revolts in the Middle East. Men like former president Hosni Mobarik in Egypt are, of course, all seen as US pawns imposed on unwilling people by that country. Perhaps President Obama’s speech at the State Department, on the wave seeking change in the Middle East, and proposals on a Palestinian State were meant to address the mistrust for the US in the Muslim world. But the fact is it will take deeds, not just words, to move towards change of any meaningful kind.

The survey also suggests what a long way there is to go in Pakistan. The strategy of winning ‘hearts and minds’, a kind of battle cry for the Obama administration, when it took power, still has a very, very long way to go. Yet the highly negative perceptions regarding the US, held by the overwhelming mass of people in the country, need to be addressed. Ignoring them for so many years has contributed to the tide of militancy which has flooded over us and created a sea of problems that are proving more and more difficult to deal with.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 22^nd, 2011.

COMMENTS (4)

ani | 13 years ago | Reply Perception of Muslims in US and all other non-muslim countries. Nothing to write about. No amount of aid, arms, reasoning and negotiations can change the perceptions of muslims about others. Muslims needs to look at the way their religion and history is taught and practiced. Unless this changes from within, muslims will always be 'victims' yet 'superior' to all other non-muslims. Their hearts and minds can only change if they are willing to accept all beings as equal.

Qurban Ali | 13 years ago | Reply I wish Bush-Obama-Blair,Berlusconi and all others who were in their governments and presently are involved in WMD false war on Iraq,demolishing legitimate government of Mulla Omar in Afghanistan,attack on Libya,Sudan ETC and hundreds of other crimes against humanity,killing million of innocent civilians,mutilating,widowing,orphaning tens of millions especially in Muslim world should be tried by ICJ for crimes against humanity to put stop the killing big game of human kind by the so called super big predators

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Syed M Haider | 13 years ago | Reply We, as a nation, have developed an attitude of slaves. we feel it incumbent to be in either bloc of power, If not USA then lets plea to China. Unless we find the right attitudes of self-belief and the profound urge for self reliance, we'll always remain as subservient beggars and will always humiliation from the hegemonic powers. Without a strengthened economy we will keep faltering at every crucial juncture crying for help to ominous organisations like IMF. Aren't we feel ashamed of begging? if its a yes then rest assured status quo is there to stay for good! it is the economic dependency that imminently translates into political slavery!!

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