A couple of days ago, I watched the movie United 93 with my host brothers (which I highly recommend seeing). 

During the movie, my brothers and I did not really have much conversation; however, even within the silence that occurred, I encountered a very real intercultural experience as I noticed the differences in how we watched and connected to the movie.  This isn’t to say that they were disrespectful or rooting for the terrorists as they watched by any means.  Rather, my host brothers were watching United 93 like they would with any other movie as they lounged on the couch and engaged in little side conversations with each other.  Conversely, I sat glued to the television, barely budging.  At first, their actions and comportment annoyed me; however, after reflecting on this unspoken cultural exchange a few hours later I began to understand that our reactions to the movie were different because we had different connections to the victims of United 93.  For instance, I saw people exhibiting the same mannerisms, accents, clothes, and complexions that I grew up with under attack.  Because of this fact, I almost felt as though I were under attack.  My host brothers obviously did not feel the same way.

The differences in our connection to United 93 also showed me why it is almost impossible for Americans to sympathize in this same line with the Arabs we see killed by the conflicts raging in the region (if the American even chooses to show them at all).  Having now lived in Jordan for a little over three weeks, I can see why Arabs, even those in countries not directly affected by the conflicts in Lebanon, Iraq, or Palestine become so enraged about these conflicts. 

First of all, the Arab media obviously shows much more of these conflicts’ “collateral damage”.  Secondly, and I think more importantly though, is the fact that the neighborhoods and people shown in these conflicts look identical to both the people and areas that encompass almost the entire Arab world and consequently make the destruction of these conflicts seems more real.  Walking around my neighborhood for only a couple of weeks has made me more sympathetic to the Arabs in Iraq, Lebanon, and Palestine.  I can only imagine what would have happened to my perception if I had lived in this region for my whole life.  Just as I felt as though I were being indirectly attacked while watching United 93, so too do Arab people feel a sense of assault when they see areas and people similar to them blown to pieces.    Different connections lead to different perceptions.

The Palestinian-Israeli conflict is one conflict where different connections have lead to diametrically opposed views between Americans and Arabs.  Having learned of the Inquisition and Holocaust in basic world history classes, having seen Seinfeld  and Mel Brooks movies many times over, most Americans view Jews as an unthreatening, amicable, and continuously oppressed group.  Conversely, Americans have a much more negative impression of Arabs as our only real connection with them are the bin Ladens and Zarqawi’s we see on the nightly news.  Because of the different connections Americans have to these groups, Americans see an Israeli warplane as a guardian of history’s most oppressed group while viewing a Hezbollah rocket as the device of an overtly bellicose people.  Arabs, on the other hand, have a completely different connection to these two groups.  As stated before, Arabs see a part of themselves and their neighborhoods in the Palestinian people and villages that area bombed.  Also, their connection to Jews is not the group that Hitler attempted to exterminate, but rather the group that kicked Arabs out of their homes and now occupies former parts of Jordan and Egypt.  Consequently, they view an Israeli warplane as a perpetuator of oppression and see a Hezbollah rocket as instrument for liberating their fellow Arabs.  Once again, different connections create different perceptions.