Dr. 'Abd Al-Mun'im Sa'id, director of the Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies in Cairo and columnist for the London daily Al-Sharq Al-Awsat, recently wrote an article titled "The Meaning of the Fourth of July," in which he describes his impressions of Independence Day celebrations in the U.S. and laments the lack of similar national pride in the Arab countries. Sa'id wrote that in the Arab world, national sentiment has been gradually repressed and eroded, largely because of the influence of the pan-Islamic ideology. He argues that this sentiment must be restored, since it can reinstate the sense of belonging to the state and prevent civil strife.
"Everywhere I Went... There Wasn't a Single Soul Who Did Not Wish Me a Happy Fourth of July"
"On the morning of July 4, I happened to be sitting in a cab on my way to Logan Airport in Boston, from which I was to catch a plane to New York to attend a social event. At the end of the ride, the old Thai driver surprised me by wishing me a happy Fourth of July. [Only] then did I notice the American flags adorning the homes, the huge flags draped on state buildings, and the [smaller] flags hanging from private cars or affixed to them in various ways. Read more ...
"Everywhere I Went... There Wasn't a Single Soul Who Did Not Wish Me a Happy Fourth of July"
"On the morning of July 4, I happened to be sitting in a cab on my way to Logan Airport in Boston, from which I was to catch a plane to New York to attend a social event. At the end of the ride, the old Thai driver surprised me by wishing me a happy Fourth of July. [Only] then did I notice the American flags adorning the homes, the huge flags draped on state buildings, and the [smaller] flags hanging from private cars or affixed to them in various ways. Read more ...
Source: MEMRI
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