Middle East prof says policy is the problem

Middle Easterners don't hate Americans, University of California-Irvine professor Mark LeVine argued last night, they hate American policies.

In a conference yesterday to promote his new book, Why They Don't Hate Us: Lifting the Veil on the Axis of Evil, the professor of modern Middle Eastern history spoke about the importance of understanding the Middle Eastern culture to resolve conflict.

LeVine spent eight years living and researching in different countries in Northern Africa and the Middle East, including Iraq, Israel, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria and Turkey.

Combining his studies of music and Islam -- LeVine is an accomplished musician -- he created his idea of "culture jamming," bringing people of different cultures together.

Bringing this idea to the Middle East was the root for his new book.

The title of the book came from the cover of Newsweek one month after Sept. 11, which read "Why do they hate us?"

"They don't hate us; they may hate our policies," LeVine said.

Average Muslims see wealthy Middle Easterners behaving "un-Islamically" -- becoming more "Westernized" through globalization -- and they see this as a result of America's influence.

Globalization is occurring in the Middle East, but not according to most definitions of globalization.

"Regions are being culturally globalized," LeVine said, recalling how some Lebanese girls wanted breast implants for their 18th birthday to attract wealthy, educated men.

Many people -- especially in poorer Middle Eastern countries -- cannot afford to be part of this "global wealth culture," he said, which fuels radicalism.

Yet, LeVine also stressed another, beneficial type of radicalism.

"We need a radical Islam, but in a good sense," said LeVine. "Because what's needed is a radical transformation." He asserted that the media doesn't focus on "good radicals," who are in jail, or being suppressed by the government, they only talk about Al Qaeda.

LeVine's presentation was followed by a question-and-answer session and ended with an enthusiastic applause from the audience.

Attendees seemed pleased with the event.

College freshman Phil Saynisch said LeVine "had great energy," and he was pleased to hear "fresh opinions on globalization."

"I think he was an excellent and engaging speaker" and had "very insightful ideas," said Lisa Minetti, who works for Penn's English Language Programs.

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