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VIEWPOINT

LAND OF OPPORTUNITY

The Statue of Liberty did for America what the pyramids did for Egypt – both embodied the values and greatness of a place and a people. The inscription on the Statue of Liberty speaks of this “mighty woman with the torch” who is “the mother of exiles,” and who “glows worldwide welcome.” Nearly everyone knows at least some of that verse: “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to be free...” This is what America has meant for millions worldwide. It is a land of opportunity where everyone is welcome and everything is possible. Yet while America still symbolizes freedom for many of the world’s oppressed, the welcome is no longer so enthusiastic. As many foreign nationals are discovering, American border security can now be impenetrable and therefore damaging to their careers and education.

There’s no doubt that post-9/11 the US has every right to protect itself. Egyptians empathize because of our own experience with terrorism. We know the price innocent people pay in terms of lives and livelihoods, not to mention personal freedoms. But the latest round of border restrictions seems less constructive than it might be. Everyone traveling to the US for business, education or simply tourism, is well advised to become acquainted with the new visa requirements (which AmCham will post on its website) because failure to do so can cost you your job, business contacts or university in the US. There are now about 23 electronically linked US government agencies involved in border security and entering the US is particularly complex if you happen to be an Arab male of a certain age. The tendency towards profiling may be an understandable overreaction on behalf of US authorities, but it nevertheless trespasses the egalitarian principles on which democracy is based.

An efficient and secure system for immigration screening would treat men and women of all ages and nationalities equally and justly, and America is more than capable of instituting and enforcing such a system. As a lawyer who passed the US bar and practiced law there for many years, and as the first Arab to be admitted before the US Supreme Court, the spirit of American justice has been an inspiration. My experience in America helped shape my beliefs and deepen my respect for civil liberties. Likewise, many of us (including many AmCham members) who enjoyed similar experiences in the US have subsequently acted as the best ambassadors for democratic principles and as bridges between our cultures.

Think of the countless contributions to science, culture and public life that are made by immigrants and their descendants in America. Because it is known as a defender of human rights and a safe haven for investment, the US has attracted brains and finance from throughout the world for generations. Indeed, the US owes its achievements to “strength in diversity,” to the funds of intellect and energy afforded by its varied population. Think, too, of the foreign nationals whose American education or training has benefited their own countries and people.

There is inestimable value in this exchange, whereas isolation results in cultural misapprehensions, some of which have led to the US’s current Middle East quandary. Yet many talented Arab professionals and students are now forced to find alternatives for their careers and education. Surely the risk in this case is not as great as the loss. Curtailing the possibilities for cultural interaction may prove to be a false economy when it comes to maximizing security and optimizing communications.

Yes, increased security is a justifiable necessity, but so is addressing the roots of terrorism and aggression, one of which is a lack of understanding regarding different cultures and ways of life.

Notably, many Americans do not understand the extent to which the Palestinian issue influences Arab public opinion vis-à-vis the West, or how it effects regional progress on the economic, political and social fronts. And yet we all share the same ideals. Everyone agrees that freedom of speech, due process and non-discriminatory legal treatment are human rights, and that America has set high standards for defending them. Indeed, the US earned its prestige for upholding civil liberties, the principles of equality and participatory government that many young nations admire and strive to imitate.

With this in mind, it seems that now is a time for building more, not fewer bridges, in the interests of security worldwide as well as the advancement of democracy. It is my hope that this initial overreaction regarding home security will eventually subside. I believe that the most sensible approach for fighting terrorism will be collective and cooperative, not defensive and exclusionary. The challenge remains to achieve a balance that preserves security without compromising the democratic values that made America great.

Taher S. Helmy
President, AmCham Egypt

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