Middle East glance shared with a Moroccan twist

posted on: May 23, 2015

A Midwestern slant on Middle East issues came to the Quad-Cities last week with a Moroccan flair.

Former U.S. ambassadors to Morocco, Sam and Sylvia Kaplan, of Minneapolis, were guests of honor at a Middle East Institute reception at St. Ambrose University, Davenport.

St. Ambrose created the institute about 1 1/2 years ago. It hosts scholars-in-residence, visiting artists, roundtable discussions and symposiums focused on Middle East issues, according to sau.edu/MEI.html information.

It’s the only institute of its kind in Iowa, Jewish Federation of the Quad Cities executive director Allan Ross said.

The Kaplans were among its more well-known guests, in addition to Joshua Landis of the University of Oklahoma, and Juan Cole from the University of Michigan, who participated in an April spring conference titled “Crisis Upon Crisis in the Middle East: Is Change Possible?” 

The two visiting professors are considered among the top Middle East scholars in the world, Mr. Ross said.

The Kaplans, who returned from Morocco two years ago, offered the unique viewpoint of being Jewish ambassadors sent to a primarily Muslim country, Mr. Ross said. “It’s a significant accomplishment,” he said.

And it bridged two faiths, “so the fact we could bring a former ambassador to the institute” was a tremendous asset for St. Ambrose, the institute and the Quad-Cities, Mr. Ross said.

Christians, Jews, Muslims and Sikhs attended the reception, which he said helps teach people in the Midwest to better understand the Middle East. 

Locally, people find it difficult to learn exactly what’s going on in the Middle East, and many misinformed writers  spread incorrect general assumptions about Middle Eastern countries and issues, Mr. Kaplan said at a meeting of The Dispatch/Rock Island Argus editorial board on Tuesday, hours before the reception. 

“What I remember the most from the Kaplans is the fact that you can’t paint the Middle East  with a broad brush-stroke,” Mr. Ross said. “Each country is different. You can’t make generalities because each has to be looked at on its own.”

For example, Morocco practices a moderate interpretation of Islam, Mr. Kaplan said. “It’s also one of our strongest allies. We have a free-trade agreement with them. Morocco also has a positive history of working to eliminate child labor.” 

Moroccans also are producers of 2/3 of the world’s phosphates, Mr. Kaplan said.

The Kaplans, who have been married for 40 years, compliment and complement each other, Mr. Ross said. It makes interviewing them and listening to them speak highly entertaining.

They took turns in the editorial board meeting telling stories about Morocco and reminding each other to add more tales.

Mr. Kaplan said being in Morocco during Ramadan was particularly life-changing.

He said coming for the institute’s reception reminded him of a long-standing Jewish tradition.

“In the Talmud, it talks about how each Jew is responsible for one another,” Mr. Ross said. “We are obligated to help each other, especially when there’s a need.”

The Kaplans, huge financial supporters of political leaders including President Barack Obama, former senators Tom Harkin and John Kerry and Hillary Clinton, also pledged their support of the new institute, Mr. Ross said.

He said they and their “tremendous Rolodex” will be a valuable resource and asset in the future.

Source: www.qconline.com