Introduction
The text ‘A Border Passage’ is one of the most recent works by Leila Ahmed. The central themes include Islam religion, women and the west. Ahmed uses a personal narrative to bring out these themes into the center of discussion.
The themes are illustrated when Ahmed explains her previous life, especially as she struggles against issues of identity because of her extensive interaction with numerous cultures. Ahmed intertwines her personal experiences with social and political issues, which surrounded her as an individual and her entire family during the emergence of the Egyptian revolution and Nasser’s ascent on power.
This paper provides the discussion and analysis of the Ahmed’s point of view on revolution. It shall also bring the attention to personal factors that will help us understand her interpretation of the political upheavals of the Nasser period. Additionally, how, if at all, her opinions shift over time and in relation to the main transitions in her life will be discussed. All these issues will be discussed in relation to the core issue in the book, which is, ‘the process by which our identities are constructed’.
Personal factors that help us understand Leila’s interpretation of the political upheavals of the Nasser period
Leila’s interpretation of the political upheavals of the Nasser period is depicted mostly through her father. Her father works as the chairman of Hydro-Electric Power Corporation because his expertise as a civil engineer.
However, his misfortunes in life start when he decides to oppose Nasser, who is the prime minister. Nasser has planned to construct the Aswan High Dam. According to Nasser, it is important for this dam to be constructed on ecologically clear ground. Construction of this dam is also something that will earn the Nasser regime fame and recognition.
Therefore, anyone who opposes the project is seen as an enemy of the regime and has to suffer the consequences of their opposition. The building of the dam is also believed to be very beneficial to the country because it will enable Egypt to undertake many modernization projects as well as help Egypt break ties with countries such as France and England.
Ahmed’s father is one person who suffers a lot in the hand’s of Nasser’s regime for choosing to oppose the building of the Aswan High Dam. He sticks so firm to his decision that he even publishes a book with the same message of opposition against this project.
The books are destroyed by the government. The government takes further stern measures against him for rebelling against the project. His finances and other personal affairs, including his family life, are interfered with and things become very difficult for him and his family.
Ahmed’s education is also another factor that helps one understand her interpretation of the political upheavals during the Nasser regime. This is because her desire to pursue education overseas is almost cut short by this regime due to her father’s opposition to the Aswan High Dam project. She is also reads a lot of western literature as she is young. Therefore, she develops an intrinsic desire to study in Cambridge.
When pursuing her doctorate, Ahmed chooses to write her dissertation on a person that is not liked by Arab nationalists. The dissertation is on a British figure known as Edward William. This shows how her early life, which involved reading a lot of material from the west, influenced her even to the point of writing a dissertation on someone she was aware was disliked by the Arab nationalists.
Leila’s personal view on the revolution
There was a revolution that took place in Egypt in 1952. Consequently, Gamal Abdel Nasser came into power and his presence in the government as the prime minister brought about some major changes in Egypt. The changes included introduction of a new era of Arab nationalism. This was not a good thing for Ahmed and her family because it marked the beginning of upheaval for the entire family.
After her father vehemently opposed the construction of the proposed Aswan high dam, he was laid off by the Nasser regime. Ahmed’s father failed to support the project because he saw it as an act that was politically motivated. He also saw the proponents as being inconsiderate of the long-term implications it would have on the nation.
His decision to oppose Nasser regime’s project was seen as the highest form of treason because of the existence of a severe nationalism system and he suffered because of it. To Ahmed, her father’s position to oppose this project nearly cost her the opportunity to study abroad. As a result of the revolution that was ongoing within the government, Ahmed felt obliged to evaluate her identity once again.
She was concerned about her friends, who came from different nationalities and who were then considered as, ‘the other’ due to the nationalism practice by the Egyptian government. Because of her father’s opposition against the Nasser regime, Ahmed’s family was also placed in the category of the ‘other’ because of their perceived interest in the west, especially in terms of the culture and education. The revolution had disrupted the peaceful co-existence among people of various religious and racial backgrounds.
Ahmed is critical of the revolution and Nasser’s rule. This is mainly because of the current upheaval in her country as a result of the revolution and her father’s refusal to support some of the proposed projects (Ahmed 164).
Ahmed does not support Nasser’s revolution. She is of the opinion that the revolution has put a veil on people’s eyes by giving them high hopes that are impossible to be realized. Moreover, questioning what Nasser and his regime were doing was forbidden. Ahmed (172) observes that this gave Nasser room to do whatever he wanted without any restriction.
How Leila’s opinions shift over time and in relation to the main transitions in her life
Ahmed discusses two themes, which are dominant in her book. They are Arab nationalism and misconception of the Islam religion by the west. It is these themes that she dwells in throughout the discussion. The same themes cause her to shift her opinion on some things, while she holds on others due to her past belief.
Ahmed remains a vocal critic of nationalism in Egypt. To show her seriousness about the issues of Arab nationalism, Ahmed writes her views on a whole chapter in her recent text. She dedicates this chapter to express her dissatisfaction with the concept of Arab nationalism because it fails to foster harmonious coexistence among people from different racial or religious backgrounds.
Concerning misconception of the Islam religion by the west, especially regarding the religion’s application to women, Ahmed clarifies that the Islam religion is not oppressive as perceived by the western people. She addresses these questions as she takes readers through the process of the reconstruction of her identity, in spite of the social and political challenges she goes through.
As she takes the reader through the journey of the revolution taking place in Egypt as well as the journey of trying to demystify the Islam religion to the west, Ahmed describes the journey that she takes to the self in a bid to come up with her own identity. Growing up as a young Muslim woman, Ahmed did not have the chance to attend religious classes because of her father’s past nasty experience in the hands of the teachers in these classes.
Therefore, she discovers on her own that there is what she calls ‘lived’ Islam and the other more oppressive form of Islam practiced by most of the Islamic states. She decides to take upon herself the duty of enlightening the west on the positive side of the Islam religion, especially regarding its application to the women.
Conclusion
In building her own identity, Ahmed uses the vast experience she has accumulated through her travel abroad and interaction with people of different social and racial backgrounds. This experience has helped her to write the book. Ahmed has had a taste of the cultures practiced by the Arabs and the people in the west. She is aware of what she calls ‘lived’ Islam and the other form she terms as ‘oppressive Islam’.
She has gone through the Egyptian and the western education systems. She has been racially discriminated by teachers and fellow students while she was studying in western countries. This vast experience has helped her balance her views in this text. She does not write in a straightforward manner about what she thinks is right or wrong, but she maintains a balanced view.
Works Cited
Ahmed, Leila. A Border Passage: From Cairo to America – A Woman’s Journey. New York: Penguin Putnam Inc, 1999. Print.