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  • Integration and identity

    Arab Times, Kuwait
    May 16 2009

    Integration and identity

    By Rev Andy Thompson
    St Paul's Anglican Church, Ahmadi


    Two enduring images stick in my mind from last week. One was from an
    event organized by the British Council celebrating its 75th
    anniversary. In this event Dominic Miller, a renowned guitarist from
    the West was improvising music opposite the talented Kuwaiti Oud
    player, Fawzi Al Lingawi. Against a progressive sequence of 6th
    chords inspired by Chopin played on a classical guitar, the Oud weaved
    a haunting and magical melody. The unlikely juxtaposition of Western
    music with Arab music led to a completely unexpected result. It
    sounded fabulous. Guitar and Oud merged together in an emotional and
    intense celebration of their different timbres and scales. It worked
    so well that it bought tears to the eyes of the audience.

    Despite the different musical traditions and experiences of the
    performers, they were able to integrate their styles together while at
    the same time maintaining their distinctive identities. The second
    event was a colourful and riotous celebration by Armenian students.
    Hosted by the Armenian Archbishop, Dr Gorian Babian, the evening
    unveiled an exuberant program of cultural dancing and music. Over
    forty students performed dances not only from their own rich and
    ancient culture but also from the other traditions embracing jazz,
    rock n roll and ball room dancing. Songs were sung in English, Greek,
    French, and Armenian. Celebration speeches were in Arabic, English and
    Armenian. In short, the Armenian community impressively demonstrated
    their ability to integrate into other cultures while at the same time
    remaining rooted in their own distinctive culture and faith.

    Integration and identity are core skills required for our world
    today. The failure to integrate results in marginalisation and
    suspicion . The failure to be rooted in a distinctive identity leads
    to fear and insecurity. The Armenian community knows this and they
    have invested deliberately in institutions which maintain and
    reinforce their identity. Yet at the same time they have integrated
    into their host country so effectively that at times they seem
    invisible - so good are they at learning the languages and functioning
    in a culture not their own. They are confident, secure and successful
    and everyone benefits. It is troubling therefore to read of election
    candidates who are threatened by other cultures and faiths and would
    seek to suppress them. As Kuwait heads into the elections, I pray
    that God will raise leaders who will continue the rich and long
    tradition of a country where diverse cultures and faiths not only meet
    and co-exist but are also celebrated.
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