The Arab World: An Interview with Dr. Conrad E. Gubera

This Perspective, which explores Middle Eastern culture and values as compared to the Western world, is written by United Planet contributor Elyse Quattlebaum. It is based on an interview with Dr. Conrad E. Gubera , a professor of sociology and international studies at Missouri Southern State University. Only by embracing our differences can we hope to bridge borders and forge global connections. Thank you to Elyse and Dr. Gubera for the insights!

The significance of the Middle East as a region

Many believe that the first society originated in the Middle East. Scholars have claimed that poetry originated in the deserts as travelers rhymed words to the rhythm of a camel’s footfalls. It was the Middle East that preserved the culture of Rome following its fall. The Arab contributions to the modern world are numerous.

Differences between Middle Eastern and Western cultures

Many Arabs find Western culture’s depiction of sexuality in media offensive. Gubera states, “As we see it as a matter of style, they see it as a matter of sin.” Some individuals from the Middle East also do not understand how Americans can dedicate such large amounts of money to the entertainment industry while teachers, police officers, and other social service workers are left unrecognized. Many Arabs interpret a strong American attitude of flippancy towards the past and the environment.

Shared values in the Middle East and the West

Charity has been exemplified by both cultures. After a tornado hit Joplin, Missouri in May of 2011, the United Arab Emirates donated almost five million dollars to the city for rebuilding efforts, provided a laptop for each student at Joplin High School, and continues to exercise its generosity in the community. Like the West, the Middle East is largely capitalist and its inhabitants value good work ethic. The Middle East has made many technological advances in the past 50 years and the United Arab Emirates is making excellent progress towards a city powered entirely by solar energy. Scholarship has also made much progress in recent years. In particular, the number of women pursuing an education has greatly increased. This ranges from achieving literacy to earning university degrees.

Relating on a personal basis

Most Arabs are extremely generous and helpful. Gubera shares a story of a memorable evening in Jerusalem when he decided to stray from his group. A young, local boy approached him and said, “Grandfather, would you like to see where Jesus carried the cross?” Gubera agreed to allow the boy to practice his English while giving him the tour. As they walked along the Via Dolorosa the boy explained its religious significance. Because it was late in the afternoon, vendors were taking down their stands and tourists were ending their days in cafes. Finally, the boy led Gubera to the doors of a large church and said, “Jesus buried in here.” They entered and Gubera was able to approach an altar and touch the rock on which Jesus’s cross was placed at his execution. The two went through a door next to the altar and down a set of stairs that led to the ground. Gubera turned and the boy said “Golgotha.” The rock the he had previously only been able to touch was now visible in its entirety, just as it was in Jesus’s time. They returned to the church and the boy led him to a tomb. As Gubera entered, his disbelief was answered by reassurance from another local that it was indeed where Jesus was buried. Gubera recalls, “Now if I wasn’t with him, and if he and I hadn’t been by ourselves, and if it hadn’t been at closing time, I would have never, ever seen that.” It was this boy’s willingness to help a stranger that allowed Gubera to enjoy this unique experience.

Gubera stresses the importance of interacting with individuals from the Middle East in order to better understand the culture of the region. Gubera emphasizes that for the most part, we all share the same values, and stresses the importance of interacting with people of different backgrounds. The Arab world is changing faster than our conceptions of it and it is our responsibility to discover and appreciate the culture of the Middle East.

Have you had a specific interaction with someone from a different culture that changed your understanding of their perspective? Let us know below! If you are interested in volunteering abroad in the Middle East, check out our Short-term Quests in Jordan!

Dr. Conrad E. Gubera is a professor of sociology and international studies at Missouri Southern State University in Joplin, Missouri. He has taught a course entitled The Arab World since 1991. He has been a fellow of the National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations (NCUAR) in Washington, D.C. since 1988 and will accompany his twenty-first group to participate in the NCUAR-sponsored Model Arab League this year. He has traveled extensively and visited the Middle East multiple times with NCUAR.