Summary 2

In his article “Kidnapped in Pakistan: The End of American Ideals?” Hady Amr believes that Muslim Americans would rather welcome the help of local officials in Middle Eastern countries, in a life threatening situation, then to involve the United States government. The author tells of a story in which a friend of his by the name Ayesha, an ex co-workers, brother is abducted in Pakistan. When Amr suggests involving the American Government in the kidnapping of Ayesha’s brother she decides against their involvement. Even though Ayesha’s future goals as a highly educated Muslim American with a Harvard degree was to improve the relationships between the United States of America and the people from the Middle East and South Asia, she believed that it was best to let the Pakistani officials handle her brothers kidnapping. As a Muslim American himself, Hady Amr suggests that this decision may be based on how the American government is loathed for its “hypocrisy” in places that at one time admired American ideals. Furthermore, Amr claims that it is due to the actions and behaviors of people including himself, elected representatives in Washington D.C., and other citizens of the United States that has damaged America’s reputation and has made it almost impossible for America to defend its citizens.
While I am not a Muslim American I can agree with Amr on the fact that it may just be due to actions, like voting on going to war with Iraq with barley any evidence, etc… that would make certain countries distrust and loath the American government. In the article Amr speaks of a time when the Muslim world looked at America as a “hope for a positive future”. But today because of how America has conducted itself that view has turned negative. And it is because of this dislike for America that I can understand why Ayesha felt it was safer for her and her family not to ask the U.S. government to step in and help.