Skip to content
  • Image
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
  • Podcasts
  • Email
  • Contact
  • Home
  • Opinion
  • News
  • Features
  • Comment
  • Store
The Arab Daily News

The Arab Daily News

Original news, features, opinions from Chicago to Jerusalem

  • About
    • About
    • Our Writers
    • Subscribe to Ray’s Columns
    • Book Store
    • Contact
    • Submit Book Reviews, Press Releases
    • Advertise
    • Privacy Corrections Policy
    • Profile on Ray Hanania
    • Submit Press Release
  • Features
    • Food
    • Book Review
    • Humor
    • Movies
    • Travel
  • Arab Stores Targeted
  • Arab Community Network Page
    • Arab Community Network Page
    • Arab Heritage America resources
    • Directory
      • Groups & Organizations
      • Mosques, Churches
      • Restaurants
      • 2008 & 2014 Arab Media Directories
    • National Arab Heritage Month
    • Video: Chicago Arab History
    • Video: Photo Array of Chicago Arabs
    • Overview of Arabs in America
    • Hanania standup comedy
    • Arabs on the Titanic
    • Obituaries
  • Podcasts
    • Arab News Ray Hanania Radio
    • Ray Hanania on Politics Podcast
    • Podcast Info
    • Hanania Podcast intro
    • Live Arab Radio
  • Your Views
  • Hanania on Tiktok
  • Toggle search form
  • Arab Democratic Club Feb 12, 2023 Forum & Brunch flier
    Arab Democrats host forum for Chicago and suburban candidates Feb. 12 American Arabs
  • The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) announced Dr. Manal Fakhoury has been elected to the position of Chair of the National Board of Directors, and that attorneys Spojmie Nasiri of California and John Floyd of Texas have joined the organization’s National Board.
    CAIR Announces Dr. Manal Fakhoury as New Board Chair, New Board Members Spojmie Nasiri and John Floyd American Arabs
  • AHRC Executive Director Imad Hamad
    AHRC: Honor Dr. King Day with Civility, Unity, and Action American Arabs
  • Citgo Gas Station and Quik Mart at 3759 W. Chicago Ave in Chicago ordered closed by Mayor Lori Lightfoot because a street gang member with an AK-47 killed someone in front of the store. Only Arab and Muslim stores are being closed by the Mayor
    When Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot targeted Arab businesses in 2021 and 2022 Activism
  • Hussam al-Mayman, The Mayman Show, podcast Arab News
    Arab News launches third season of The Mayman Show podcast Arab News
  • State Rep. Cyril Nichols interviewed on live Arab American radio in Detroit with host Ray Hanania Friday Dec. 9, 2022
    Nichols discusses need to improve Arab-Black relations in Chicagoland American Arabs
  • Voting sticker issued to voters in Cook County elections in 2016. Photo courtesy of Ray Hanania
    Gov. Pritzker Announces Six Appointments to Boards and Commissions — no Arabs included American Arabs
  • Closure notice posted on the doors and windows of Arab American businesses during Mayor Lori Lightfoot's closure of Arab owned stores in June - Sept. 2021. Photo courtesy of Ray Hanania
    Pritzker again ignores needs of Arab businesses in latest appointments Activism
  • Arab American Democratic Club (AADC) official candidate endorsements for the November 8, 2022 General elections.
    Arab American Democratic Club issues endorsements for Nov. 8, 2022 Cook County Illinois elections Activism
  • Arab Democrats urge NO VOTE on Gov. J.B. Pritzker re-election bid Activism
  • Assyrian American GOP issues endorsements in Nov, 8, 2022 elections
    Assyrian American GOP group endorses candidates in Illinois Activism
  • Abdullah Hammoud, elected Mayor of Dearborn Nov. 2, 2021. Photo courtesy of Abdullah Hammoud Facebook Page
    AHRC’s 2022 Spirit of Humanity Gala a Great Success American Arabs
  • Interlink 2022 Cookbooks Make the Best Holiday Gifts
    Interlink 2022 Cookbooks Make the Best Holiday Gifts Arab World
  • Rep. Cyril Nichols to be feted by supporters at fundraiser Saturday Oct. 22 Activism
  • Stand up For Human Rights website, United Nations
    UN experts condemn Israel’s ‘sadistic’ punitive measures against French-Palestinian rights defender Salah Hammouri Activism
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman Al-Saud. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia

Saudi Crown Prince challenges false images of Arabs

Posted on March 29, 2018March 29, 2018 By rayhanania No Comments on Saudi Crown Prince challenges false images of Arabs
SHARE ...
          
 
  

  • Tweet

Saudi Crown Prince challenges false images of Arabs

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman took on the toughest four issues and questions thrown at every Arab World leader by the mainstream American news media and effectively slammed them out of the park like grand slam home run in a World Series baseball game. But Salman’s efforts were less of a game and more of a serious effort to confront the false perceptions many Americans have of Arabs

By Ray Hanania

Last week, the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman (MBS), shattered many of the negative stereotypes that persist in America that have defined a contentious relationship with the Arab World.

Before embarking on a tour of six American cities and meeting with White House and Congressional officials, MBS appeared on the CBS TV program “60 Minutes,” notorious as the toughest news program in the America.

The four toughest questions that Arab leaders always face but fail to answer properly undermining Arab World credibility where thrown at MBS by the reporter. But instead of ducking and dodging, MBS hit each one “out of the park” like Grand Slam home runs in an American baseball championship.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman Al-Saud. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman Al-Saud. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia

What MBS is doing is not a game, obviously. He’s about bettering the future of the Arab World and building a relationship with the West based on facts not the usual ugly fiction. MBS showed someone in the Arab World finally understands how to speak effectively to Americans to reinforce the best interests of the Arab World using strategic communications, not confrontation or disagreement.

The first question Arabs face involves the September 11, 2001 terrorism, and the fact that 15 of the 19 terrorists were Saudis.

Rather than being indignant at the question, as others often are, MBS took it head on, explaining the 15 hijackers were as much as threat to Saudi Arabia as to America and the West. He said Osama Bin Laden had a “clear objective … to create a schism between the Middle East and the West, between Saudi Arabia and the United States of America … to create an environment conducive to recruitment and spreading his radical message that the west is plotting to destroy you. Indeed, he succeeded in creating this schism in the West.”

The second question Arab leaders face is the perception that Arab women are more oppressed in the Arab World than they are in the West.

Americans conveniently forget American woman are oppressed, too. It took America 64 years to force all 50 American states to grant American women the right to vote under the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which was adopted in 1920. The last of 50 states, Mississippi, ratified it only in 1984.

Native American women did not receive rights as Americans until 1924, and those rights were not fully implemented until 1948. African Americans have lived in a state of limbo in America as slaves following America’s founding through the late 1960s when laws were passed recognizing them as equals. Despite those Civil Rights laws, many Black Americans still are not treated equally.

But MBS didn’t throw that truth into American faces. Instead, MBS explained what he is doing to reverse years of restrictions imposed in 1979 after the Iranian inspired Muslim Brotherhood assault on the Grand Mosque (Masjid al Haram) in Mecca killing 255 Muslims and injuring 560 more.

MBS said in response to the 1979 attack, Saudi Arabia cracked down on many rights to confront violent extremism, including closing movie theaters, banning music and dance, and restricting the rights of Saudi women — not just banning them from driving but also expelling them from business and getting educations.

“The laws are very clear and stipulated in the laws of Sharia: that women wear decent, respectful clothing, like men,” MBS said. “This, however, does not particularly specify a black Abaya or a black head cover. The decision is entirely left for women to decide what type of decent and respectful attire she chooses to wear.”

The Saudi Arabia of the “past 40 years” is not the Saudi Arabia of today, MBS said, adding he ordered changes to allow all Saudis to live a “normal life” including allowing women to drive, re-opening movie theaters, and encouraging the Arts, music and entertainment.

O’Donnell forcefully re-asked the question, “Are women equal to men?” And MBS answered directly and without hesitation, declaring, “Absolutely. We are all human beings and there is no difference.”

The third question is always about “oppression,” human rights noted by a recent roundup MBS called measures to address “corruption.” The West has a questionable record on human rights, and civil rights, too, yet Saudi Arabia and the Arab World is held to a higher standard.

MBS explained “Saudi Arabia believes in many of the principles of human rights. In fact, we believe in the notion of human rights, but ultimately Saudi standards are not the same as American standards. I don’t want to say that we don’t have shortcomings. We certainly do. But naturally, we are working to mend these shortcomings.”

The fourth question involves the wealth of the Arab World that ignores the greater wealth of the West. “Arab wealth” is always exaggerated as obscene while “Western wealth” is associated with success and power.

It’s an amazing hypocrisy considering that on numerous lists of the world’s 50 wealthiest people, no Arabs are listed. The lists are dominated by Americans, Asians and Europeans.

Instead of engaging in argument, MBS answered with sensibility, explaining he spends 51 percent of his wealth on others, and adding, “My personal life is something I’d like to keep to myself and I don’t try to draw attention to it. If some newspapers want to point something out about it, that’s up to them. As far as my private expenses, I’m a rich person and not a poor person. I’m not Gandhi or Mandela. I’m a member of the ruling family that existed for hundreds of years before the founding of Saudi Arabia.”

Years of Western misconceptions about the Arab World won’t be immediately erased, and his appearance doesn’t minimize the serious threats the Arab World faces from Iran, or the need Saudi Arabia has for nuclear technology to replace depleting oil sources.

MBS showed he understands the one thing many Arab leaders and nations fail to understand, that strategic communications, or, how you present yourself, is significantly important to the West. “Perception is reality,” and how you say something is often more significant than what you say.

This first formal introduction of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman to the American people was a World Series championship.

(Ray Hanania is a Palestinian American columnist, veteran political journalist and author of several books including “Power PR” and “Yalla! Fight Back”. Reach him through his website at www.Hanania.com. Originally published in the Arab News at ArabNews.com.)

  • Author
  • Recent Posts
rayhanania
rayhanania
Op-Ed writer, author, radio host, podcaster at The Arab Daily News
RAY HANANIA — Op-Ed writer, author, radio host, podcaster

Ray Hanania is an award winning political and humor columnist who analyzes American and Middle East politics, and life in general. He is an author of several books.

Hanania covered Chicago Politics and Chicago City Hall from 1976 through 1992 at the Daily Southtown and the Chicago Sun-Times. He began writing in 1975 publishing The Middle Eastern Voice newspaper in Chicago (1975-1977). He later published “The National Arab American Times” newspaper (2004-2007).

Hanania writes weekly columns on Middle East and American Arab issues as Special US Correspondent for the Arab News ArabNews.com, at TheArabDailyNews.com, and at SuburbanChicagoland.com. He has published weekly columns in the Jerusalem Post newspaper, YNetNews.com, Newsday, the Orlando Sentinel, Houston Chronical, and Arlington Heights Daily Herald.

Hanania is the recipient of four (4) Chicago Headline Club “Peter Lisagor Awards” for Column writing. In November 2006, he was named “Best Ethnic American Columnist” by the New American Media. In 2009, Hanania received the prestigious Sigma Delta Chi Award for Writing from the Society of Professional Journalists. He is the recipient of the MT Mehdi Courage in Journalism Award. He was honored for his writing skills with two (2) Chicago Stick-o-Type awards from the Chicago Newspaper Guild. In 1990, Hanania was nominated by the Chicago Sun-Times editors for a Pulitzer Prize for his four-part series on the Palestinian Intifada.

His writings have also been honored by two national Awards from ADC for his writing, and from the National Arab American Journalists Association.

Hanania is the US Special Correspondent for the Arab News Newspaper, covering Middle East and Arab American issues. He writes for the Southwest News newspaper group writing on mainstream American issues.

Click here to send Ray Hanania email.

Follow RayHanania on Gettr.com, the uncensored Twitter Ray Hanania on Gettr, the new Twitter
rayhanania
Latest posts by rayhanania (see all)
  • Israeli-push behind effort to ban Tiktok in the United States - January 19, 2023
  • Arab Democrats host forum for Chicago and suburban candidates Feb. 12 - January 18, 2023
  • CAIR Announces Dr. Manal Fakhoury as New Board Chair, New Board Members Spojmie Nasiri and John Floyd - January 12, 2023

  • Tweet

SHARE ...
          
 
  
 
          
 
 Tweet 
Arab News, Arab World, Bloggers, Commentary, Gulf States, Middle East, News Media, Opinion, Politics, racism, Ray Hanania, Saudi Arabia, Terrorism Tags:2001 terrorism, Arab Women, biased images, biased perceptions, Crown Prince, lack of understanding, MBS, Mohammad Bin Salman, oppression, Saudi Arabia, Sept. 11, Western news media, women's rights

Post navigation

Previous Post: France’s War on Terror and De-radicalization Policy: The Lone Wolf Spectrum
Next Post: Dubai Press Club announces agenda for 17th Arab Media Forum

Related Posts

  • Tucker Carlson, Jeanine Pirro and Apologies on The Arab Street Radio Friday March 15 Arab News
  • Morocco Shines as Key US Business and Security Ally at US-Africa Summit Activism
  • Jared Kushner addressing the Peace to Prosperity Conference, providing details for a strategy to empower Palestinians as a part of a planned political solution with Israel. Photo courtesy of Ray Hanania
    Abraham Accords Advance Stage of Injustice Bloggers
  • Shimon Peres: State Funeral, Hollywood and Nuclear Mordechai Vanunu Arab World
  • Jay Cristol: Israeli War Crimes Apologist Par Excellence American Arabs
  • IDF soldiers and Israeli settlers (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
    Israel uses every trick to blame everyone else but themselves Arab News

More Related Articles

David Cameron’s failed policy on terrorism and extremism Arab World
Palestinian members of Knesset protesting Israel’s Jewish Nation-State Law on the day of voting in 2018. (Screengrab: Knesset Channel courtesy of Adalah) Israeli Government’s decision to involve the Shin Bet and army to fight crime in Arab society is racist and illegal  Arab World
Facebook Bigotry and the USS LIBERTY American Arabs
In Honor of Ron Grantski USS Liberty Survivor of The Six-Day War Arab World
Podcast Interview: Naomi Shihab Nye on books, writing and journalism American Arabs
Zalatimo offers Arabic sweets & free serving dish Bloggers

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

  • OPINION COLUMNS
  • Tiktok.com/@RayHanania
    Israeli-push behind effort to ban Tiktok in the United States
    January 19, 2023
  • Ghassan Rubeiz
    To what extent is Hezbollah responsible for the current crisis in Lebanon?
    January 17, 2023
  • Image from Rashid-al-Din Hamadani's "A Compendium of Chronicles. Image courtesy of Wikipedia
    Why allow religious extremists to re-define Islam in the West?
    January 10, 2023
  • CAIR Executive Director and co-founder Nihad Awad
    This Thanksgiving, let’s use our Blessings for good
    November 23, 2022
  • NEWS
  • Arab Democratic Club Feb 12, 2023 Forum & Brunch flier
    Arab Democrats host forum for Chicago and suburban candidates Feb. 12
    January 18, 2023
  • The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) announced Dr. Manal Fakhoury has been elected to the position of Chair of the National Board of Directors, and that attorneys Spojmie Nasiri of California and John Floyd of Texas have joined the organization’s National Board.
    CAIR Announces Dr. Manal Fakhoury as New Board Chair, New Board Members Spojmie Nasiri and John Floyd
    January 12, 2023
  • AHRC Executive Director Imad Hamad
    AHRC: Honor Dr. King Day with Civility, Unity, and Action
    January 11, 2023
  • Citgo Gas Station and Quik Mart at 3759 W. Chicago Ave in Chicago ordered closed by Mayor Lori Lightfoot because a street gang member with an AK-47 killed someone in front of the store. Only Arab and Muslim stores are being closed by the Mayor
    When Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot targeted Arab businesses in 2021 and 2022
    January 4, 2023
  • NEWSWIRE
  • Arab Democratic Club Feb 12, 2023 Forum & Brunch flier
    Arab Democrats host forum for Chicago and suburban candidates Feb. 12
    January 18, 2023
  • The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) announced Dr. Manal Fakhoury has been elected to the position of Chair of the National Board of Directors, and that attorneys Spojmie Nasiri of California and John Floyd of Texas have joined the organization’s National Board.
    CAIR Announces Dr. Manal Fakhoury as New Board Chair, New Board Members Spojmie Nasiri and John Floyd
    January 12, 2023
  • AHRC Executive Director Imad Hamad
    AHRC: Honor Dr. King Day with Civility, Unity, and Action
    January 11, 2023
  • Stand up For Human Rights website, United Nations
    UN experts condemn Israel’s ‘sadistic’ punitive measures against French-Palestinian rights defender Salah Hammouri
    October 19, 2022

Creative Commons License
All work on this website is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Do not edit original work. Give credit to the original source.

  • 08-09-21-Ziyad-Sices-Ad.jpg
  • 08-09-21-Ziyad-Ad-Pantry-essentials.jpg
  • ZiyadBrandLogo-2016BlackRedBackgrnd.jpg
  • BOOK REVIEWS
  • Interlink 2022 Cookbooks Make the Best Holiday Gifts
    Interlink 2022 Cookbooks Make the Best Holiday Gifts
    October 24, 2022
  • Stories My Father Told Me by author and artist Helen Zughaib, book cover. Photo courtesy of Cune Press
    Stories My Father Told Me by author and artist Helen Zughaib
    November 1, 2021
  • ENTERTAINMENT
  • Hussam al-Mayman, The Mayman Show, podcast Arab News
    Arab News launches third season of The Mayman Show podcast
    December 15, 2022
  • Interlink 2022 Cookbooks Make the Best Holiday Gifts
    Interlink 2022 Cookbooks Make the Best Holiday Gifts
    October 24, 2022
  • Comedian Ramy Youssef courtesy of his Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/ramysfaceboo/
    “Ramy” cable series melds Arab world reality with every day American life
    October 22, 2022
  • The Ray Hanania Radio Show Live Wed 5 PM EST in Detroit, Washington DC, Ontario and on Thursday in Chicago. Watch the program live at Facebook.com/ArabNews
    Second Season of “The Ray Hanania Show” Arab American radio launches April 6
    April 4, 2022
  • American Arab CHamber President HassanNijem accepts the Proclamation from Chicago Ald. Roderick Sawyer at the Chamber dinner March 30, 2022
    Chicagoland celebrates Arab American Heritage Month
    March 31, 2022
  • New-iTunes-1400-x-1400-The-Ray-Hanania-Show-Podcast-Icon-300-x-300.jpg
  • Podcast-iTunes-Logo-Chi-City-Hall-1985.jpg
  • The-Kings-Pawn-Book-300-x-300.png
  • terroristbookcover-300-x-300.jpg
  • powerpr300x300ad.jpg
Arab News Newspaper Logo
Read the Arab News, the leading English language newspaper in the MIddle East

Follow Ray Hanania at Gab.com, MeWe.com and IDobbinate.com, the alternatives to Facebook and Twitter Censorship.

Click here to get information on The Ray Hanania Radio Show and its podcasts

Copyright © 2023 The Arab Daily News.

Powered by PressBook Premium theme