Will Trump's Middle East Plan Rekindle Our Love of the Arab Culture?

Epoch Times

25-05-2025

Commentary
President Trump's Gulf tour, complete with
By now, most people have seen the viral video of President Trump's
The performance, known as Al-Ayyala, captivated viewers, sending them to their keyboards in search of answers. Many likely landed on
The president's visit was filled with stunning displays of white Arabian horses, golden swords, and gilded camels. To history buffs, these images hearkened back to a time when Western culture first became enamored with '
In the 19th century, British and French colonial presence in Egypt, Algeria, Tunisia, and Morocco, along with treaties with Gulf sheikhdoms like Abu Dhabi and Dubai, provided early insights into Arab cultures. The opening of the Suez Canal in 1869, the advent of photography, and the rise of
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This fascination often led to appropriating traditional rituals or dances for entertainment purposes. The Al-Ayyala, also known as the Bedouin '
As these cultural displays delighted Western audiences, they paved the way for deeper influences, gradually weaving Gulf Arab traditions into Western music, literature, and art.
Composers began to incorporate North African and Middle Eastern rhythms and melodies into their works. Examples include Claude Debussy's Two Arabesques, Robert Schumann's Arabeske in C major, Op. 18, and Maurice Ravel's Alborada del gracioso. These works, while not direct transcriptions of Arab music, reveal the growing influence of its ornate melodies.
In the literary world, 'One Thousand and One Nights,' or 'The Arabian Nights' surged in popularity due to influential translations like Richard Burton's unabridged 1885–1888 English version, which captivated readers with its exotic tales and unabashed sensuality. Scheherazade, the fictional storyteller of Arabian Nights, narrates such
With the advent of the Great War, Western culture gained a deeper understanding of the East. News coverage of the
Key victories like the
Thanks to Thomas's syndicated newspaper columns, British officer
By 1919, Thomas began touring with his multimedia show titled 'With Allenby in Palestine and Lawrence in Arabia.' From Madison Square Garden to Covent Garden, his
That same year, British writer Edith Maude Hull, inspired by her
A century later, the West is still fascinated with Arab culture, not just for preserving ancient customs, but for its skillful fusion of tradition and modernity.
Consider the beauty of the
With President Trump's Gulf tour in mind, Americans can only hope and pray that the Arab states of the Persian Gulf will truly get on board with our goal of profitability and prosperity. To this end, they would need to address their human rights abuses, stop supporting terrorist groups, work to disarm Iran and recognize Israeli sovereignty. It's a tall order—as tall as the Burj Khalifa—but it's a prerequisite for peace in the 21st century.
The camels, sword dances, and hair-tossing girls weren't just traditional ceremonies, but expressions from an evolving culture that continues to shape global perceptions. No longer confined to the National Geographic pages of our youth, the Gulf Arab nations came alive, inviting a new generation to explore and understand the richness of Arab heritage. Let's hope it happens.
Views expressed in this article are opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.