우리 학교에 근무하는 원어민교사가 쓴 이 책의 독후감입니다.
On “Children of Jihad” by Jared Cohen
To be honest, at first I was a little apprehensive when Mrs. Jeon first offered this book to me. I don’t often read non-fiction anymore, as I usually find the writing somewhat dry, and so I was a little worried. But then I considered how worldly Mrs. Jeon is and thought, Am I the kind of person who doesn’t try new things or challenge her thinking when she is given an opportunity? Of course not.
And Cohen’s book, which details his discovery of youth culture in Iran, Lebanon, Syria and Iraq, was definitely an opportunity to open my eyes about a subject that North American media reports very little about. According to a census done in 2006, there are about 22,000 Arab Canadians living in my own city, Toronto, and yet I know so little about the individual histories and cultures of Arab countries. What I have gleaned from world news over the years is that the Middle East seems to be a place where an older generation is stubbornly, often violently entrenched in their ways. Rarely is anything ever mentioned about the youth of these countries, the quality of their lives or the nature of their ambitions.
This is why Cohen’s findings are so paramount. What I found especially interesting is that when he began the first step of his journey into Iran, discovering youth culture wasn’t even the original purpose of his trip. He had been intending to interview government officials for his Oxford dissertation but found the Iranian government’s surveillance too hostile to manage it. By chance he befriends the local youth, and with a sudden realization, his entire journey changes to one of exploring the realities and life philosophies of young Islamic men and women.
Cohen’s writing itself clear, amiable, intelligent and engaging. I was hooked by the first page because his tone was so personal. He talks specifically about the people he met, their fashion, what they do in their spare time. Then there are times when we are really reminded that he is traveling through politically volatile countries and the danger affects us more deeply. (I had no idea what would happen when he was hiding in the back seat of that car.) He expands on each region’s history in a simplistic way that keeps your attention - only once does his writing dry up, when he’s explaining Lebanon’s history to such a great extent that his narrative starts to drag. Otherwise, his insights are welcome and, obviously, incredibly crucial to understanding the socio-cultural context these young people live inside.
It made me reflect two-fold upon my own socio-political existence in the world. At first, reading of his adventures made me want to see these different places for myself, and I instantly realized that I probably couldn’t. Although as an American Jew, Cohen is not the most ideal visitor, his hair is darker and he is male. Traveling in Asia this year has made me realize how conspicuous I am, with my light hair and pale skin. As a white woman, there is no doubt that the attention I would get would put me in worse danger. Women are also banned from certain places and customs in Islamic countries, which would doubly impede my efforts.
Yet seeing how many of the youth Cohen met were trapped within their society by a lack of money, opportunity or the threat of religious or political backlash made me appreciate my own freedoms. My own youth, my education, and the language I speak allow me to travel to foreign countries and pursue a career I think is personally rewarding. I have always had that ability, and I have never had to worry about it being revoked. So many young people in these countries are struggling to live, to escape religious oppression, or to understand where they stand in relation to how the world sees the Middle East. I am grateful for the advantages I possess.
Overall, Cohen’s book is a fresh perspective compared to what is often a very narrow view of Arab countries. To get a better idea of the future of the Middle East it is absolutely crucial to understand the next generation of Iranian, Iraqi, Syrian, and Lebanese people, their views, and the lives they have lead in their youth.
- Leona Burlew