Arab Times, Kuwait
May 16 2009

Integration and identity

By Rev Andy Thompson
St Paul’s Anglican Church, Ahmadi

Two enduring images stick in my mind from last week. One was from an
event organized by the British Council celebrating its 75th
anniversary. In this event Dominic Miller, a renowned guitarist from
the West was improvising music opposite the talented Kuwaiti Oud
player, Fawzi Al Lingawi. Against a progressive sequence of 6th
chords inspired by Chopin played on a classical guitar, the Oud weaved
a haunting and magical melody. The unlikely juxtaposition of Western
music with Arab music led to a completely unexpected result. It
sounded fabulous. Guitar and Oud merged together in an emotional and
intense celebration of their different timbres and scales. It worked
so well that it bought tears to the eyes of the audience.

Despite the different musical traditions and experiences of the
performers, they were able to integrate their styles together while at
the same time maintaining their distinctive identities. The second
event was a colourful and riotous celebration by Armenian students.
Hosted by the Armenian Archbishop, Dr Gorian Babian, the evening
unveiled an exuberant program of cultural dancing and music. Over
forty students performed dances not only from their own rich and
ancient culture but also from the other traditions embracing jazz,
rock n roll and ball room dancing. Songs were sung in English, Greek,
French, and Armenian. Celebration speeches were in Arabic, English and
Armenian. In short, the Armenian community impressively demonstrated
their ability to integrate into other cultures while at the same time
remaining rooted in their own distinctive culture and faith.

Integration and identity are core skills required for our world
today. The failure to integrate results in marginalisation and
suspicion . The failure to be rooted in a distinctive identity leads
to fear and insecurity. The Armenian community knows this and they
have invested deliberately in institutions which maintain and
reinforce their identity. Yet at the same time they have integrated
into their host country so effectively that at times they seem
invisible – so good are they at learning the languages and functioning
in a culture not their own. They are confident, secure and successful
and everyone benefits. It is troubling therefore to read of election
candidates who are threatened by other cultures and faiths and would
seek to suppress them. As Kuwait heads into the elections, I pray
that God will raise leaders who will continue the rich and long
tradition of a country where diverse cultures and faiths not only meet
and co-exist but are also celebrated.