In keeping with traditional Caravan (our school newspaper) style, this week’s edition of the paper is once again themed. This time it is the sex, drugs, and alcohol edition. While there are several things that really bother me about this edition, there is one that I want to point out specifically.
One article called, “At AUC, some girls choose feminine companionship,” is about several girls on campus and their lesbian relationships. This topic obviously is something that is rarely discussed in Egypt, or even in America. The thing that really bothers me is when the article says, “Many Egyptians say Western influence on their culture is the reason for homosexuality in their societies.” In another article, the author states, “I always thought of homosexuality as a western phenomenon…”
Talk about passing the blame! While homosexuality is certainly more visible in the U.S. than it is in the Middle East, this is no reason to say that the West is the reason homosexuality is practiced in Middle Eastern countries. I don’t think you could say to a police officer, “But officer, the reason I was speeding is because I saw someone else speeding.” No, you’re going to get the ticket because you are responsible for your actions, independently of what anyone else does. Egyptians cannot blame homosexuality on the West; they must be responsible for their own actions.
Another story is about AUC students studying abroad at UCLA. The article says, “many AUC students end up partying and engaging in behavior at UCLA that they could never indulge in at home.”
When you study abroad, you want to try to get a feel for the culture; you want to live like the people live. But this doesn’t mean that you throw all of the morals that have guided you for life out of the window. Those who “engage in the unimaginable” while abroad cannot blame the culture for their actions. They themselves are responsible.
It’s as simple as that!
Happy Sunday!
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