Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04ABUDHABI4003
2004-11-08 11:36:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Cable title:
UAE WOMEN STUDENTS GET INSIGHT ON ABC'S OF
how-tonull Diana T Fritz 02/05/2007 04:47:19 PM From DB/Inbox: Search Results Cable Text: UNCLAS ABU DHABI 04003 SIPDIS CXABU: ACTION: POL INFO: P/M PAO RSO ECON AMB DCM MEPI DISSEMINATION: POL CHARGE: PROG APPROVED: AMB:MSISON DRAFTED: POL: SOSTROV CLEARED: DCM:RALBRIGHT POL:JMAYBURY PAO:HOLSIN-WINDECKER VZCZCADI060 RR RUEHC RUEHDE DE RUEHAD #4003 3131136 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 081136Z NOV 04 FM AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6685 INFO RUEHDE/AMCONSUL DUBAI 4461
UNCLAS ABU DHABI 004003
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL KWMN KPPD KPAO TC
SUBJECT: UAE WOMEN STUDENTS GET INSIGHT ON ABC'S OF
AMERICAN POLICY ISSUES
UNCLAS ABU DHABI 004003
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL KWMN KPPD KPAO TC
SUBJECT: UAE WOMEN STUDENTS GET INSIGHT ON ABC'S OF
AMERICAN POLICY ISSUES
1. SUMMARY: ON THE EVE OF THE U.S. PRESIDENTIAL
ELECTION, AMERICAN EMBASSY WOMEN VISITED ZAYED
UNIVERSITY, AN ALL-WOMEN'S COLLEGE, TO SHARE PERSONAL
PERSPECTIVES ON WHAT MOTIVATES THEM TO VOTE THE WAY
THEY DO. THE DISCUSSIONS BETWEEN EMIRATI STUDENTS AND
OUR STAFF SHOWED THAT WE DO NOT SHARE THE SAME
POLITICAL PRIORITIES, BUT THAT IT IS IMPORTANT TO
RESPECT OTHERS' VIEWS AND NOT ALLOW POLITICAL
PREFERENCES TO AFFECT THAT LEVEL OF RESPECT AND MUTUAL
UNDERSTANDING. END SUMMARY.
2. THE PANEL OF AMERICAN WOMEN CONSISTED OF ONE WOMAN
IN HER TWENTIES, ONE IN HER THIRTIES, AND ONE IN HER
FORTIES. THEY REPRESENTED A SPECTRUM OF DEMOGRAPHIC
AND POLITICAL INTERESTS. EACH AMERICAN EXPLAINED
BRIEFLY ABOUT HER PERSONAL BACKGROUND, EDUCATION,
PROFESSIONAL AND FAMILY LIFE, AND THE WAY SHE THINKS
ABOUT CRITICAL ISSUES. THE DISCUSSIONS COVERED GAY
MARRIAGE, ABORTION, ENVIRONMENT, AND INTERNATIONAL
AFFAIRS. THE STUDENTS WERE VERY INTERESTED IN THE
VASTLY DIVERSE AMERICAN WOMENS' PERSPECTIVES.
3. DURING ONE EXCHANGE, THE AMERICANS ASKED THE
STUDENTS ABOUT THE ISSUES THEY MOST CARE ABOUT IN THE
AMERICAN CONTEXT AND WHAT THEY WOULD PERSONALLY LOOK AT
TO DECIDE WHICH POLITICAL CANDIDATES AND POLITICAL
PARTIES THEY WOULD SUPPORT. THE STUDENTS CARED MOST
ABOUT INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS. THEY CITED AS THEIR TOP
FOUR ISSUES: 1) PERCEIVED DANGERS OF UNILATERAL U.S.
MILITARY OPERATIONS; 2) PERCEIVED DOUBLE STANDARDS
CONCERNING NON-PROLIFERATION POLICY; 3) PERCEIVED RACISM
AND DISCRIMINATION AGAINST MUSLIMS IN THE UNITED STATES;
AND 4) THE NEED FOR AMERICA TO FIX ITS DOMESTIC PROBLEMS
BEFORE TACKLING INTERNATIONAL ISSUES. THE STUDENTS
APPRECIATED THE OPPORTUNITY TO THINK CRITICALLY AND TO
SHARE THEIR VIEWPOINTS OPENLY.
4. THE FEEDBACK ON THE INTERACTION WAS OVERWHELMINGLY
POSITIVE. THE STUDENTS' POLITICAL SCIENCE PROFESSOR
TOLD US THAT HIS STUDENTS SHOWED AN UNUSUAL LEVEL OF
INTEREST AND APPRECIATED HEARING THE VERY PERSONAL,
VICE OFFICIAL, VIEWS OF AMERICAN WOMEN. "I WAS EXCITED
TO HEAR THAT AS WOMEN, WE ALL WORRY ABOUT THE SAME
THINGS, NO MATTER WHAT COUNTRY WE'RE FROM," ONE STUDENT
TOLD THE EMBASSY WOMEN AFTER THE DISCUSSION.
SISON
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL KWMN KPPD KPAO TC
SUBJECT: UAE WOMEN STUDENTS GET INSIGHT ON ABC'S OF
AMERICAN POLICY ISSUES
1. SUMMARY: ON THE EVE OF THE U.S. PRESIDENTIAL
ELECTION, AMERICAN EMBASSY WOMEN VISITED ZAYED
UNIVERSITY, AN ALL-WOMEN'S COLLEGE, TO SHARE PERSONAL
PERSPECTIVES ON WHAT MOTIVATES THEM TO VOTE THE WAY
THEY DO. THE DISCUSSIONS BETWEEN EMIRATI STUDENTS AND
OUR STAFF SHOWED THAT WE DO NOT SHARE THE SAME
POLITICAL PRIORITIES, BUT THAT IT IS IMPORTANT TO
RESPECT OTHERS' VIEWS AND NOT ALLOW POLITICAL
PREFERENCES TO AFFECT THAT LEVEL OF RESPECT AND MUTUAL
UNDERSTANDING. END SUMMARY.
2. THE PANEL OF AMERICAN WOMEN CONSISTED OF ONE WOMAN
IN HER TWENTIES, ONE IN HER THIRTIES, AND ONE IN HER
FORTIES. THEY REPRESENTED A SPECTRUM OF DEMOGRAPHIC
AND POLITICAL INTERESTS. EACH AMERICAN EXPLAINED
BRIEFLY ABOUT HER PERSONAL BACKGROUND, EDUCATION,
PROFESSIONAL AND FAMILY LIFE, AND THE WAY SHE THINKS
ABOUT CRITICAL ISSUES. THE DISCUSSIONS COVERED GAY
MARRIAGE, ABORTION, ENVIRONMENT, AND INTERNATIONAL
AFFAIRS. THE STUDENTS WERE VERY INTERESTED IN THE
VASTLY DIVERSE AMERICAN WOMENS' PERSPECTIVES.
3. DURING ONE EXCHANGE, THE AMERICANS ASKED THE
STUDENTS ABOUT THE ISSUES THEY MOST CARE ABOUT IN THE
AMERICAN CONTEXT AND WHAT THEY WOULD PERSONALLY LOOK AT
TO DECIDE WHICH POLITICAL CANDIDATES AND POLITICAL
PARTIES THEY WOULD SUPPORT. THE STUDENTS CARED MOST
ABOUT INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS. THEY CITED AS THEIR TOP
FOUR ISSUES: 1) PERCEIVED DANGERS OF UNILATERAL U.S.
MILITARY OPERATIONS; 2) PERCEIVED DOUBLE STANDARDS
CONCERNING NON-PROLIFERATION POLICY; 3) PERCEIVED RACISM
AND DISCRIMINATION AGAINST MUSLIMS IN THE UNITED STATES;
AND 4) THE NEED FOR AMERICA TO FIX ITS DOMESTIC PROBLEMS
BEFORE TACKLING INTERNATIONAL ISSUES. THE STUDENTS
APPRECIATED THE OPPORTUNITY TO THINK CRITICALLY AND TO
SHARE THEIR VIEWPOINTS OPENLY.
4. THE FEEDBACK ON THE INTERACTION WAS OVERWHELMINGLY
POSITIVE. THE STUDENTS' POLITICAL SCIENCE PROFESSOR
TOLD US THAT HIS STUDENTS SHOWED AN UNUSUAL LEVEL OF
INTEREST AND APPRECIATED HEARING THE VERY PERSONAL,
VICE OFFICIAL, VIEWS OF AMERICAN WOMEN. "I WAS EXCITED
TO HEAR THAT AS WOMEN, WE ALL WORRY ABOUT THE SAME
THINGS, NO MATTER WHAT COUNTRY WE'RE FROM," ONE STUDENT
TOLD THE EMBASSY WOMEN AFTER THE DISCUSSION.
SISON