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So, I am watching a CNN Special Reports expose about freedom of speech in the UK as it relates to Muslims, point of view on the war in Iraq, perceptions of the United States, etc. Needless to say, the United States did not come out in a positive light. What amazes me is the number of misperceptions there are. (Granted, I will not at all address my views on American foreign policy, but I want to try to discuss this from the perspective of discounting WHAT you think of America’s foreign policy. I’m thinking of a different discussion.) Anyway, the US Ambassador in London was asked to speak at a number of Muslim mosques, etc. In a lot of ways, THIS is what the Fulbright is/should do. Most of us apply for the Fulbright because it allows us an avenue for learning in a different country or even because it furthers our careers. If you put those self-centered reasons aside, the Fulbright grant allows for “peer ambassadors.” I found it interesting that the poor American ambassador not only had religious/cultural differences with the crowd, but also age, economical, and career differences. With the Fulbright a number of these factors are removed – people tend to be placed in and around their peer groups and often have their area of study in common as a starting point.

What I find interesting are the number of misconceptions on all sides. There is no doubt that I have been blessed with having had a number of opportunities to travel since I was young. Having so many relatives in India allowed me to travel there quite a lot, and we had a number of opportunities to see Asia such as Hong Kong, Singapore, etc. I spent time living in Vienna as an undergrad, and I lived in Paris for quite a while. (And, admittedly, I still have a number of misconceptions of a LOT of the world.) You have Americans with misconceptions of Europe, China, and Africa. You have misconceptions amongst Europeans about America. (One of the most fun misconceptions is as simple as the distance issue. I have a French friend who wanted to do a road trip from New York to LA in 5 days. He did not realize the sheer land-mass that is the US.)

So, the title of this diatribe is – Why the Fulbright is important. It breaks down barriers. We are in a time where globalization (to the current degree even) has taken a large role in how we deal with the rest of the world. We have problems of cultures, religions (on every continent, in every country) feeling maligned. We have misconceptions that keep people apart, which then further strengthen divisions and create tensions. Given all this, we should be searching for ways to break those barriers down and open up avenues for understanding and communication. There is no doubt that the Fulbright does this.