President Obama Greets Fulbright Alumnus to Jordan Farooq Mitha at the White House Iftar Dinner on September 1, 2009. (Photo Credit: White House Photo Office)
On September 1, 2009, I was fortunate to be invited to an iftar dinner at the White House with President Obama in commemoration of the conclusion of the month of Ramadan, Islam’s holiest month. Coincidentally, I had just completed my Fulbright U.S. Student Program grant in Amman, Jordan, where I was researching Jordanian-Israeli relations. The topic I studied in Jordan – whether a normal or “warm peace” can be created in the region – was particularly relevant to the iftar dinner because of the Obama administration’s desire to increase dialogue with Muslims around the world based on mutual interest and respect.
It was a great pleasure to meet President Obama and hear him reiterate a fresh policy of engaging with Muslims both domestically and globally. During his speech, President Obama noted the diversity of Muslims around the world and the contributions of American Muslims to the fabric of America. He referred to Kareem Khan, who joined the U.S. military and was posthumously awarded a Purple Heart and Bronze Star after he lost his life in Iraq in service to his country. In his remarks, the President sincerely and strongly conveyed his desire to reach out to both American Muslims and Muslims around the world.
The iftar dinner at the White House provided me with an opportunity to meet and engage in discussions with influential leaders in the American Muslim community, officials from the Obama administration and ambassadors from several Muslim countries including Jordan. My experiences as a Fulbrighter were at the center of my conversations with attending guests. During my research, I was able to work with the Amman Center for Peace and Development (ACPD), a Jordanian organization that engages in cooperative projects with Israelis. I also coordinated a conference with non-governmental participants from several Arab countries, the Palestinian Territories and Israel to discuss the necessary steps towards implementing the Arab Peace Initiative. These activities, plus my knowledge of the situation on the ground in the Arab world and parts of Israel, gave me a foundation for productive discussions with these influential leaders and political officials.
The Fulbright U.S. Student Program enabled me to spend time in the Arab world to understand better the underlying conflicts that create challenges for the Obama administration’s agenda in the region, as well as the broader issues critical to all Muslim countries around the world. Attending the White House iftar dinner allowed me to witness firsthand how the White House is engaging with the Muslim community. The knowledge and expertise gained during my Fulbright experience has allowed me to contribute to the Obama administration’s efforts to bring together people of different cultures, faiths and ethnicities for a better understanding of our pluralistic country and world.
Farooq Mitha graduated from the University of Florida and is an international policy specialist who recently completed a Fulbright U.S. Student Program grant in Amman, Jordan. He has been published in domestic and international publications and is currently a partner in a Miami law firm, Geller Mitha, P.A.
To the U.S.-Jordan Fulbright Program