Fishing for Islam in the Yemen

Can the English survive an outlandish plan to bring Western Civilization to Yemen, along the Sinai Peninsula?
It’s Fishing for Islam in the Yemen, or “Salmon Fishing in the Yemen,” the movie.

Can the English survive an outlandish plan to bring Western Civilization to Yemen, along the Sinai Peninsula?
It’s Fishing for Islam in the Yemen, or “Salmon Fishing in the Yemen,” the movie.
A sheik, played by Amr Waked, is in love with fishing in his posh estate in Scotland, and would like to bring it to more arid land down south.
It turns out to be something of a romantic comedy involving two empires - British and Islamic.
The movie stars Ewan McGregor as Dr. Afred Jones, Emily Blunt as Harriet Chetwood-Tolbert, and Kristin Scott Thomas as Patricia Maxwell, the prime minister’s press secretary.
Blunt represents the sheik’s financial interests through Fitzharris & Price International Investment Division, with a London office.
The breezy contrast between McGregor and the sophisticated Blunt, make the movie work.
Maxwell is on the hunt for some good news for His Majesty’s Government Press Office and the prime minister to offset the bombing of a mosque in Afghanistan by British military.
McGregor is pressured into meeting with Blunt, who represents the sheiks assets in Britain, which includes an estate in Scotland.
Yemen gets more rain than Saudi Arabia, she points out to McGregor - up to 250 millimeters of rain per month during some months.
The long term plan is to irrigate thousands of acres of desert, she says.
McGregor projects the cost at approximately $50 million dollars or pounds.
“He’s a very keen fisherman,” she says of the sheik. “I don’t really think it’s my place to explain the sheik’s motivations. But I will say this. Of all our wealthy clients, he is different. I would go so far as to describe him as a visionary man.”
“A visionary,” Jones repeats incredulously.
“Yes I know, it’s not a very fashionable word,” she says. “But if you decide to take this project with us, then you can decide for yourself when you meet him.”
McGregor leaves, walking into a wall on the way out of her office, prompting a giggle from Blunt.

The two join the sheik at his favorite estate in Scotland, where he fishes with Jones.
Waked questions McGregor’s reluctance to engage in the project.
Judged by this particular sheik’s behavior, muslim men can act in an honorable and civilized manner.
He has benefited from a proper English education, and gained a proper English accent.
Can fishing bring a shot of civilization to a Muslim land.
It’s a question that may be a tale of contrasts between the extreme belief of Islam, and little or no belief by the English, who have mostly given up on God.

“You’re not a religious man?” he says to McGregor.
“No, I’m not.”
“But you are a fisherman, Dr. Jones.”
“I’m sorry, I don’t follow.”
“How many hours do you fish before you catch something? Dozens.”
“Hundreds sometimes.”
“Is that a good use of your time for a facts and figures man? But you persist, in the wind and the rain and the cold, with such poor odds of success. Why? Because you are a man of faith, Dr. Alfred.”
In the end, you are rewarded for your faith and constancy, with fish.”
“With due respect, fishing and religion are hardly the same thing, your excellency.”
“With equal respect, I have to disagree.”
“A toast. To faith and fish.”
“To faith and fish - and science.”

Does fishing demonstrate faith? Or is it simply a sporting way for many English fishermen to pass the time, whether they catch the fish or not?
It may be important to point out that is is not necessary to fish in the wind, rain or cold to enjoy fishing.
Nevertheless, not only is the sheik a man of great faith, he knows when a woman is unhappy and senses that Blunt is uneasy or unhappy.
I have put my feet in it, he says, describing his too sensitive observations.
He then violates traditional Muslim culture by shaking hands with Blunt.

The sheik gets resistance about the idea from the Muslim tribe in Yemen, who confront him.
“These men, they say that by bringing water, life to this dessert, I am bringing the Western ways to our land. They say I have insulted God himself. I say they are fools.”
The problem with their argument is that it is actually true.
He is bringing Western ways to the dessert, something that Muslims still struggle to accept, even if it means living a better life and saving lives.
And the West still has significant problems bringing modern ideas and methods to areas like Afghanistan.
Entities like the Taliban make it more difficult to educate young girls in traditional Muslim countries.
The Western ideal of helping developing countries to end suffering with modern technology is something that is still being rejected in largely Muslim areas.

The sheik has plenty of money to spend on creating an unnatural environment for the fish.
And so begins the somewhat wild journey or fantasy, led by an oil-rich sheik.
Before the water flows, he addresses the group gathered:
“Muslims, Christians - we are all gathered here in an act of faith - and why not.”
It’s doubtful that there are any British citizens gathered who would claim Jesus Christ or being Christian.
It’s not even a good idea for Muslims to acknowledge that there are Christians in a Muslim country.

Jones does seem to symbolize the British, who don’t seem to know what to do with God or faith.
It’s as though the British are willing to allow the Muslims to take the lead in the faith, since they have become mostly Godless.
Though Islam is an extreme religion, producing radical elements, at least the Muslims have more faith than the average British citizen, who believes in his football club more than God.
It is a little surprising that the writer included a traditional Islamic weaponry.
Though the sheik may be civilized, he still wears his dagger.
Traditionally, it isn’t used for cleaning fish, but for dismembering infidels.

© 2012 Larry Ingram