My Middle East questions for Fareed Zakaria

Yes, THE Fareed Zakaria - who recently called birther and joke-slash-wannabe-of-a-presidential-candidate-Donald-Trump a racist for his accusations questioning Obama's citizenship - is going to be speaking at my college, the University of Minnesota, this Friday, April 29. I'll be there for his talk about the future of the Middle East. Full event details are here (registration has sold out).

The organizers asked those who RSVP'ed to send a question for Fareed to answer. I thought I'd post my question up here...and a a few more! Let me know your thoughts, or what you would ask him about the Middle East if you had the chance.

And a bit of shameless self-promotion: watch out for my live tweets during Fareed Zakaria's presentation this Friday, starting noon CT/1pm ET. Follow me @lomonur.

1. Considering the unprecedented nature of the revolutions ripping through the Middle East and Muslim world, to what extent have recent events worked to break down stereotypes many Americans have held about Arabs and Muslims [ie, that Arabs don't want and aren't ready for democracy or social change, that they are complacent, that they have a 'backwards' uncivilized culture, etc?]

2. To what extent have you seen this discourse about Arabs and Arab countries being used by Israel to justify its foreign policy toward the region and its complete disregard of international law when it comes to dealing with Palestinians and its other Arab neighbors?

Will these revolutions change Israel's stance and attitudes toward its Arab neighbors? Do you think the revolutions will prevent Israel from continuing to get away with its self-proclamation of being the "only democracy in the Middle East," which it has used to justify gross violations of human rights and international law?  

3. I've been hearing the phrase 'women of the revolution' to describe the courage of Arab women, particularly in Egypt, and now most recently, in protests led by women in Saudi Arabia who want to vote in municipal elections. To what extent have Arab women shaped the revolutionary agenda, and what role do you think Arab women will play as the revolutions in the region move forward and transition into the electoral political process? Do you think women will be given a chance to run for government positions, and will these revolutions change the public roles women play in Arab societies?

4. How do you see the balance of power in the region changing, and what is the unique role that Saudi Arabia plays (or must play) in order to keep a fairly stable balance of power in the Gulf?   Is maintaining a balance a good thing, and if so, for whom?-the US? Also, if Saudi Arabia continues to take on the role of maintaining the 'balance of power' in the Gulf, will this ultimately work in disfavoring the interests of the people of Saudi Arabia and the Gulf-region themselves?

What are your thoughts, readers?

Lolla Mohammed Nur

Lolla Mohammed Nur (lolla@tcdailyplanet.net) is a journalism and political science student at the University of Minnesota.