Fullah in place of Barbie: Why not the two together?

Some of the most influential Arabic and western media were obsessed last week with a new battleground between civilizations. The "Islamic doll"- as it was called- Fullah is taking the place of the American doll Barbie in the hearts of Arab and Muslim girls. Arab fathers and mothers, as well as educators are jubilant that a doll with dark Arabic features and ethics - some Fullah dolls put veils- are sweeping away the "damaging influence" of the Barbie doll, which is looked at as a symbol of western imperialism and deterioration of morality.

Well, let Francis Fukuyama know now that Muslims have won a battle in the clash of civilizations by the force of a doll made in China and sold at high prices in the Arab market, mostly unaffordable by poor families in arab cities and villages.

I have discovered the beautiful world of childrens' toys as a pround father of a 5 years old girl, and I managed to sense the good quality of the Fullah dolls and products so I bought some of the dolls and educational and playing products since three years. However, I have never asked Fullah about her opinions of the Arab-Israeli conflicts, or the plans of the newcons in the Bush administration, nor about the clash of civilisations, and for me the two are only dolls and the difference is quality.

And since my daughter Suzan is more of a Barbie lookalike due to a mix of Circassian and Palestinian genes, I have never felt that Barbie and Fullah are symbols of two different worlds. In fact, I would love to get good quality dolls representing the culture and anthropogenis diversity of Latin America, Eastern Asia and Africa.

I want my daughter to respect all cultures and people, and be a proud Jordanian citizen with a mixed lineage, and the wise thing is to keep children out of the stupidity of the adults who are engaging in the clash of civilizations between the west and Islam. Fullah and Barbie should be two sisters in a family of many colors of faces, hairs and diversity of dresses and languages.