Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Jihad4Peace
I think they are well aware of it.
The problem is public discourse in Arab Society is not as open or free as it is in Western society. Self Criticism may be illegal by the state, and often taboo by the social standards.
To criticize the conservative culture or the Monarchy in power, is like talking about race at a social function. It makes everyone uncomfortable.
I feel this is why I am seeing a lack of opinionated coverage of the Saddam Trial in the Arab press.
But GulfNews.com is providing indepth coverage. And they are located in Dubai which is the most progressive city in the Arab world. The times are changing in Dubai.
Hopefully the winds of change will blow over to other Arab states as well. And ultimately extremists and Terrorists will go the way of the KKK, instead of being tolerated by the greater society.
I am hoping the Saddam Trial will be a catalyst for change in the collective Arab discourse. That is to get them talking as a people about their reality, instead of burying their collective head in the sand or scapegoating everything on to Israel and the West.
|
These strongman systems are further endorsed by the prevailing religion, especially in Shia Islam. It's similar to [/i]vox rex, vox dius[/i] in Western society. There has been no Reformation or Renaissance in the Middle East.
There have been a couple of Pan-Arabists, like Saddam Hussien, the Assaad regieme in Syria, Nassar in Egypt. But these Pan-Arabists themselves tend to be undemocratic. This happens in societies that have a legacy of monarchies and tribal rule. In the early days of the American republic, there was talk of having the President of the United States elected to a lifetime term. Even the more Westernized Muslim countries aren't exactly models of democracy. Albania is not a center for international commerce. The countries that moved from the totalitarianism of the USSR to democracy the swiftest were formerly Christian or were highly secularized. In short Islam is really too new is what the issue is. As when Christianity first swept Western Europe, the states tended to be far more draconian. Islam is fresh and intense in the culture of the Middle East. The Shah of Iran was deposed for being too Westernized. Iran has turned extremely Islamic compared to its former self. Lebanon was once so Western, people called it European. Lebanon also gave us Abu Nidal later.
The situation is further complicated by the fake map the Western powers drew over the region. Take Iraq for instance. It's really a fake country. It was three provinces in the Ottoman Empire. The Ottoman Empire was defeated in WW1. The British had a policy of divide and control. The only reason there is a Pakistan is because the British created it. It was originally part of India, and was much more peaceful. The West basically "jerrymandered" the Middle East the same way Tom DeLay did to Texas. The former King of Iraq was installed by the British, as was the current monarchy in Kuwait.
It's not going to turn into Iraq isn't going to be Iowa anytime soon.