View of the Arab World - by an Arab

[piwo]

Read if you care to read a view from of the Arab world, from an Arab.

www.worldthreats.com/middle_east/Haim%20Harari.htm

[jimpres]

John,

Thanks for the URL. THis should be required reading. He (Haim Harari) expressed what is happening very well.

Jim

[bescheid]

Piwo

Thank you for sharing. This finally is reality in situation description.

Chalres

[sciwriter]

Thanks for sharing. To the various activities required to win the war vs. terrorism I recommend adding: “eliminate racism” globally. Many terrorists come from cultures which mostly include people of color, i.e., various shades of dark complexion. Racism was created primarily to justify cheap labor, but has proven to be an economic liability. Racism transcends to the wealthy, e.g., European gamblers with light complexion are usually better accepted than Arab & Iranian gamblers in the major gambling houses world wide.

[piwo]

sciwriter said:

Thanks for sharing. To the various activities required to win the war vs. terrorism I recommend adding: “eliminate racism” globally.

Well, not to sound overly crass, but why not throw world peace onto the plate? I agree that such an accomplishment would make the world a far better place. Racism, tribalism and every other "ism" however has been part of the human experience since the beginning of man. And the same rules must also apply to those who feel (or proclaim) to be so injured. I don't condone any of them (aforementioned "isms) in the least, and my birth nation has been guilty of many, if not all. But I don't make excuses for those whose conduct is below even the most generous minimums of human standards. It may be chic, but it's incomplete. The road to hell (for those who care to believe in such a thing) is paved with good intentions, and every criminal, rapist and thief had an excuse someone was willing to support on their behalf. I find it disingenuous.

Not trying to be combative, but in the name of balance and perspective, I feel compelled.

[Jaga]

Piwo,

I could not read the all article yet, too long, but what I read I liked. Thanks for posting

[sciwriter]

Piwo, well said! Thanks.
I would add education. Most primary terrorists seem to be of middle class and reasonably "educated." However, currently in the Muslim world, the focus of international disdain for its crop of terrorists is woefully short on literacy and totally dependent on controlled media for their information. It’s strange because at one time in history, Muslims were the leaders of scientific thought and research. One of their greatest feats of disservice to their people and the world was the long time banning of printing presses. Not until 1925 could the Koran be printed in Arab countries. They were late coming to the print world, and as a result many other opportunities for dispersal of knowledge to the masses were lost. The masses continue to be subservient to a fraction of their populace who understand how to use modern media to control them. You might say that about Americans if you want, but Americans and most people of "western type nations" can read what they wish and learn without restriction)

The masses in the Muslim world largely remain illiterate and thus easy to manipulate by the elite classes. Education is not all however. Freedom of information (free press) is also a key part. It is not possible however with a religion that demands its place in government affairs as well as religious affairs. What you have in the case of most of the Muslim world is a medieval society with a servile population providing raw materials to a secular world that is advancing in technology in quantum leaps. They remain trapped in a world that is locked in the past while hating the worlds beyond their borders who are advancing to the future.

[piwo]

What disturbs me sciencewriter, is that the schools that teach whatever these illiterate masses do get, it hateful, retribution filled garbage. You bring a generation up on this, and well, you get Nazi Germany of 1939. Mostly devout Catholic, a society of young people were told that the Jews were the evil essence of mankind, and exterminating them for the betterment of the Fatherland was not only just, but a duty.

How different is this in the Muslim world? And their leaders are not uneducated: quite the contrary. Many are educated at the finest universities around the world, gaining the tools to strike the helpless. In Missouri, we have the distinction at the University of Missouri, of Educating Sadam's top biological warfare specialist: the lady who was in his "cabinet". Educated right here in heartland of the USA. It's a scary world.

[kaima]

Very interesting article. The fellow does a good job at pointing out the failings of the culture, and it illuminates some of the challenges we have taken on in trying to introduce democracy to Iraq. I hope Iraq proves to be successful and provides the spark to inspire the rest of the world to follow. Given the population and the geographic area of the area he discusses, we would be quite strained to straighten out all those other countries as well as Iraq.

I did a search to find who the fellow is, and he seems to be a highly respected scientist in Israel. It is good to see that talent rises and surmounts ethnic conflicts. A quick glance at the other published texts of the speech seems to show the same text with no alterations, which is a good sign for no alterations for propaganda reasons.

I would like to read his opinions on a side issue - what effect he feels the use of US money and weapons has had on the Arab psyche and how much that has contributed to their hatred of out country. He did a great job of defining their cultural / governmental weaknesses. It would be interesting to see what he would suggest we & the Israelis are doing right, or what we could do differently to address this burgeoning conflict.

Kai

[sciwriter]

Piwo & Kai, good points:
Piwo, I'm referring to education = propaganda for the masses, not the elite in the Muslim world.l; Before WW2, many Nazi leaders were educated in USA, e.g., Baldur Von Shirac modelled Hitler Jugend after USA Boy Scouts plus guns.

Kai, So far USA & israel have told the Muslim world they've used weapons in self defense. How can they change their tune? Carl