[Mr. Mulliner]

I think I'd have to find more support for some of the things that Glazov asserts here, but what he says does seem to make sense and is fascinating to point out the vast differences in worldview between the Arab world and the West.

[MissAmericanPie]

They are a bunch of skitzoid, spoiled, lazy, liars, I think he pegged it.

[Ratatoskr]

I don't mean this to be as rude as it sounds, but isn't all this an elaborate way of saying Arabs are stupid and lazy?

[BunnySlippers]

An interesting analysis. Thanks for posting.

[SocialMeltdown]

...Arab language is much more based on its poetic and musical quality

Years ago, muslims used to assert that the Quran couldn't be translated. By that they meant that it was written in a poetic langauge and that any translation would fail to maintain the meaning and nuances of poetic language.

I find it curious that since 9/11, no muslim has been making that arguement.

I think it may have to do with the large and growing number of native-born muslims in the United States. I don't believe that they are using arab languge Qurans. Arab immigrants are more than likely using untranslated text but there are plenty of Eglish language versions around.

[Woahhs]

ping!

[Woahhs]

Gee, where have we seen these traits before?
More concern for "feelings" about something than the objective reality of same...
HEY, we're in a shooting war against LIBERALS!

I could be convinced to like this...

[Fiddlstix]

......Saying that you are going to do something can often become much more significant than actually doing it.....

I'm met a few people like that in my life.
Not Arabs either.
Come to think of it, sounds rather like Clintoon
Don't ya think?

[FreedomPoster]

The next thread I opened was this:

Culture Crash: A conversation with William Langewiesche, the author of "The Crash of EgyptAir 990,"

In it we find this quote:

The Egyptian investigators professed outrage at the idea that the crash would be called intentional, which they seemed to feel was a cultural slight.

Sure does back up some of Glazov's assertions, doesn't it?

[wimpycat]

My own personal theory is that Arabs don't think in a straight line. I know from personal experience that they're not logical thinkers. Case in point: our Bible goes in chronological order. It starts at the beginning and ends at the end. The Koran wanders hither and thither, has no chronological order and is very repetitive and chaotic. Our holy books are indicitave of our pattern of thinking.

Arabs also tend to be fatalistic. Whenever something happens, it's "God's will". Someone fall in a pit? God's will. Someone get their legs run over while they were working on their car with their legs sticking out into the street (they really do this in Cairo)? God's will again. It's either God's will or an evil Zionist/American pig plot to destroy the Arabs.

[LTCJ]

...there is often little motivation for Arabs to take action for change or to evaluate critically their own circumstances.
... The result is that many Arabs often do not end up feeling a sense of responsibility for their own failures. To admit that a problem is one's own fault brings humiliation upon one's self and also shames the group's honor. Thus, the obsession with avoiding shame cancels out the possibility of truthful self-reflection and examination.
When a problem is confronted in the Arab world, a hidden enemy is often imagined.

Interesting excercise: Substitute well known Democratic constituency groups for the word "Arab" above and apply the "does this sentence still make sense" test.

[IronJack]

The geographical milieu in the Middle East has given rise to a culture that is vastly different from ours. Those who expect Arabs to respond to a given stimulus the same way Westerners do are simply deluded. The principles that guide our lives don't necessarily govern theirs. Contrary to what the multiculturalists would have you believe, not all people have even fundamental values in common.

[IronJack]

For a similar perspective, see this link.

[The Energizer]

Saying that you are going to do something can often become much more significant than actually doing it. Words serve as substitutes for acts.

I didn't know Bill Clinton was Arabic!

[ZULU]

"They see the world through the perspective of all Arabs being brothers – children of one single nation. And this is why Arabs strongly believe that there is such a thing as an Arab personality, which they call shakhsiyya."

They see the world through the perspective of all Germans being brothers – children of one single nation. And this is why Germans strongly believe that there is such a thing as an Aryan personality, which they call Herrenvolklichskeit. - Similar comment might have been made in 1939.

[arthurus]

to find more support for some of the things that Glazov asserts

My father used to say much of the same things about Arabs after
he came back from a stint as a UN Truce observer in Syria in 1965.

[CathyRyan]

An Arab complains about how they are being treated in this country tell them it is Allah's will.
Bomb them back into the stoneage an say it is Allah's will.
Take back our oil fields and tell them it is Allah's will.
Take their bank accounts and use the money to rebuild the WTC and let them it is Allah's will.
...You get the idea.

Works for me and it sounds like a plan that will work for them.

[ZeitgeistSurfer]

We should always remember to distinguish between the Arab Christians in this country and the Arab Moslems. In the war that is coming (or is already here), they could become a valuable asset in infiltrating and routing out the large fifth column.

[CathyRyan]

Maybe it is more genetic than culture. These people have not moved from the birth of their origins for thousand upon thousands of years. The people that left the area thousands of years ago were looking for something different, better and the ones that stayed were content with same old same old. It would explain why American and other later settled countries are at the forefront of technology. Why some in the old country stayed and fought the same old tired wars of tribalism and religion, a small group hit the road to find some thing better for the future. Just like I would think that if we ever develop space travel to other worlds there we be some who would be standing in line ready to go while others you could not get them off earth with a bomb strapped to their butts. Could it be they simply do not have the genetic make up necessary to get up of their collective behinds and do something?

[ThreeOfSeven]

A more general point: Liberal Western culture emphasizes personal autonomy and freedom of religion while conservative Muslim culture emphasizes social goals from an Islamic orientation.

As an example, conservative Muslim societies seclude women so men will not see them and be tempted to engage in lustful thoughts or deeds. Liberal Western societies allow women to go about uncovered so men have personal responsibility to resist temptation.

[MHGinTN]

Good writer, and insightful! Enjoyed the article; thank you Yank. Had you not posted this, I wouldn't have come across it in my routine.