Arabs lag behind in digital revolution

AFP and Yahoo news ^ | 11 March 06 | Not specified

[SkyPilot]

"But Arab countries generally suffer problems related to infrastructure, poverty and illiteracy -- particularly digital illiteracy," he said.

I was walking through the streets of Amsterdam a few years ago, and the section was predominantly composed of Muslim immigrants.

There were hundreds of able bodied young men, sitting on park benches and street corners, drinking tea, smoking, and arguing with each other (mostly arguing). They talked and talked and talked.

There was one man working, and he was the one selling tea and cigarettes.

The Arab world is extremely unproductive. If it were not for oil revenues, I cannot imagine the level of poverty it would be in.

Furthermore, I don't believe there ever was a "Golden Age of Islam" for science and mathematics.

Whatever achievements they claim were lifted entirely from Greek, Roman, and other cultures that they looted and plundered.

[hometoroost]

It's tough to master 21st century technology when you live in the 12th.

[31R1O]

Really, I understand that after the fall of Rome that Present day Iraq was the center of science, medicine and many other arts.

[Thebaddog]

What's with all the terrorists using the internet? Is that blarney, or the 4% elite?

[Right Wing Assault]

When they can work out an acceptable design for burkas to cover those sexy desktop and laptop screens, then maybe they can make some progress for the first time in a thousand years.

[Right Wing Assault]

What's with all the terrorists using the internet? Is that blarney, or the 4% elite?

I think the only Islamic use for the internet is to bring down Western culture. Then they can shut down that pesky internet. So, you are right. It makes sense that only terrorists should be allowed to use it.

[Publius6961]

Arabs lag behind in digital revolution

There is little good to say about the state of the world today; this is one of the bright spots.

It's a good thing.

Imagine high technology in the hands of hate-filled apes...

[Publius6961]

"The Arab presence on the Internet is almost zilch ... not more than a few websites providing information or personal sites," said Syrian Telecommunications and Technology Minister Amr Salem.

Mr Salem may be ashamed to say it, rightfully so, but I'm not:

98% of the arab presence on the internet is related directly or indirectly to mass murder, mayhem and destruction.
Not exactly a legacy to be proud of a few hundred years hence.

[tkathy]

I wonder how many women and girls have free access to the internet? I would like to see statistics on this.

[goldstategop]

The real reason the Arab Internet doesn't exist is due to the same reason it doesn't exist in Cuba. It would destroy the Arab regimes' power - the same regimes that have kept their people backward, illiterate and bereft of hope for a century. So its completely understandable they don't want freedom to break the dam that keeps Arabs mired in the past.

(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie. Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")

[rbg81]

That was my thought. The Arab presence on the Internet appears to be almost entirely devoted to Jihad or phony charities raising $$ for Jihad.

[varg]

Yep. Even in Dubai you have to go to the free zones (where all the rich White people live) to have uncensored Internet access.

[goldstategop]

These servers are all hosted outside Arab countries. There is virtually no Internet infrastructure in most Arab countries to speak of. So the very technology that could transform the Arab World remains banned for it would also bring with the winds of freedom in its wake. And the Arab regimes are not prepared to adopt a technology they cannot completely control.

(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie. Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")

[opinionator]

Yeah, but they did invent 'zero'. As soon as they invent 'one' they will breach the digital divide.

[varg]

Well, the Left likes to claim that the terrorists are all the poor and impovrished Arabs, but that's hardly from the truth. Most of the terrorists are the doctors, the lawyers, the engineers, architects, construction workers (Bin Laden & Co.), etc.

[Duke Wayne]

Is there any schools in the Arab world other than schools that teach hatred for anyone who is not of the Islamic faith?

I mean this in all seriousness, do they have any type of higher learning over there, or do they all leave that area, come back or not come back. They have all the money to have the finest schools yet they live like it was the middle ages and then we wonder why this group of idiots cant get with the progress that the world has made.

This might be the biggest problem these people have. They are for the most part mental midgets. They don't know if they are on foot or horseback, yet they want to tell civilized nations how to run things.

[varg]

No, they didn't. They stole that from the Indians.

[varg]

Yes, the ones that have "American" in front of their name (such as the American University in Cairo), or use an American curriculum for foreigner's kids such as oil engineers.

[varg]

The word zero comes ultimately from the Arabic ṣifr (صفر) meaning empty or vacant, a literal translation of the Indian Sanskrit śūnya meaning void or empty. :)

[rbg81]

I do find it ironic that the "Information Superhighway", the pinnacle of Western technological achievement, is being exploited by those who would destroy Western civilization. In a way its like the excellent roads built by the Roman Empire. The roads helped Rome expand and maintain its empire. In the end, however, the roads also made it easier for the Barbarians to invade & conquer Rome. Now the Internet is being used to incite the Muslim masses and coordinate terrorist activities. Just goes to show that technology is a double-edged sword.