Arab World Poverty -- Whose Fault?

Capitalism Magazine ^ | 11/18/01 | Larry Elder

[Jean S]

"Muslims love to live in the U.S. but also love to hate it. Many openly claim that the U.S. is a terrorist state but they continue to live in it. Their decision to live here is testimony that they would rather live here than anywhere else. As an Indian Muslim, I know for sure that nowhere on earth, including India, will I get the same sense of dignity and respect that I have received in the U.S."

Arab World Poverty -- Whose Fault?
By Larry Elder (November 18, 2001)

[CAPITALISMMAGAZINE.COM] "I don't have the knowledge to blame a government," said Bakhtiar Khan, an Afghan man in his mid-twenties. "I don't know about politics, but for our problems I blame the world community. All humans should be equal, but we are not. You ask me who is to blame. You find out who is to blame."

Khan, according to a recent New York Times piece on the origins of Islamic extremism, earns a subsistence level income making bricks in a pit outside the city of Peshawar, an Afghan city of 2 million, nearly 50 percent refugees. When asked about his life, he says, "Life is cruel. You can see for yourself. You wear nice clothes and are healthy. But look at us. We have no clothes to wear and we are not healthy. Your question is amazing."

So, who is to blame?

A recent story on Afghan schools described a teacher who holds up a wealth pie chart. America, she shows her students, controls this huge slice of the pie, leaving a tiny sliver for us Afghans. The not-so-subtle point? Afghans suffer poverty because of America's disproportionate wealth.

But no, Khan lacks the "knowledge to blame a government." For, through knowledge, Khan would discover that his poverty stems from corrupt, dictatorial governments, the absence of capitalism and free trade, and the lack of individual rights and the rule of law. But who, in the Arab world, spreads this message?

Dr. Muqtedar Khan, director of International Studies at Adrian College in Michigan, challenges American Muslims to set the masses straight: "While we loudly and consistently condemn Israel for its ill treatment of Palestinians, we are silent when Muslim regimes abuse the rights of Muslims and slaughter thousands of them. Remember Saddam and his use of chemical weapons against Muslims (Kurds)? Remember Pakistani army's excesses against Muslims (Bengalis)? Remember the Mujahideen of Afghanistan and their mutual slaughter? Have we ever condemned them for their excesses? Have we demanded international intervention or retribution against them? Do you know how the Saudis treat their minority Shiis? Have we protested the violation of their rights? But we all are eager to condemn Israel; not because we care for rights and lives of the Palestinians, we don't. We condemn Israel because we hate 'them.'

"Muslims love to live in the U.S. but also love to hate it. Many openly claim that the U.S. is a terrorist state but they continue to live in it. Their decision to live here is testimony that they would rather live here than anywhere else. As an Indian Muslim, I know for sure that nowhere on earth, including India, will I get the same sense of dignity and respect that I have received in the U.S. No Muslim country will treat me as well as the U.S. has. If what happened on Sept. 11 had happened in India, the biggest democracy, thousands of Muslims would have been slaughtered in riots on mere suspicion and there would be another slaughter after confirmation. But in the U.S., bigotry and xenophobia has been kept in check by media and leaders ...

"It is time that we acknowledge that the freedoms we enjoy in the U.S. are more desirable to us than superficial solidarity with the Muslim World. If you disagree, then prove it by packing your bags and going to whichever Muslim country you identify with. If you do not leave and do not acknowledge that you would rather live here than anywhere else, know that you are being hypocritical.

"It is time that we faced these hypocritical practices and struggled to transcend them. It is time that American Muslim leaders fought to purify their own lot."

But only a few weeks ago, Arab leaders condemned Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi for calling Western civilization "superior" because it "guarantees respect for human rights and religion." Harsh criticism forced him to recant his "racist" statement. But if we call Berlusconi's remarks "racist," in what category do we place the statement made by Abdulrahman Awadi, formerly a high-ranking official in Kuwait? When Kuwait learned that Sulaiman abu Ghaith, a Kuwaiti citizen, had become a top lieutenant with Osama bin Laden, Kuwait revoked abu Ghaith's citizenship. Awadi said, "This is a wake-up call that we have to be very careful with freedom. Democracy and freedom of choice may be good for Western cultures, but for the Gulf countries, those are dangerous things. These people are using freedom to achieve their ends."

Who is to blame?

Countries like Saudi Arabia and Egypt suffer double-digit unemployment rates, estimated as high as 25 percent. Grinding poverty and religious zealotry, wrapped around a blanket of government-led scapegoating of Israel, the United States and the West -- all combine to form a dangerous and deadly Third World victicrat mindset. Blame triumphs over enlightenment, and anger defeats reason.

CREATORS SYNDICATE COPYRIGHT 2001 LAURENCE A. ELDER

 

[johniegrad]

I agree with both your points.

[timestax]

Heck yeah! Those able bodied men need to work, NOT pose with weapons, and "people watch" all day long!

[timestax]

Oh, Gee.....I think I just described where America is headed..... 52 posted on 11/25/01 12:38 PM Pacific by joathome

YIKES!

[maestro]

Logic says, al-qaida!!

[!1776!]

"Everybody is to blame." WRONG Bucko. I am NOT responsible in any way for the poverty of another. I don't steal, take unfair advantage, or co-opt anything from these people. If you want to accept blame or some of the blame, so be it. But keep me out of it!

Well, it's obvious that we're all in it together.

You got a mouse in your pocket or what? We are not all in it together, the simple fact that every human exists on the same spinning globe doesn't mean that we are all "in it" together.

We all need to take responsibility for it.

Why? I worked my @$$ of in high school to get into a good college. Since the age of 16 when I wasn't in school or sleeping, most of the time I was at work - earning what I needed to accomplish some of the things I wanted to do.

I got into college, worked my way through it, earned 2 B.S. degrees in 5 years, and a Masters in 2. Who took responsibility for that - nobody but me (glad my parents brought me up right though).

Left my college job on Friday, started at my first "real" job on the following Tuesday - didn't need time off to find myself, just get to work, put in the effort, and see what I could make of myself.

Here is a quick clue, if everyone started becoming responsible for their own actions, the world would be a whole lot better place. Don't babble about how I or anyone else is responsible for someone elses lot in life. We are all responsible for our own.

We are all, in some way shape or form, to blame.

For what working hard and earning our living? How does getting out of bed to go to work or school impart blame for for something? Just because I have managed to feed my family and buy some things doesn't mean I am to blame for someone not being able to, being kept from doing so, or more likely not choosing to do so.

Would you say that the USA had too lax an imigration policy?

Yes. I don't want to spend my hard earned dollars to feed someone unwilling to work for themselves. Putting in the effort, but can't make the ends meet, have my tax money, but you better be willing to put in the effort, allow oversight of your progress, and do what it takes to make a useful citizen of yourself.

Are you a voter?

Yes.

When's the last time you faxed or emailed your Congressional representative to let your opinions be known and counted?

About a month ago.

If indeed you have always been consciencious of your responsibilities in these democratic institutions, but then did you push everyone you know to also take part? Bucko?

Still looks like you are missing the real definition of responsibility, whether or not other people carry out the same types of actions as I do, in no way imparts a lack of duty on my part. They are free to make thir own decisions, and while I will let my opinions be known, that doesn't mean they have to listen or agree.

[a_Turk]

A responsible person! Nice to meet you! I take care of things too.

You are not directly and solely responsible for the plight of the Arabs. I never said that. All I meant was that the whole human race is responsible for its direction. It's a philosophical point. Even if there's nothing you can do, and you've done everything right, you are responsible. Coz if we're not, then who is?

Take for example Saddam. When the nations political will to fight on dwindled, the war had to be over. Whose fault is that? Yours? Mine? You tell me.

[!1776!]

A responsible person! Nice to meet you! I take care of things too.

That is all anyone can ask of his neighbors.

You are not directly and solely responsible for the plight of the Arabs. Of course I am not, other than maybe the fact that my great grandfather came from the middle east to make a living in the United States, and since then, each of his decendants have tried to continue making a good living.

I never said that.

The only type of responsibility that actually exists is personal responsibility. The idea of collective actions is nothing more than individual responsibilities acting to meet the same goal. Therefore, saying that the world is responsible for the plight of a given people auomatically implies sole and direct responsibility to each individual, though they may have no sole or direct relationship to the item under discussion.

All I meant was that the whole human race is responsible for its direction. It's a philosophical point.

I can no more determine whether another person will take on their own personal responsibilities than the secretary general of the united nations. I can be responsible for my actions, but a failure of someone else within the human race to live up to their responsibilities in no way confers a failure on my part in the direction of the human race. Philisophically, it doesn't get much more simple than that.

Even if there's nothing you can do, and you've done everything right, you are responsible. Coz if we're not, then who is?

The person affected, or affecting is always responsible. Unfortunately, in today's world, too many people think that spreading responsiblitiy around will bring about some kind of solution when in fact only acceptancce of personal responsibility will.

Take for example Saddam. When the nations political will to fight on dwindled, the war had to be over. Whose fault is that? Yours? Mine? You tell me.

If our goals were accomplished, we fulfilled our respnsibilities, whether or not that accomplished everyone elses goals is their responsibility to determine and therefore take action to implement. For the record, my support went to taking Bahgdad, ending a regime that has brutally killed civillians and dissentors, and stringing Hussein from a light pole for everyone to see.

Time for me to sleep, good night.

[timestax]

They need to quit spending all their oil money for tanks, and landmines, Toyota Pick-up trucks, grenade launchers,etc. and start construction of infrastructure to put those "people watchers" to work!

[ArGee]

Rule of law means the people's elected officials have made the laws, and they can be unmade by the same democratic process.

It also means that the leaders are subject to the same laws as the rest of the people.

Which counts the U.S. out, I guess, since X42 got his pass.

Shalom.

[ArGee]

The real problem is that none of us really cares...

Jesus cares, and so does His church. And it continues to try to help, even when it can be persecuted for doing so.

Unfortunately, I'd agree with you that most of the followers of Jesus don't care as much as He does.

Shalom.

[timestax]

It's probably more complex than that, ya think? 69 posted on 11/26/01 6:50 AM Pacific by sean999

I'm too busy to fully reply to your atacking post, as I have to get back to work. I work for as living, unlike those Arabs, that just pose with their machine guns, and "people watch" all day long. And this has been going on for decades!

[timestax]

It's probably more complex than that, ya think? 69 posted on 11/26/01 6:50 AM Pacific by sean999

I'm too busy to fully reply to your atacking post, as I have to get back to work. I work for as living, unlike those Arabs, that just pose with their machine guns, and "people watch" all day long. And this has been going on for decades!

[Republic of Texas]

You know that people do care. Usually it's on a one-on-one basis, but people will help others. Just less likely to do it if the others protest against them and blow up their buildings and people.

[maestro]

Your# 72) Yup!!

'Arab World Poverty -- Whose Fault?'

One more time,..............................The Answer is: as logic points directly to...........The al-Qaida and ALL its 'families'.

[timestax]

bumpity upity

[timestax]

bump

[timestax]

bump!

[timestax]

bump

[freeforall]

"You are not directly and solely responsible for the plight of the Arabs. I never said that. All I meant was that the whole human race is responsible for its direction. It's a philosophical point. Even if there's nothing you can do, and you've done everything right, you are responsible. Coz if we're not, then who is?"

I sort of agree the Philosophy a society chooses will determine it's relative gains or losses.

"the absence of capitalism and free trade, and the lack of individual rights and the rule of law."

The only solution to poverty and dictatorships is freedom as defined by the above.The American revolution was the embracing of Individual freedom and if other nations did the same we would see the unleashing of great creativity and prosperity.