What’s Wrong with the Arab World? - Are the Arabs really this stupid?

National Review ^ | March 31, 2003 | Jonah Goldberg

[nicollo]

Btw, some Harvard types released a paper recently about the benefits of non-lineal thinking of asians as comparied to the linear, logical thinking of westerners. The study set up different thought obstacles and problems and valued how subjects managed them. There were some problems that the asian subjects simply couldn't comprehend. Otherwise, they found that on other problems the asian thinking was more effective at solving certain complexities, especially ones involving contradictions, something westerners have trouble with.

Lawrence puts the Arab thought process somewhere in between, or both, perhaps, thus his comment, "they oscillated from asymptote to asymptote."

The modern academy tries to view cultures in relative, value-free terms. What I like about that academic paper is that it admits of cultural differences and gives value to them. The paper didn't go as far as Lawrence to actually apply it to a generality in culture, but it could. It'd help understand many of the contradictions in China, I would think.

I'm not looking to insult. I see in those quotations some good analogies to the situation we have here, especially the twisted relationships between islamicists and secular despots, as well as the general and self-defeating distrust Arabs hold towards the U.S.

[RightWhale]

Now, it's genocide to me. Is the American government trying to exterminate Arabs?"

If they were doing that, those bombs from B-52s wouldn't be smart bombs. They would be load after load of big, dumb bombs until they were bouncing rubble.

They wouldn't bother with checkpoints to let civilians through.

The State Department and the Army wouldn't be advertising for and training Arabic translators.

[FITZ]

Iranians have told me that Arabs are just weird.

[mabelkitty]

The thinking Arabs are no different then all of us thinking Conservatives.

We rejected the liberal indoctination only at our own will and the help of others.

The Arabs never had the opportunity to seek out the opposition, but now they will.

[EaglesUpForever]

Beat me to it, shucks...

[nicollo]

Sorry to load up on you, but your post provokes these thoughts. Generally, minority groups in America have been jealous of their homelands. It's more a function of status, or an excercise of power, than any specific loyalties. Most Amercians of the 19th century were of English descent. Most Americans then loathed England. Go figure.

So we have it today that Arabs and muslims in the U.S. have hidden behind American tolerance and their own outrage at Isreal. The noise of their hate for Isreal is sadly unaccompanied by equal contempt for Bin Laden and Saddam and the generally horrid state of Arab politics. It is self-defeating, for it leaves the impression of sympathy with America's enemies. The only Arab groups I've heard that support this war are Iraqi exiles. What's the difference between them and other Arabs in the country?

I don't know if you are muslim, as many Lebanese who have come here are jews and christians. And I don't know that christian arabs are politically oriented any better than the muslims.

[Publius6961]

BUMP

[dreamerintexas]

i enjoy reading these points, and will clarify my position if needed. i am absolutley for the removal of the current iraqi leadership, by whatever means necessary. i am absolutely for the destruction of al-queada and all those involved. people who know me, know my history and know my views. i consider myself an american first, born to lebanese parents...and at the same time very proud of my heritage, but very, very thankful i was raised and educated in the usa. it will take generations of "unbiased" education in arab countries to achieve any of our goals. just have to figure out a way to do the same thing with liberals.

[Pylot]

I lived in the Middle East for a year. Not that I am an authority on it, but I met some real nice people who are of the Muslim religion. They were not rabid, in fact they were some of the most decent people I have ever met.

Imagine trying to put forth a reasoned argument in the midst of a crowd of uneducated and emotionally charged people like the ones in the crowds you describe.

That is more intimidating than a gun to your head!

[CaptRon]

Summer Said

Meanwhile, her colleague, Buffy Muhammad, at the Arab Times said...

[expatguy]

bump for later read

[schu]

Great thoughts, especially the one about Bush taking a big risk by trying to “modernize” the Arabs and the Mideast, thank you.

It seems that we are taking a huge risk with this Iraq war. GWB is trying to head off what is clearly developing into a clash of civilizations between Islam and Christianity. I believe his hope is that we can apply enough penicillin to the Iraq infection to avert a future catastrophe. If we can start the growth of open and democratic institutions in the Mideast in Iraq and if it spills over to Iran, Syria and even Saudi Arabia, then there is a possibility that this future clash of civilizations can be averted.

Unfortunately I am not optimistic. There just seems to be too many forces that are against this idea, all for their own selfish reasons. Frankly I have to admit when I watch Fox and see the pictures of our finest who have given the ultimate; it is easy to think it all a waste. I hope I am wrong.

[nicollo]

lol!

I've long said on this forum that the only chance for resolution in the Middle East will be this war. The crisis will force issues, and create opportunities where none existed before.

For the American Left, there is no hope.

[happygrl]

GWB is trying to head off what is clearly developing into a clash of civilizations between Islam and Christianity.

Yes, I agree with both your propositions. GWB is thinking "outside the box" and realizes that the only way to create peace in the ME is to nurture democracy. His model for that is the nurturance of constitutional democracies in Japan and Germany as we both know.

I believe the clash of civilizations is well underway, and on every continent, funded by our "friends" the Saudis. They are in South America, the Carribean, all throughtout Africa, Europe, Asia, the Pacific and Australia. And of course, in this country, using our own notions of freedom of speech and religion as a weapon against us. For these reasons I agree with your following statements:

Unfortunately I am not optimistic. There just seems to be too many forces that are against this idea, all for their own selfish reasons.

Frankly I have to admit when I watch Fox and see the pictures of our finest who have given the ultimate; it is easy to think it all a waste. I hope I am wrong.

I grieve for our finest as well. We must remember that the impetus for this war is also our own security, the mission to remove the weapons that threaten us from the region. A merciful component to the inhabitants of that region is the chance to develop democracies. If they fail to take advantage of the opportunity they are afforded at this time, any further threats from this region should, and will I hope, be met with devastating consequences.

[happygrl]

GWB is trying to head off what is clearly developing into a clash of civilizations between Islam and Christianity.

Yes, I agree with both your propositions. GWB is thinking "outside the box" and realizes that the only way to create peace in the ME is to nurture democracy. His model for that is the nurturance of constitutional democracies in Japan and Germany as we both know.

I believe the clash of civilizations is well underway, and on every continent, funded by our "friends" the Saudis. They are in South America, the Carribean, all throughtout Africa, Europe, Asia, the Pacific and Australia. And of course, in this country, using our own notions of freedom of speech and religion as a weapon against us. For these reasons I agree with your following statements:

Unfortunately I am not optimistic. There just seems to be too many forces that are against this idea, all for their own selfish reasons.

Frankly I have to admit when I watch Fox and see the pictures of our finest who have given the ultimate; it is easy to think it all a waste. I hope I am wrong.

I grieve for our finest as well. We must remember that the impetus for this war is also our own security, the mission to remove the weapons that threaten us from the region. A merciful component to the inhabitants of that region is the chance to develop democracies. If they fail to take advantage of the opportunity they are afforded at this time, any further threats from this region should, and will I hope, be met with devastating consequences.

[chasio649]

read later

[chasio649]

I'm glad you see that we are in Iraq to kill the regime and disarm it....liberation of the iraqis is a feel good side note...democracy...hmmm...better be careful what they will vote for...think the palestinians will vote for a forward thinking moderate?