What
Arabs write about the West and Westerners is very important both for
themselves and for Americans and Europeans. But the real problem surfaces
instantly when such writings become justifications for questioning the
very idea of democracy, and an excuse for authoritarian and totalitarian
views. The argument then is framed in the following manner: if both
European and Americans versions of democracy are a sham, there is no
guarantee for the Arab version of democracy to be any better. Therefore
there is no need for Westerners to lecture us about a democracy that does
not really exist.
But
is it not rather shocking that [while these criticisms of the West are
going on,] hardly any mention has been made of the many prisons that are
scattered throughout the Arab world, such as Mazza (near
Damascus
), or Abu Zaabal (near
Cairo
)? Compare that with the continuing mention of Abu Ghraib!
The
real question is not whether there should be a critique of the West, since
such a critique is salutary and necessary. However its moral rectitude is
not validated unless and until there is a parallel critique of our
societies and our sates, both in the past and at present. It is not right
to critically examine every aspect of Western history, while not engaging
in anything similar with respect to the history of Arab societies. Neither
is it fair to learn everything about slavery in the Unites States, and
ignore the slavery that existed in the Arab world. Have we ever reflected
on the fact that the Ottoman Caliphate never developed into a democracy?
Do we ever give a thought as to why the Kurds desire to secede from
Iraq
, and why the Southern Sudanese do not trust a unified
Sudan
? [Have we ever pondered the fact] that while the Arab world occupies the
same amount of territory as the
United States
and possesses a similar number of people, it shows no progress at all? Do
we realize that our exports, with exception of petroleum, do not exceed
those of
Finland
!?
It is
indeed refreshing to read these lines and think about their impact on a
young Arab person who has the ability to access the Internet, and read
similar articles that appear at the Al-Sharq
Al-Awsat site.
Some of these young people may live in
Syria
and would be fully aware of the existence of the notorious Sijn al-Mazza. They may
even wonder why the article failed to refer to the concentration camps at Tadmor
(
Palmyra
) in the
Syrian Desert
! As for an Egyptian reader, he may even know someone who had spent time
at the notorious Abu
Zaabal jail.
Here is
another sentence worth quoting:
It is not proper to
critically examine every aspect of Western history, while not engaging in
anything similar with respect to the history of Arab societies.
These are
very strong words. I don’t remember hearing anything like them when
growing up in the
Levant
during the French presence there, between 1918 and 1946. At that time,
as Arab nationalism was rising, fuelled by the Allies’ failing to
fulfill their promises for independence made during WWI, it was not
difficult to regard Western democracy as a sham. But after more than half
a century of independence from
Britain
and
France
after WWII, the
Middle East
was riddled with military coups and dictatorial regimes that embarked on
dangerous adventures, both at home and abroad. Strong feelings of
disillusionment have been growing for more than twenty five years; and
here at last, a writer expresses himself boldly by speaking out against
the sham and hypocrisy in the Arab camp!
Great as
these sentiments were by pointing to the shortcomings of Arab-Muslim
civilization,
I noticed
the usual mantras against the West, and specifically against the
USA
. Thus, a major flaw in the thinking of our “moderate” writer is that
while critiquing various aspect of European colonialism, he fails to
mention or even recognize Arab colonialism. To merely utter these words
would bring astonishment to Arab intellectuals; as it is an unthinkable
and unjustified charge.
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