by Jack Lee
Unrest in Muslim countries is spreading like a highly contagious infection and virtually every Arab nation is now bracing for an uprising. Tunisia, Egypt, Iran, Bahrain, Yemen, Libya and most recently Djibouti. Will Saudi Arabia be next? I would imagine that the royal family is quietly moving a lot of their gold to a Swiss vault.
Did you ever expect to see huge mobs in the streets of Tripoli protesting Kadafhy? This is amazing to me and I hope every revolt succeeds, these dictatorships have to go.
The irresistible desire for personal and economic freedom has been bubbling just under the surface of Arab nations for many years and that’s because they’re all despots in one form or another and their people are fed up!
Make no mistake; this is huge, you’re watching profound history in the making. This is far, far more than a mere political reform movement. Its a flash-fire for basic human rights and it will reshape the Arab world. This is also going to have a dramatic impact on Islam. The risks are enormous because some nations could revert to even more repressive regimes if they follow in the Ayatollah model, but its more likely moderate societies will emerge.
Be careful what you wish for. It unclear at best as to who is behind all this and what their end game is.
I know Toby and you’re right, there are definitely risks here. But, I don’t mind seeing a few dictatorships go down.
As to who is behind all this, I think there are so many players its impossible to tell.
No matter what happens eventually people will gravitate to the side of humanity, as cynical as I am I still have to believe that. Dictatorships and their counterparts like communism, fascism and theocracies tend to really tick people off and eventually they force a revolt on themselves an implode.
Jack said no matter what happens eventually people will gravitate to the side of humanity, as cynical as I am I still have to believe that.
I’m afraid that is wishful thinking, like George Bush saying people will naturally choose democracy, or the Little Rascals singing “people everywhere just want to be free.” The sad truth is that in the history of mankind and even in the present world, democracies of any type are rare. The world abounds with monarchies, dictatorships, socialism, communism, fascism, cults, tribalism, kingdoms, repressive religious orders, and brutal rulers of all colors.
Soaps, I know it is trivial but the song you referenced was done by “The Rascals” not “The Little Rascals”. Alfala and Spanky were good but not that good.
Soaps, I hear you and we can’t deny our history. It is what it is – and it’s pretty awful. So, your point is well taken. However, keep in mind there are many exceptions to man’s inhumanity to man. Following almost every repressive regime there is some sort of great upheaval where people cast off that oppression… an action verses reaction kind of thing. Unfortunately freedom is fragile is easily lost and history proves it.. Yes, bad things happen all the time, especially when you live in a fragile environment.
Germany was called the crossroads of Europe because foreign armies usually had to pass through it to wage war on somebody else. Thus, being geographically challenged Germany was continually under siege. Yet by the end of the 19th century they had repeatedly bounced back to be one of the more free and prosperous nations in Europe. Germany’s great evolutionary movement came to a temporary halt thanks to a treaty, misinformation and blunder called WW One and that set the stage for the next blunder, the National Socialists and they took Germany all the way to the bottom. But, despite this huge setback they still recovered and again they are one of the most free and prosperous nations in Europe. I would like to think we can all be like that.
Digressing a bit, but it seems to me the one thing that holds a movement on course for the longest time is religion. This brings up Islam and where its headed with our current revolts across the Middle East.
In the most basic terms Islam began as unifying, moral movement. (Ironically it was modeled after Judaism.) It became powerful and true to the sayingpower corrupts. It morphed into a mix of varying degrees of repression. Christianity had a similar fate, but it recovered from its dark period to continue as a moral, peace movement. Islam is suffering from the same struggle, but its in our time where its readily visible. Where it goes next remains to be seen, but the odds are it will evolve like Christianity. The fanatics never last long – they burn out and what replaces them are moderates or a whole new something else.
This is why I say history may be full of bad examples of our human inhumanity. Yet, there are still many examples of progress toward being more humane (and free). Regarding Islam, the scales could tip either way right now, but no matter what happens eventually well be going in the right direction. Anyway, thats my theory and Im sticking with it!
I’m a great fan of your theory, Jack. We need more of this attitude in the world. 🙂
Thanks Chris, sometimes when all else fails all we have left is our optimism for a better day tomorrow.