I can accept this, but I would have preferred it if Muslims would have chosen "brotherly love" over "hate thy neighbor".
I opine that the major theme in the middle east since the destruction and division of the Ottoman Empire has been the struggle amongst various Arab factions to unite and rule over a unified Arab nation...
But that little westernized Jewish enclave called Israel is a MAJOR obstacle to such a plan, thus the hate that Arab leaders forment against the nation..
Islam is being cynically used to achieve completely secular political aspirations by the various Arab despots in the region. So one must look for the angle behind all of this public hatred, and the rational purpose for which it's being purposefully generated. It's the same methodology Hitler used to rise to power, and much of the Arab political leadership looked with great admiration upon what Hitler was able to achieve in unifying Germany under Nazism (Baathism and Egypt's Nasser are prime examples of this).
Your response surprises me. On SI, usually adversaries don't give an inch.
I don't see why that should be the case... The only adversary that I have is ignorant propaganda and heated dysfunctional rhetoric used by various individuals/groups who seek to avoid reality in order to advance some political agenda.
I completely agree with you that currently many Arabs spend a great deal of time complaining about discrimination against themselves, without acknowledging the orchestrated pattern of hatred they express against others..
But the only way to deal with this is to be forceful in demanding political and religious tolerance.
If you review many of my posts, you'll see where I have advocated reciprocity between the US and Saudi Arabia, especially with regard to travel permissions. Treating Saudis in the same manner in which they treat Americans traveling in their countrie... (surrendering their passports, requiring written permission to travel from one city to another, and requiring a sponsor who is responsible for every action of their guests)...
That's the only way we will change the mindset in these cultures... when we demand that they treat us with the same respect that we give to them..
You write very interesting, and substantive posts. I enjoyed our conversation.
Flattery will get all the forgiveness you desire.. :0)
However, I do write a lot of anti-Arab, anti-Muslim stuff. Sounds like a "bullseye".
Well, I don't like to categorize my views as "anti" anything... I prefer to perceive them as an opportunity to alter their mindsets into a far more fair minded and equitable relationship.. I don't hate anyone who doesn't directly claim to hate me.. And even then I'm patient (since I don't have to live with them.. :0)
It's like living with your parents... When you live there, it's under their rules. But when they live with you, it's under your own set of rules (in an ideal world.. :0)
The key thing is not to paint an entire people with a broad brush of resentment and hatred... as that generally only generates reciprocal hatred. It is far better to educate those who are willing to be educated towards more tolerant views.....
As for those who don't wish to be educated and tolerant, then we must fight fire with fire... temporarily losing our own civility in order to deal with them on their own terms.
Hawk
Hawk |
