Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Politics : Idea Of The Day -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: IQBAL LATIF who wrote (42269)	3/28/2002 3:44:42 AM
From: IQBAL LATIF	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 50167

Two thoughts, two divergences, Crown Prince Abdullah did concede that this is "a turbulent juncture in history"; that was the closest he came to mentioning 9-11. But, he declared, "in spite of all that has happened -- and what may still happen -- the primary issue in the heart and mind of every person in our Arab and Islamic nation is the restoration of legitimate rights in Palestine, Syria and Lebanon." And this..... U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan, who addressed the Arab summit, made a good start; he offered a quite different description of the hearts and minds of average Arabs. "Your peoples . . . yearn for the opportunities of free and open societies characterized by good governance, human rights, freedom of expression and the rule of law," he said. "Only in this way can poverty, illiteracy and extremism be replaced by peace, stability and prosperity." He's right; and the war on terrorism will not be won until his ideas replace Israel as the focus of an Arab summit. © 2002 The Washington Post Company My comments.... The fact mentioned by Kofi Anan were ignored by the summit participants, as we all in our region would never accept the right of popular will and the writ of popular majority. Kofi Annan articulated them well, it is not always the struggle and open-ended conflict that make ways for peace it is also the understanding of our backwardness and self pity, the societies fail because they don't give enough freedom of expression to their people.. When was the last time pluralism was portrayed as an acceptable option of change in the Arab land. In absence of peaceful change the onus shifts on radicals who have their own extremist agenda, the governments to avoid any reference to popular will more often than not popularise these demons by singing from the same script. Imagine King Abdullah of Jordon as a result of sore throat and Mubarak citing domestic priorities boycotted the summit to please the home grown radicals, they would eliminate them if they give their societies a chance of freedom of expression and freedom.