Aneirin
Posts: 6121
Joined: 3/18/2006
From: Tamaris
Status: offline
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The aspect of the middle east I have a deep interest with, is the cultural aspect, it has always been so, their art and music I just love, and it is even influencing my own art work, for I am using something based on Cairo ware, the practice of inlaying metals into other metals, so history of the region I have to study. With my study I have long since come to the conclusion, the area now known as Turkey controlled most of the Arab world for the best part of a thousand years via various empires,the Mamluk and Ottoman empires, being the most famous, both empires spread their influence far and wide, for it can still be found in Arab countries that have long since thrown off the Turkish yoke. In fact I believe it was the dying British Empire that rid Arabia of the Ottomans, which the movie Lawrence of Arabia gives a bit of insight into, and the backroom wheeler dealing that went on because remember for one country to rid another country of an undesirable, there has to be something profitable in it for that helping nation, for trade has to have profit to motivate it.
Culturally, I am aware Victorian Britain meddled with the mindset of many of the region, created prejudice and rigidity where there was none before, but Victorian Britain is known as an age where everyone was prim and proper on the surface, but sleazy underneath, I pity those regions that tolerated the Victorian colonial mentality, a mentality that used and abused wherever it went, such was the arrogance of the colonial.
But back to the topic, I agree with Professor Kuran, regarding the fact that Islam it is not the entire problem, and by that, the entire solution, but what has to be remembered, is religion seems to ensnare the poor and oppressed so for any improvement to be made leading to a prosperous future, a future they had in the past, the poor have to be part of the solution, otherwise the poor under the banner of religion will resist any change, for it occurs religious leaders are in fact politicians and politicians as we know, do not tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth all the time, they only tell what they need others to know to get them motivated and there are many religious leaders that just love their position at the head of the pile. Position and power has the ability to change people, change them from the best into the worst as has been demonstrated worldwide with many a leader become tyrant.
But Islam many see as becoming more aggressive, what has to be asked is why it is becoming aggressive, what has happened to make it so, what is the antagonist ?
Israel, i don't believe it is entirely that, it annoys, that is obvious, but perhaps it has only become a focus due to something else, something else is responsible, what is it ?
Perhaps the current unrest in the region, people fighting for and seeking democracy is that thing, the right to be counted, not told how to live. I personally believe with a democratic Middle East Israel will be forgotten.
And with that, it is hoped Israel will deal with a democratic middle east to find a better solution for the Palestinian problem, as it occurs powerful nations will not deal with anyone when threat is all that is being offered.
< Message edited by Aneirin -- 3/12/2011 9:27:53 AM >
_____________________________
Everything we are is the result of what we have thought, the mind is everything, what we think, we become - Guatama Buddha
Conservatism is distrust of people tempered by fear - William Gladstone
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RE: Is Islam the Problem? - 
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