| Author |
Topic:
Middle East Politics Discussion v2.0
|
LostOnHoth
Registered:
Feb '00
|
Date Posted:
1/24/07 1:40pm
Subject:
RE: Middle East Politics Discussion v2.0
- Date Edited:
1/24/07 1:49pm (1 edits total)
Edited By:
LostOnHoth
|
Where is the Muslim Martin Luther King? Where is the “Million Muslim March” under the banner: “No Shiites, No Sunnis: We are all children of the Prophet Muhammad.”
Is it really that hard to understand? Replace "Shiites" and "Sunnis" with "Protestant" and "Catholic" and replace "Prophet Muhammad" with "God" and you'll get the idea.
Unfortunately, culturally in the Middle East at least, the divide is more prone elicit violence than the Catholic/Protestant divide does today in the West.
Having been to the Middle East quite a few times and having the opportunity to know Muslims in their own own country, it appears to me that there is this misconception in Western thought and media that 'religion' totally defines the person in Muslim countries. Whilst religion is obviously very important in terms of a person's belief, other social and cultural factors also play a major part in behaviour.
Pride, dignity and honour are also extremely culturally important. People in the Middle East are prone to anger quickly if they are offended. If a Sunni kills a Shia, don't assume it solely got to do with religious differences.
In Iraq for example, the sectarian violence and insurgency is more complicated than just a religious conflict. It's political, its social, it's cultural - it's revenge, retaliation, loss of honour, loss of dignity, loss of social structure, of stability - not just based upon religious convergence.
I've seen people arguing violently over whether a particular ingredient should be added to pita bread mixture before or after the salt is added - this argument came to blows. Western media would probably put it down to Sunnis and Shia not getting along but it has nothing to do with religion - it's a separate cultural characteristic.
I'm sure anyone who has spent time in the Middle East will agree.
-----signature-----
Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities - Voltaire
|
Locked Topic |
Active Topic Notification |
Private Message |
Post History
|
Ender_Sai
Title: Manager Emeritus
Registered:
Feb '01
|
Date Posted:
1/24/07 1:47pm
Subject:
RE: Middle East Politics Discussion v2.0
|
Agreed, Lost. Similarly, it's not as if the differences between Sunni, Shi'a, or any other branch of Islam are trivial - I think that was a somewhat underplayed statement, yankee.
E_S
-----signature-----
In this truth he knew himself to be.
From sinking sands he stepped into light's embrace.
|
Locked Topic |
Active Topic Notification |
Private Message |
Post History
|
Erk
Registered:
Aug '01
|
Date Posted:
1/25/07 5:36am
Subject:
RE: Middle East Politics Discussion v2.0
|
Especially comparing the muslim world with the black african-american community of the 60s seems really dumb. What do they have in common at all?
-----signature-----
"One man can change the world with a bullet in the right place." Mick Travis, If.... Blast. They've removed my icon.  U S A ! U S A ! U S A !
|
Locked Topic |
Active Topic Notification |
Private Message |
Post History
|
Alpha-Red
Registered:
Apr '04
|
Date Posted:
1/27/07 6:27pm
Subject:
RE: Middle East Politics Discussion v2.0
|
LostOnHoth posted:
In Iraq for example, the sectarian violence and insurgency is more complicated than just a religious conflict. It's political, its social, it's cultural - it's revenge, retaliation, loss of honour, loss of dignity, loss of social structure, of stability - not just based upon religious convergence.
Well, maybe it's a better thing that it's not a religious conflict, because if it were then there'd be less hope of ever solving it. On the other hand, the fact that it was possible to solve it but we haven't has to point to an unacceptable level of stupidity in certain political leaders and figureheads.
|
Locked Topic |
Active Topic Notification |
Private Message |
Post History
|
Ender_Sai
Title: Manager Emeritus
Registered:
Feb '01
|
Date Posted:
1/29/07 1:40pm
Subject:
RE: Middle East Politics Discussion v2.0
|
Israel has been hit by the first suicide attack on it's soil since April of last year.
HAMAS have not claimed responsibility but have defended the attack; it seems three different groups have all claimed responsibility.
My prediction - the Israeli security forces will (intentionally?) make the situation worse in a ham-fisted by joyously violent campaign to "root out" terrorists with an acceptable kill ratio of 21 innocents to one suspected terrorists per strike. This will aggrivate Palestinians into further acts of cowardly violence, which will intensify the Israeli response further etc etc.
E_S
-----signature-----
In this truth he knew himself to be.
From sinking sands he stepped into light's embrace.
|
Locked Topic |
Active Topic Notification |
Private Message |
Post History
|
Vaderize03
Title: Manager Emeritus
Registered:
Oct '99
|
Date Posted:
1/30/07 7:46am
Subject:
RE: Middle East Politics Discussion v2.0
|
They oughta just ignore it, and make the bombers look like the idiots that they are.
Peace,
V-03
-----signature-----
"Bring your pretty face to my axe....."
B-O-H-I-C-A !! (that was funny DM!)
"I'm what Willis was talking about"
|
Locked Topic |
Active Topic Notification |
Private Message |
Post History
|
Ender_Sai
Title: Manager Emeritus
Registered:
Feb '01
|
Date Posted:
5/24/07 3:15pm
Subject:
RE: Middle East Politics Discussion v2.0
|
Lebanon's currently fighting an Islamic militia taking refugee in Palestinian camps to the North.
Mr Bush said the terrorists were cowards (which they are), attacking a young democracy (which Lebanon is).
Correct me if I'm wrong, was it not still a young democracy when Israel attacked it?
Oh, I do love to see the spin this gets... 
E_S
-----signature-----
In this truth he knew himself to be.
From sinking sands he stepped into light's embrace.
|
Locked Topic |
Active Topic Notification |
Private Message |
Post History
|
SuperWatto
Registered:
Sep '00
|
Date Posted:
5/24/07 3:26pm
Subject:
RE: Middle East Politics Discussion v2.0
|
It sucks.
These are actual Palestinians, siding with Al Qaida. They tarnish the name of the Palestinians in a horrible way, and it does their case no good. Just when they need support so bad.
It sucks.
-----signature-----
TRACK THAT TRACK http://trackthattrack.blogspot.com frustrating you with sound
|
Locked Topic |
Active Topic Notification |
Private Message |
Post History
|
Mr44
Registered:
May '02
|
Date Posted:
5/24/07 4:00pm
Subject:
RE: Middle East Politics Discussion v2.0
|
As opposed to what? While I think I understand the sentiment you are trying to describe, it's important to distinguish the population from the political group.
The various Palestinian political groups have always suffered from their own shortsightedness, and have continued to cut their own nose of in spite of themselves through who they support. If this tarnishes the name of the cause, then that name has been tarnished a long time ago when the Palestinians historically supported, and in many cases continue to support, groups like Abul Nidal's Organization, Islamic Jihad, the al Aqsa Martyr Brigade, the militant wings of the Popular Fronts, and so on..
-----signature-----
Don’t confuse enthusiasm with capability.
..............................................................
Peter Shoomaker
|
Locked Topic |
Active Topic Notification |
Private Message |
Post History
|
Ender_Sai
Title: Manager Emeritus
Registered:
Feb '01
|
Date Posted:
5/24/07 4:03pm
Subject:
RE: Middle East Politics Discussion v2.0
|
And it's also worth noting that Siniora has been careful to distinguish between "[his] Palestinian brothers" and the militants.
E_S
-----signature-----
In this truth he knew himself to be.
From sinking sands he stepped into light's embrace.
|
Locked Topic |
Active Topic Notification |
Private Message |
Post History
|
SuperWatto
Registered:
Sep '00
|
Date Posted:
5/24/07 4:11pm
Subject:
RE: Middle East Politics Discussion v2.0
|
I'm talking general public opinion, not you TFN knowitalls 
-----signature-----
TRACK THAT TRACK http://trackthattrack.blogspot.com frustrating you with sound
|
Locked Topic |
Active Topic Notification |
Private Message |
Post History
|
Ender_Sai
Title: Manager Emeritus
Registered:
Feb '01
|
Date Posted:
5/24/07 4:13pm
Subject:
RE: Middle East Politics Discussion v2.0
- Date Edited:
5/24/07 4:14pm (1 edits total)
Edited By:
Ender_Sai
|
To be fair, it's just Mr44 and me that know everything.
(Read: "Me" )
E_S
-----signature-----
In this truth he knew himself to be.
From sinking sands he stepped into light's embrace.
|
Locked Topic |
Active Topic Notification |
Private Message |
Post History
|
Rogue_Follower
Title: Manager: Literature
Registered:
Nov '03
|
Date Posted:
6/14/07 2:36pm
Subject:
RE: Middle East Politics Discussion v2.0
|
|
This probably deserves a bump, in light of recent events...
|
Locked Topic |
Active Topic Notification |
Private Message |
Post History
|
Ender_Sai
Title: Manager Emeritus
Registered:
Feb '01
|
Date Posted:
6/14/07 2:41pm
Subject:
RE: Middle East Politics Discussion v2.0
|
Cheers RF, I was just listening to BBC Radio on the way to work, and heard about it.
Really just makes me shake my head. Not much else I can say...
E_S
-----signature-----
In this truth he knew himself to be.
From sinking sands he stepped into light's embrace.
|
Locked Topic |
Active Topic Notification |
Private Message |
Post History
|
Darth-Ghost
Registered:
Oct '03
|
Date Posted:
6/14/07 2:45pm
Subject:
RE: Middle East Politics Discussion v2.0
|
|
What can anyone do? It looks like all we can do about this is watch, and hope for the best. Maybe early elections? Do you think they would go to Fatah or Hamas, though?
|
Locked Topic |
Active Topic Notification |
Private Message |
Post History
|
