I've spent 21 years on the face of this earth. And for at least 10 of those years, I was looking for some Arab leader to rise up to the wishes of the people on the streets of the Muslim countries. What I learned through out those 10 years was that for the 21 years that I've been around, the US government has been stuffing the extremely huge egos of Arab leaders. How the hell else did Israel manage to get two Arab countries to establish diplomatic relations with them?
Well, it seems that if Arab leaders want to keep on kissing American a$$, leaders of some other Muslim countries think they can all go to... well, where ever they want to go! We've seen how the Turkish Prime Minister gave a piece of his mind, on behalf of all the Muslims, to Shimon Peres at Davos. That was a breath of fresh air different from what the secular followers of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk would have wanted. The truth of the matter is that part of the beginning, and I say PART of the BEGINNING, of the Palestinian issue was the fall of the Ottoman Empire which was representing the Islamic Caliphate at the time.
Now, Iran has tested a nuclear reactor with unrefined uranium rods. What more, the US administration seems to be showing signs that the US foreign policy towards Iran will have a different colour. But mere signs aren't going to be enough this time. Enough US administrations have fooled Muslim countries with 'signs'. Now's the time for action, and Iran has made it clear. Iran has been put under a long embargo, and I personally expected them to be ready to give in any second. But they didn't. And that calls for a show of respect.
Look, I don't agree with all the policies of the Iranian government either. But truth is, I disagree more with the cowardice of the other Muslim governments. I found it silly when the Saudi government was refusing to support Hamas during the Gaza war with the excuse that Hamas get support from 'Shiites'. I found it sillier when the Egyptian government claimed the PA is the true voice of the people. Like, the Egyptian government which has been repressing any opposition for more than 20 years will know what the true voice of the people is.
OK, so the Iranian government is a Shiite government. OK, so there are some differences in the theology between Sunnites and Shiites. But let's face it: Right now, Iran is doing more for the betterment of the Ummah than any other Muslim country has managed to do for the long time.
Iran may not have an upper hand against the US or Israel at the moment. But they do at least HAVE a hand. And they're playing it. Let me summarise Iranian supreme leader's comments regarding Obama's offer to 'start over':
'We'll start over when the US stops greeting us with, "Happy new year, terrorists". It would be nice if you lift the economic embargoes you've put on us. And in the mean time how about reviewing your policies towards the Israeli nuclear program.'
So, yeah, somebody had the balls to say that, for once. My salutes.
Umm. Pardon me, but I believe this is a rather twisted logic of pitting 'Muslim' governments against the US.
ReplyDeleteIt hasn't helped Muslims in the past, and will not in the future.
The fall of the Islamic caliphate in Constantinople had plenty to do with the support of the present day Saudi Arabia - and the Saud family. Muslims against Muslims?
Against their own Ummah?
But today, the Saudi Arabia is considered the 'center of Islam' as if such a thing exists.
Ahmedinejad's posturing and crowd pleasing tactics may seem popular to you, but lots of (ok, make that ALL OF) my Iranian friends find him a regressive force in their country.
Interesting perspective.
ReplyDeleteWhere I completely agree with you that in this age of globalisation pitting any government against any government won't work for either's benefit, let's face it: Muslim governments have been kissing US ass for way longer and in more ways than any other government. And that hasn't done anyone any good either.
And with all due respect to anyone who believes in the holiness of the Saudi regime, the only way the Saudi government may be, if that's even possible, considered the centre of Islam is because they have control over the holy lands of Makkah and Madinah. But the Zionists have control over the land of Jerusalem, and that regime isn't the centre of Islam either. And besides, the last time the Muslim Ummah needed to be united, during the Gaza war, if I remember correctly, the Saudis were busy pleasing the US by blaming Hamas for the war, although the CNN itself reported that Israeli government was responsible for breaking a ceasefire agreement.
That being said, I still hold my ground that Iran does have balls. Not just during Ahmedinejad's time. Even earlier when Khatami was around. It's refreshing to see someone disagreeing with whatever US policies are oppressive and arbitrary when everyone else is accepting whatever comes from the US state secretariat.
I came across your blog quite randomly and mashaallah you have some good stuff here. The following post from my blog may interest you, particularly the comments section! keep writing sis.
ReplyDeleteMassalam
http://qudaamah.blogspot.com/2008/12/still-wondering-who-real-terrorists-are.html
Salam,
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments. I read the article that you sent.
It was a nice straight to the point read. However, I believe it's about time we stopped practicing this culture of self-lamentation and started doing something. It may start small, but it's up to us to change our image. The world will do us no favors.
I'll be following your blog Inshallah.