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| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| Syria, a Red State |
| 2004-12-06 |
| While the results of this year's American election may have liberal Democrats and much of the extended international community shaking their heads in disbelief, a surprising number of Arabs seem to have not only expected President George W. Bush's return to power but also supported it. Since I began teaching in Damascus six months ago, I have been continually surprised to find support and even admiration for Bush in that city, mixed in with the usual polemics about American imperialism. The presumed wildfire of anti-American and anti-Bush sentiment that has consumed much of Europe and Asia has apparently skipped over parts of the Arab world, where people often have more in common with Middle America than they do with the Middle East... "But doesn't he scare you?" I asked finally, unable to contain my personal feelings and throwing the lesson plan out the window. "Because of Bush's ideas many people in my country think that all of you are terrorists." Rahaf and most of the others just shrugged. Maybe that was all true, they said, but he was still a good president... An interesting combination. They both respect Bush and utterly abhor many things the liberal left support. |
| Posted by:Anonymoose |
| #7 You guys are slllooowww. I posted this on Saturday night. Yes, but nobody with a social life is here on Saturday night... :P |
| Posted by: Pappy 2004-12-06 5:54:42 PM |
| #6 You guys are slllooowww. I posted this on Saturday night. Worth posting again, however. |
| Posted by: Capt America 2004-12-06 5:13:08 PM |
| #5 Wow. He winds up the piece with: And thus I came to realize something that the Democrats could never admit: that there exists a support base for both the Republicans' domestic and foreign agenda among the very people we thought most opposed current U.S. policy. The cultural background and value systems which inform many of these young Arabs' outlook on the world mean they will always favor men like Bush over men like Kerry. The tenets of faith, family and, yes, "moral issues" determine the overall political leanings of a considerable number of the Middle East's future leaders, in rejection of Democratic stump issues like increased liberalism, internationalism and scientific progress. Though Democrats are often quick to criticize their opponents for seeing the issues in stark black and white, "us and them" terms, perhaps they ought to step back from their own obsession with "red" and "blue" dichotomies and recognize this nuance of Middle Eastern reality. Having a truly even-handed and practical approach to peace in the Arab world means realizing that not everyone, and certainly not all of the elites in Arab society, sympathize with the anti-American movements taking place within their own ranks, and that these heartland Arabs could prove a valuable ally in future U.S.-Arab relations. |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2004-12-06 2:03:10 PM |
| #4 Actually, negotiating itself isn't a sign of weakness. It's not establishing that you will negotiate from a position of strength (which can be as simple as pointing out that what the other party is delivering is not what was originally promised). |
| Posted by: Pappy 2004-12-06 12:01:39 PM |
| #3 What the libs don't understand is that in other cultures, strength is respected. Negotiation is a sign of weakness. Arabs do abhor the exporting of porn, abortion and drugs which have come to represent America to much of the world. |
| Posted by: John Simmins 2004-12-06 10:27:39 AM |
| #2 What a novel take on the American election by a professor. Bush won because the proletariat are a bunch of homophobic, gun-totin', religious-sheep, ignorami. Such deep and insightful thought. |
| Posted by: 2b 2004-12-06 10:09:55 AM |
| #1 It's that strong horse thing Binny talked about. |
| Posted by: Steve 2004-12-06 9:41:33 AM |