Added: Monday, 06 July 2009, 08:13 AM Mecca time, 05:13 AM GMT
Robwash,
I was just trying to be fair no harm intended. I do agree that Islam is one of the main culprits. Read up on how early Islam declared Greek thought heretical. Look up Al Ghazali and how he essentially closed the gates of Ijtihad. Ijtihad is essentially the concept of one being authorized to interpret Islamic law and pass a independent leagal ruling. Greek thought is based on critical thinking telling one to question all. Out of it came things like experimentation and the view the unknown can be figured out. It is Ironic, because the majority of the great Islamic scholars bought into this. Some bought in so much, such as Al Razi(father of early medicine) that he was declared a heretic in the Islamic community. Futher compounding the issue when we bring this up some Muslims take this as an attack. They instead go back to the Quranic disposition of infidels and blame us because their book says were evil and can't be trusted. Its the we vs. them all over again.
wilbur , chicag0, United States
Added: Monday, 06 July 2009, 08:03 AM Mecca time, 05:03 AM GMT
Black Eagle,
Your premise has a point but I believe it is to narrow. You cannot deny US military bases and general involvement in the area has had a negative effect. What I have trouble with is how this relates to education and technological development. The Islamic world, while still suffering from some of the divisions due to colonialism, has not put forth a concerted effort to expand basic education. Close to a 100 million arabs are illiterate. That is no ones fault but the governments and societies in which they live in. This has to stop so that the Arab world can become more self sufficient. This has been a problem long before the US or even colonialism. That fact clearly shows something else is the major obstruction. My simple theory is that Islam is one of the major obstacles. Islam early on declared greek philosophy and critical thinking heretical. This basically said all is known and everything you need is in the Quran. Obstruction? yes!
wilbur , chicag0, United States
Added: Monday, 06 July 2009, 07:29 AM Mecca time, 04:29 AM GMT
Things that can be done to build businessmen amongst Arabs are to have more resources for one and two for more participation within its citizens. Maybe an obstacle would be not having opportunity or involvement in education. Another thing might be poor home life without their basic needs being met so they can participate in higher learning and education.
Susanstar1234, taylor, United States
Added: Monday, 06 July 2009, 02:01 AM Mecca time, 11:01 PM GMT
First of all I would like to point out that many people here seem to be blaming Islam for the problems in the ME which is quite frankly unfair, because like any other religion Islam is often abducted by its own followers, so instead of judging Islam by what some of its extremists do judge it according to the religion and its teachings. Secondly I think a big part of the problem is that people around here don't have enough self-respect, they think people from abroad are better just because they come from abroad, and the people that don't have this mentality often leave the ME, which to me is like shooting it in the knees, you want it to improve yet you wont try to help by offering your knowledge? Another factor is the corruption in this region that is a result of all the political turmoil going on here as a result of greed and international interference in the ME affairs to gain basically money and power. Whats worse is that leaders in the ME allow for this to happen.
nina, Egypt
Added: Monday, 06 July 2009, 12:43 AM Mecca time, 09:43 PM GMT
I would say religion is the biggest obstacle. Innovativity did not take of in europe until religion was pushed away to the private sphere.
Chris, Stockholm, Sweden
Added: Saturday, 04 July 2009, 10:58 PM Mecca time, 07:58 PM GMT
The Middle East is similar to the Emirates otherwise even Saudi Arabia has converted there is just for them no example to try to be like any longer. Today as I scrutinize the Emirates of today old long-established way of life and cultural improvement has halted however rather westerner form and habit have been the most improved at, it’s sad to see an Arab nation no longer see the rareness of their culture how civility and education in their society could have extended further than any. Today we see far-reaching import of foreign education when it should have been home developed in the Middle East! Why isn’t it? All I know is the solution to the problem if an Arab nation becomes that example to imitate just like Iraq’s education in the 1970’s then they will get stronger. The Middle East has to encourage more on TV’s education than capitalist sponsorship for products.
Black Eagle, arlington, United States
Added: Saturday, 04 July 2009, 06:19 PM Mecca time, 03:19 PM GMT
Dutch, Just think, If the Arabs educated their people you would be out of a job. They would not need outside talent from the west. If the petroleum dried up tomorrow what would all these M.E. countries do for $$. Unlike the Arab countries, our economy is based on hi-tech innovation and manufacturing (all our children go to university). We are also in the process of changing our automobiles to run on electricity. What say you?
Tank Gunner, Jerusalem, Israel
Added: Saturday, 04 July 2009, 05:58 PM Mecca time, 02:58 PM GMT
Sunny, Canada: I agree that Arabs should continue with their good relations with Muslims elsewhere. But that is the status quo which has resulted in the predicament the Arabs are in today. Perhaps expanding good relations with non-Muslims might be part of the answer. But to do this, the Arab world needs to be seen as a SAFE place for foreign investment. But this is not the case today. So I would suggest addressing exactly why Arabs countries are deemed unsafe and risky places to invest assets.
Robwash, Los Angeles, United States
Added: Saturday, 04 July 2009, 05:50 PM Mecca time, 02:50 PM GMT
Baz, Every other Docter in Boston is named "Patel" but none have Arab names. I am not bashing Muslims, I am bashing the "Arab" mentality for it's lack of education and sophitication. I did not meant to lump you in with them, sorry!
Sub Driver, Boston, United States
Added: Saturday, 04 July 2009, 04:39 PM Mecca time, 01:39 PM GMT
Bystander,South Africa- I can understand how those word's the taliban leader might hav said will unfortunately cast a shadow on the true beauty of what islam stands for. The only response i can giv you is that if you study Islam you will see that there is no place for the violation of women's rights. In fact the ideas our prophet (saw) promoted over 1400 years ago with regard to the rights of women were revolutionary for that time.He was the first feminist of the world and I hold firm to that statement.Women are not denied an education in Islam nor are they forced to wear hijab as a tool of oppression. There is no excuse for muslim men who abuse any rights of women and their actions are not reflective of the teachings of Islam. I think its hipocritical 4the west to label islam as abusive to women. One just has to switch on the tv to see how the west abuses women by objectification & immorality yet no one condemns these men.Its excused becoz its protected by the freedom of speech shield
