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Arab intellectual on Arabs

see, hopefully this is one of the things that will change. Why import our weapons when we can produce them ourselves. The Muslims back in the days were famous for their innovation and ingenuity.
Damascene swords were famous. Persians produced good armor. Other stuff, like the catapults Mohammed introduced to Arabia and the cannons of the Ottomans, generally relied on Christian smiths, and of course no one could match the power, beauty, and grace of an Arabian horse. Is there something I'm missing?
 
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Damascene swords were famous. Persians produced good armor. Other stuff, like the catapults Mohammed introduced to Arabia and the cannons of the Ottomans, generally relied on Christian smiths, and of course no one could match the power, beauty, and grace of an Arabian horse. Is there something I'm missing?

You mentioned some of the good ones.
Here are some more:

Marching band and military band: The marching band and military band both have their origins in the Ottoman military band, performed by the Janissary since the 16th century.

Horseman's axe: An early type of war hammer that was of Islamic origin. The Tirant lo Blanch in the 15th century maintained that it was "the deadliest weapon when fighting in full armour, when it was hung from a cavalryman's saddle-bow."

Defense
Adarga: A hard leather shield used originally by the Moors of Islamic Spain. The adarga was a traditional defense employed by the Moorish light horseman who used it along with the lance. Throughout the 14th and 15th centuries the adarga was also used by Spanish Christian soldiers including their own light cavalry (la jineta) some of whom adopted Moorish fighting patterns. The adarga was in widespread use until the 16th century and the progress of firearms.

Camail: It was used as part of the mighfar, an Islamic helmet. It was in use from the 8th to the 14th century.

Defensive trench: A military innovation developed by early Muslims during the Battle of the Trench in 627, when the Meccans invaded Medina. The idea was suggested by Salman the Persian to the commander Muhammad, who then ordered the digging of a wide trench around Medina to halt their invasion. The battle resulted in the withdrawal of the Meccan army and a victory for Medina.

Fireproof clothing: In 1260, Egyptian Mamluk soldiers at the Battle of Ain Jalut wore fireproof clothing to protect themselves from gunpowder fires as well as chemicals in gunpowder warfare. Their clothing consisted of a silk tunic (still worn by Formula 1 drivers underneath their Nomex fire suits), aketon (from the Arabic al-qutn "the cotton"), and mainly a woolen overtunic that protects against fires and chemical weapons, similar to the clothing worn by modern soldiers for protection against biological, chemical and nuclear weapons. Due to the effectiveness of their fireproof clothing, the Egyptian soldiers were able to attach gunpowder cartridges and incendiary devices to their clothing.

Mail-and-plate armour: In Kitab al-Durra al-Maknuna (The Book of the Hidden Pearl) written in the 8th century by Geber, he describes the production of mail-and-plate armours (jawasin), helmets (bid) and shields (daraq).

Short-hemmed and short-sleeved hauberk: The short-hemmed, short-sleeved hauberk is thought to be of Islamic origin. It was usually worn with a mail.

Steel helmet: An early Mamluk steel helmet from the 13th century has been preserved. It was worn by Sultan Mohammad en-Nasser ibn Qalaoun (died 1290).

Turban helmet: A type of helmet worn over turbans. The earliest evidence for it dates back to the 15th century, to Farrukh Yassar and the Ottoman Sultan Bayzid.

Gunpowder technology

A picture of a 15th century Granadian siege cannon from the book Al-izz wal rifa'a.

The Ottoman Janissary corps were using matchlock muskets since the 1440s. They are depicted battling the Knights Hospitaller in this 1522 painting.

Abus gun and Howitzer: The Abus gun was an early form of howitzer created by the Ottoman Empire. Abus guns were a significant part of the Ottoman Empire's artillery, and could perhaps even be referred to as the signature piece of artillery during the height of their power, in the 16th and 17th centuries, for no other civilization used a gun quite like this gun up until this time.

Autocannon and multi-barrel gun: Fathullah Shirazi (c. 1582), a Persian-Indian polymath and mechanical engineer who worked for Akbar the Great in the Mughal Empire, invented the autocannon, the earliest multi-shot gun. As opposed to the polybolos and repeating crossbows used earlier in ancient Greece and China, respectively, Shirazi's rapid-firing gun had multiple gun barrels that fired hand cannons loaded with gunpowder.

Explosive gunpowder: The ideal composition for explosive gunpowder used in modern times is 75% potassium nitrate (saltpetre), 10% sulfur, and 15% carbon. Several almost identical compositions were first described by the Arab engineer Hasan al-Rammah as a recipe for the rockets (tayyar) he described in The Book of Military Horsemanship and Ingenious War Devices in 1270. Several examples include a tayyar "rocket" (75% saltpetre, 8% sulfur, 15% carbon) and the tayyar buruq "lightning rocket" (74% saltpetre, 10% sulfur, 15% carbon). He also states recipes for fireworks and firecrackers made from these explosive gunpowder compositions. He states in his book that many of these recipes were known to his father and grandfather, hence dating back to at least the late 12th century. Medieval French reports suggest that Muslim armies also used explosives against the Sixth Crusade army led by Ludwig IV, Landgrave of Thuringia in the 13th century.

Gunpowder cartridge: Gunpowder cartridges were employed by the Egyptian Mamluks, for use in their fire lances and hand cannons against the Mongols at the Battle of Ain Jalut in 1260.

Hand cannon, handgun, and small arms: The first portable hand cannons (midfa) loaded with explosive gunpowder, the first example of a handgun and portable firearm, were used by the Egyptians to repel the Mongols at the Battle of Ain Jalut in 1260, and again in 1304. The gunpowder compositions used for the cannons at these battles were later described in several manuscripts in the early 14th century. According to Shams al-Din Muhammad (d. 1327), the cannons had an explosive gunpowder composition (74% saltpetre, 11% sulfur, 15% carbon) almost identical to the ideal compositions for explosive gunpowder used in modern times (75% saltpetre, 10% sulfur, 15% carbon).

Iron-cased and metal-cylinder rocket artillery: The first iron-cased and metal-cylinder rocket artillery were developed by Tipu Sultan, a Muslim ruler of the South Indian Kingdom of Mysore, and his father Hyder Ali, in the 1780s. He successfully used these metal-cylinder rockets against the larger forces of the British East India Company during the Anglo-Mysore Wars. The Mysore rockets of this period were much more advanced than what the British had seen, chiefly because of the use of iron tubes for holding the propellant; this enabled higher thrust and longer range for the missile (up to 2 km range). After Tipu's eventual defeat in the Fourth Anglo-Mysore War and the capture of the Mysore iron rockets, they were influential in British rocket development, inspiring the Congreve rocket, which was soon put into use in the Napoleonic Wars. According to Stephen Oliver Fought and John F. Guilmartin, Jr. in Encyclopedia Britannica (2008): "Hyder Ali, prince of Mysore, developed war rockets with an important change: the use of metal cylinders to contain the combustion powder. Although the hammered soft iron he used was crude, the bursting strength of the container of black powder was much higher than the earlier paper construction. Thus a greater internal pressure was possible, with a resultant greater thrust of the propulsive jet. The rocket body was lashed with leather thongs to a long bamboo stick. Range was perhaps up to three-quarters of a mile (more than a kilometre). Although individually these rockets were not accurate, dispersion error became less important when large numbers were fired rapidly in mass attacks. They were particularly effective against cavalry and were hurled into the air, after lighting, or skimmed along the hard dry ground. Hyder Ali's son, Tippu Sultan, continued to develop and expand the use of rocket weapons, reportedly increasing the number of rocket troops from 1,200 to a corps of 5,000. In battles at Seringapatam in 1792 and 1799 these rockets were used with considerable effect against the British." Tippu Sultan wrote a military manual on his rocket artillery, the Fathul Mujahidin.
Matchlock: The Janissary corps of the Ottoman army were using matchlock muskets as early as the 1440s. The first dated illustration of a matchlock mechanism in Europe dates to 1475.

Purified potassium nitrate: Muslim chemists were the first to purify potassium nitrate (saltpetre; natrun or barud in Arabic) to the weapons-grade purity for use in gunpowder, as potassium nitrate needs to be purified to be used effectively. This purification process was first described by Ibn Bakhtawayh in his al-Muqaddimat in 1029. The first complete purification process for potassium nitrate is described in 1270 by the Arab chemist and engineer Hasan al-Rammah of Syria in his book al-Furusiyya wa al-Manasib al-Harbiyya ('The Book of Military Horsemanship and Ingenious War Devices', a.k.a. the Treatise on Horsemanship and Stratagems of War). He first described the use of potassium carbonate (in the form of wood ashes) to remove calcium and magnesium salts from the potassium nitrate. Hasan al-Rammah also describes the purifying of saltpetre using the chemical processes of solution and crystallization, and this was the first clear method for the purification of saltpetre. Bert S. Hall, however, disputes the efficacy of al-Rammah's formula for the purification of potassium nitrate.

Torpedo: The invention of torpedoes occurred in the Muslim world, and were driven by a rocket system. The works of Hasan al-Rammah in Syria in 1275 shows illustrations of a torpedo running on water with a rocket system filled with explosive materials and having three firing points.

Swordmaking
Damascus steel: One of the most famous steels produced in the medieval Near East was Damascus steel used for swordmaking, and mostly produced in Damascus, Syria, in the period from 900 to 1750. This was produced using the crucible steel method, based on the earlier Indian wootz steel. This process was further refined in the Middle East using locally produced steels. The process allowed carbides to precipitate out as micro particles arranged in sheets or bands within the body of a blade. The carbides are far harder than the surrounding low carbon steel, allowing the swordsmith to make an edge which would cut hard materials with the precipitated carbides, while the bands of softer steel allowed the sword as a whole to remain tough and flexible. A team of researchers based at the Technical University of Dresden that uses x-rays and electron microscopy to examine Damascus steel discovered the presence of cementite nanowires and carbon nanotubes. Peter Paufler, a member of the Dresden team, says that these nanostructures give Damascus steel its distinctive properties and are a result of the forging process.

Flyssa and Kaskara: The swords developed in early Islamic Morocco and the Baguirmi Sultanate, respectively.

Grip: In the late 12th century, the figure of a Turkish cavalryman was depicted holding a sabre which was carried using what what would later be known in Europe as the 'Italian Grip'.

Kilij: A sabre developed by the Turks in Central Asia, it came into widespread use by the 15th century. Polish sabres of the 17th century (known as pallash or palache) were derived from this weapon.

Nimcha: An Arab short sabre with a knuckle guard developed in Morocco.

Pulwar, Qama, and Quaddara: The pulwar is a form of talwar that was developed in Islamic India. The qama was a sword developed in Islamic Georgia, and is probably the origin of the Cossack kindjal. The quaddara was a Persian broadsword, like a long kindjal, used in the Caucasus.

Sabre and Saif: The sabre and the Arab saif were developed in the early Islamic world.

Scimitar and Shamshir: The earliest evidence of the scimitar, or curved sword, is from the 9th century, when it was used among soldiers in the Khurasan region of Persia. The Persian shamshir in its current form dates to the 15th century.

Shashka and Shotel: Developed in the Caucasus and Abyssinia, respectively.

Takouba, Talwar, and Yatagan: The takouba was developed by the Taureg people of the Sahara. The talwar is an Indian sword based on the Persian shamshir. The yatagan was developed in Turkey.

Zulfiqar: An early Islamic sword that belonged to Ali in the 7th century.

and the arabian horse aaah what a wonderful creature

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Iron-cased and metal-cylinder rocket artillery: The first iron-cased and metal-cylinder rocket artillery were developed by Tipu Sultan, a Muslim ruler of the South Indian Kingdom of Mysore, and his father Hyder Ali, in the 1780s. He successfully used these metal-cylinder rockets against the larger forces of the British East India Company during the Anglo-Mysore Wars. The Mysore rockets of this period were much more advanced than what the British had seen, chiefly because of the use of iron tubes for holding the propellant; this enabled higher thrust and longer range for the missile (up to 2 km range). After Tipu's eventual defeat in the Fourth Anglo-Mysore War and the capture of the Mysore iron rockets, they were influential in British rocket development, inspiring the Congreve rocket, which was soon put into use in the Napoleonic Wars. According to Stephen Oliver Fought and John F. Guilmartin, Jr. in Encyclopedia Britannica (2008): "Hyder Ali, prince of Mysore, developed war rockets with an important change: the use of metal cylinders to contain the combustion powder. Although the hammered soft iron he used was crude, the bursting strength of the container of black powder was much higher than the earlier paper construction. Thus a greater internal pressure was possible, with a resultant greater thrust of the propulsive jet. The rocket body was lashed with leather thongs to a long bamboo stick. Range was perhaps up to three-quarters of a mile (more than a kilometre). Although individually these rockets were not accurate, dispersion error became less important when large numbers were fired rapidly in mass attacks. They were particularly effective against cavalry and were hurled into the air, after lighting, or skimmed along the hard dry ground. Hyder Ali's son, Tippu Sultan, continued to develop and expand the use of rocket weapons, reportedly increasing the number of rocket troops from 1,200 to a corps of 5,000. In battles at Seringapatam in 1792 and 1799 these rockets were used with considerable effect against the British." Tippu Sultan wrote a military manual on his rocket artillery, the Fathul Mujahidin.

And also to be added these rockets were not only reverse engineered by the british in the days after the defeat of Tipu sultan.These rockets were so deadly that British troops were massacred frequently by these rockets and it became such a big headache that British had to use a weapon specifically designed to counter Muslims and to this day is effective yes traitors.Before the final battle of Tipu's defeat the British used MIR JAFAR(Which has since then become synonyms word for Traitor and Backstabber in Pakistani and urdu culture)to disable the batteries with water and together with many other traitors it was the final cause of Tipu's defeat and Shadath .
 
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And also to be added these rockets were not only reverse engineered by the british in the days after the defeat of Tipu sultan.These rockets were so deadly that British troops were massacred frequently by these rockets and it became such a big headache that British had to use a weapon specifically designed to counter Muslims and to this day is effective yes traitors.Before the final battle of Tipu's defeat the British used MIR JAFAR(Which has since then become synonyms word for Traitor and Backstabber in Pakistani and urdu culture)to disable the batteries with water and together with many other traitors it was the final cause of Tipu's defeat and Shadath .

Yep, Tipu Sultan, a legendary hero and Mujahid, the first Muslim general who struck terror into the undefeated british army and defeated them twice! I heard that even after his martyrdom the british feared he was still alive, and they refused to go near his body!

MashaAllah, indeed we Muslims have a history of heroic men, from the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), Kahlid Bin Waleed (ra) to Salahadin Ayubi, and Tipu Sultan (there's more that i didn't mention)!

:pakistan::pakistan::pakistan:
 
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I just have to add that I think those are the most beautiful horses I've ever seen!
 
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A rare piece of Arab self-criticism.

Viruses of racism and intolerance: How sickening!

Sheikh Ibrahim Al-Harthi shocked his audience in his Friday prayer sermon by telling them that starting from next week, only Saudis are welcome. He explained that if he really did so most of us would find it outrageous, but that this was exactly what many of us feel about our fellow Muslims.

He is right. Under our skins, too many of us are racists. Because we became rich with oil revenue, (which is a gift from Allah not a result of our own hard work), many of us think we are a superior race. And yet despite our ability to think in this way, we still consider ourselves to be the best and purest Muslims?

Allah tells us in the Holy Qur’an: “People, We have created you all male and female and have made you nations and tribes so that you would recognize each other. The most honorable among you in the sight of God is the most pious of you.” His Prophet (peace be upon him) warns against racism and announced that there is no difference between white and black, Arabs and non-Arabs, except in righteousness.

This is not a Saudi issue only, but a pan-Arab disease. During my travels to Arab countries and meeting with Arabs abroad it troubled me to feel this false sense of superiority, especially against each other and toward other Muslims. Even intellectuals are affected. Many believe that Gulf citizens are merely uncultured Bedouins. While this is true in many cases, it is unfair to generalize.

Arabs tend to look down on some races, especially those who come from the poorer parts of the world. Many believe the world is somehow conspiring against us. They cite Western and Russian invasions, and the support of our enemies, like Israel, as evidence.

The trouble with such a mentality is that it is the worst kind of escape and blame transfer. Instead of facing our challenges head on by finding and solving our mistakes, we blame others.

Therefore, Palestine was lost not because of our incompetence, but because of a Zionist-Christian conspiracy. Our economic backwardness is a result of similar conspiracy. Neocolonialists are eating up world resources, supporting dictators and forcing failed governments on us. We are behind in almost every race, from space to sport, industry to agriculture, not as a result of the failure of our education system, religious in-fighting and laziness, but because of those foreigners who won’t let us win!

Conspiracy theorists always have “evidence”. They readily recite a long history of colonialism and suppression, and build on it their concept of the present and future. Instead of getting busy finding ways to succeed and win, they are busy crying foul.

Religious intolerance, competition and suspicion are building up the fires of hate among us. Isn’t it amazing that 1400 years after our first civil war, we are still fighting about what the fight was about! How much longer will we let historical wars keep us stuck in history? Iran, Iraq and the Gulf states share the same Islamic basics and principles, follow the same Prophet (pbuh) and pray toward the same Kaaba. Still, we let the agents of death, the preachers of hate keep us engaged not in bettering ourselves and the future of our children, but in a state of tension and war against each other, all the time.

Racism and intolerance are viruses that take many forms and find their way into many good hearts. Patriotism is one of the most deceiving and deadly forms. Under such a banner, the "others" are dehumanized. It puts one’s own people and their interests above basic human rights and laws.

It then becomes acceptable to deny guest workers basic services, including educational and medical services, because citizens come first. When water and electricity are scarce, it is okay to give ourselves priority. Following the same logic, you may hear demands that fast roads and lines should be reserved for Saudis, or cheaper food and transportation should be given to citizens, only. Some writers even accuse foreigners of stealing our jobs and business opportunities. Others count every penny these workers send home, as if they had stolen the money!

We need a wake-up call from our opinion, society, tribal and religious leaders. We need to realize how wrong, sickening and dangerous the virus of racism and intolerance is to our civilization. And we urgently need to do something about it!

Saudi Gazette - Viruses of racism and intolerance: How sickening!

Some of my favorites from the MEMRI repertoire, 'thought-provoking,' Arab intellectuals about the stunted development of Arab countries and the regression in their societies:

Ibrahim Al-Buleihi: Progress for Arab and Islamic World Can Only Come from Western Civilization - YouTube

Saudi Official: "Terrorism Is the Product of a Flaw" - YouTube

Arabs Have Nothing to Offer Others - Former Saudi Shura Council Member Ibrahim Al-Buleihi - YouTube

A Debate on Youth and Education in the Arab World - YouTube

Not exactly an intellectual, but the funniest MEMRI clip, where the Egyptian anti-****-activist uses 'science' to explain nasty things happening in Egypt and Gaza, such as accidents and rapes of Palestinian girls by Israelis, due to a lot of **** being watched in other Islamic countries. Notice how the interviewer suppresses himself from bursting into a laugh. Respect to the man.

Egyptian Anti-**** Activist: When Muslims in Islamic Countries Watch ****, Disasters Occur in Gaza - YouTube

A recent and prime example of the infantile fixation some of the Arab thinkers are talking about:

Egyptian Cleric Dr. Khaled Said: U.S. Aid to Egypt Constitutes Jizya Tax - YouTube
 
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@Cloakedvessel

How about you start with self critizem and show us how many priests sexually harassed children?
 
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The prisons of the Arab mind

Only by understanding the cultural and educational factors that led to a shackled Arab mind-set can the Arabs hope to break free and embrace brighter horizons, writes Tarek Heggy

I have been studying the Arab mind-set for the last four decades from several perspectives. For a start, I myself am a product of this Arabic-speaking region and was able to study the phenomenon from the perspective of an “insider” as it were, as well as from my vantage point as a researcher who has had 20 books published in Arabic and English (including five devoted exclusively to the Arab mind-set and Arab culture). I also had the opportunity to interact with the Arab mind-set and culture from a different angle during my years as chairman of a multinational oil company, when I worked in close proximity with the end product of Arab culture, so to speak — the Arabic-speaking worker in the work environment. The fourth and final perspective from which I interacted with Arab culture and the Arab mind-set was when I was called upon to lecture to postgraduate students at a number of universities in various Arab countries on subjects related to modern management sciences and techniques.

The insight into the contemporary Arab mind-set that I was able to develop from all these perspectives, in addition to my consuming interest in and close follow-up of the phenomenon over the last four decades, led me to reach the conclusions laid out in my latest book, Arab Culture Enchained, soon to be published by Cambridge University Press. In the book, I describe the Arab mind-set as a prisoner held captive within three prisons, or shackled with three chains. The first chain is a regressive, dogmatic interpretation of religion that is totally at odds with the realities of the age, with science and civilisation. The second is a culture that is not only totally divorced from science and progress as a result of Arab history and the geopolitics of the Arabian Peninsula, but, more important, has produced educational institutions and programmes that, rather than foster the values of progress and humanity, actively promote a xenophobic rejection of these values. The third chain holding the Arab mind-set back from embracing the spirit of the age is a philosophical dilemma that renders it unable to develop a proper understanding of progress and modernity, and drives it to reject such notions as an invasion of its cultural specificity and civilisational legacy.

The first chain weighing the Arab mind-set down and preventing it from joining the march of human progress which, according to the German philosopher Immanuel Kant, is moving towards the attainment of transcendental idealism, is the regressive, mediaeval, Bedouin understanding of religion. A large number of modern-day Muslims have never been presented with an interpretation of religion other than the one propagated by the enemies of reason and free thinking, from Ibn Hanbal in the 10th century to the founder of the Wahhabi-Saudi alliance in the Arabian Peninsula in 1744 (Mohamed Ibn Abdel-Wahab, the spiritual father of Wahhabism, whose message was merged after his death with the ideas of Abul-Alaa Al-Mawdoudi) to the ideas of the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood. More recently, an Islamic state established three quarters of a century ago (the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia) took it upon itself not only to stand as the embodiment of this brand of Islam but to export its understanding and spread its message to every corner of the world. In that version of Islam there is no room for the Other (Christian, Jewish, Buddhist or otherwise); there can be no equality between men and women nor peaceful coexistence with others, no possibility of allowing the human mind to explore new horizons, no scope for creativity or imaginative thinking. So firmly entrenched in the past is this harsh and uncompromising brand of Islam that it does not allow for the proper interpretation of the word jihad as meaning the use of force only in self-defence against outside aggression but continues to use the interpretation adopted by Bedouin tribes in the Middle Ages, which is the imposition of their religious beliefs on the whole of humanity by force of arms.

Nine centuries ago, the world of Islam was the scene of a battle of ideas between two trends. One trend, which upheld the primacy of reason, began with the Mutazalites and was taken to new Aristotelian heights by Ibn Rushd, who lived in Andalusia just over eight centuries ago. The other opposed the use of reason in the interpretation of holy texts, upholding orthodoxy and tradition and spurning deductive reasoning altogether. This latter trend had many prominent adherents, including Ahmed Ibn Hanbal, one of the four Sunni imams, and Abu Hamed Al-Ghazzali, the noted Islamic jurist. Unfortunately for Muslims, the school that favoured unquestioning adherence to tradition over the use of critical faculties prevailed. The defeat of the school of reason was symbolically represented in the burning of Ibn Rushd’s works by the authorities, who elevated the stature of Al-Ghazali to towering heights by bestowing on him the name Hujat Al-Islam (the authority on Islam). Exalting a man who did not believe the human mind capable of grasping the Truth as ordained by God set into motion a process that continues to this day with devastating effects on the Arab mind-set, which has become insular, regressive and unreceptive to new ideas.

The second chain shackling the Arab mind-set is a cultural climate, which has encouraged the spread of tribal values, including such negative values as individualism (instead of tolerance) and insularity (instead of open-mindedness). As a result, Arab societies were unable to receive and assimilate the values of pluralism, acceptance of the Other, a belief in the universality of knowledge and science, acceptance of the human rights movement and the movement for women’s rights — not to mention an institutional rejection of the most important achievement of human civilisation, democracy. Educational systems in Arab societies reflect the prevailing cultural climate, which stands as a barrier between the Arab mind-set and the march of human progress. One need only look at the educational systems in force in a country like Saudi Arabia to realise that they are creating generations totally unequipped to deal with the realities of the age. Indeed, it is enough to see the opinion of leaders of that society to realise how strong the organic link between the cultural/educational climate and the insular, backward-looking ethos in some Arab societies.

Finally, the religious, educational, cultural and media institutions in Arabic-speaking societies have created a mind-set that considers the call for progress and modernity a call to accept a cultural invasion and the loss of cultural specificity.

The problem of Arabic-speaking societies as well as of some non-Arab Muslim societies will not be solved by military confrontations, security measures or economic rewards and/or punishments. None of these measures addresses the core issue, which is essentially one of culture and knowledge. Accordingly, the most effective way of dealing with the problem is by adopting a level headed approach based on a thorough understanding of the reasons behind the distinctive characteristics displayed by the contemporary Arab mind-set.

The writer is a political analyst.

The-prisons-of-the-Arab-mind - Al-Ahram Weekly

Another classic from Memri:

Liberal Bahraini Author Expresses Amazing Views - YouTube

@Cloakedvessel

How about you start with self critizem and show us how many priests sexually harassed children?

If you want you can open another thread about the sexual abuse of the increasingly declining Catholic Church, I will be all too happy to provide countless articles or videos regarding the priests and their sexual deviations...

Until then we can for starters ponder on why similar closed institutions in the Muslim countries are seemingly free from such abuse, because that would be somewhat relevant to the spirit of the thread.....

Why do you have a problem with these Arab intellectuals? Do you believe they are wrong? If so, why? By trying to divert the subject onto scandals of 'Western' clergy, you're not exactly explaining what is it they are so incorrect about in your views. Try to focus your apparent criticism on them, in stead of 'me', although I do not in the slightest bit associate myself with organized religion or the Church, let alone defend their scandals. So not only an irrelevant, but it was also a wasted attempt at deflection.
 
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Nine centuries ago, the world of Islam was the scene of a battle of ideas between two trends. One trend, which upheld the primacy of reason, began with the Mutazalites and was taken to new Aristotelian heights by Ibn Rushd, who lived in Andalusia just over eight centuries ago. The other opposed the use of reason in the interpretation of holy texts, upholding orthodoxy and tradition and spurning deductive reasoning altogether. This latter trend had many prominent adherents, including Ahmed Ibn Hanbal, one of the four Sunni imams, and Abu Hamed Al-Ghazzali, the noted Islamic jurist. Unfortunately for Muslims, the school that favoured unquestioning adherence to tradition over the use of critical faculties prevailed. The defeat of the school of reason was symbolically represented in the burning of Ibn Rushd’s works by the authorities, who elevated the stature of Al-Ghazali to towering heights by bestowing on him the name Hujat Al-Islam (the authority on Islam). Exalting a man who did not believe the human mind capable of grasping the Truth as ordained by God set into motion a process that continues to this day with devastating effects on the Arab mind-set, which has become insular, regressive and unreceptive to new ideas.

The second chain shackling the Arab mind-set is a cultural climate, which has encouraged the spread of tribal values, including such negative values as individualism (instead of tolerance) and insularity (instead of open-mindedness). As a result, Arab societies were unable to receive and assimilate the values of pluralism, acceptance of the Other, a belief in the universality of knowledge and science, acceptance of the human rights movement and the movement for women’s rights — not to mention an institutional rejection of the most important achievement of human civilisation, democracy. Educational systems in Arab societies reflect the prevailing cultural climate, which stands as a barrier between the Arab mind-set and the march of human progress. One need only look at the educational systems in force in a country like Saudi Arabia to realise that they are creating generations totally unequipped to deal with the realities of the age. Indeed, it is enough to see the opinion of leaders of that society to realise how strong the organic link between the cultural/educational climate and the insular, backward-looking ethos in some Arab societies.

Finally, the religious, educational, cultural and media institutions in Arabic-speaking societies have created a mind-set that considers the call for progress and modernity a call to accept a cultural invasion and the loss of cultural specificity.

The problem of Arabic-speaking societies as well as of some non-Arab Muslim societies will not be solved by military confrontations, security measures or economic rewards and/or punishments. None of these measures addresses the core issue, which is essentially one of culture and knowledge. Accordingly, the most effective way of dealing with the problem is by adopting a level headed approach based on a thorough understanding of the reasons behind the distinctive characteristics displayed by the contemporary Arab mind-set.

The writer is a political analyst.

The-prisons-of-the-Arab-mind - Al-Ahram Weekly

Another classic from Memri:

Liberal Bahraini Author Expresses Amazing Views - YouTube



If you want you can open another thread about the sexual abuse of the increasingly declining Catholic Church, I will be all too happy to provide countless articles or videos regarding the priests and their sexual deviations...

Until then we can for starters ponder on why similar closed institutions in the Muslim countries are seemingly free from such abuse, because that would be somewhat relevant to the spirit of the thread.....

Why do you have a problem with these Arab intellectuals? Do you believe they are wrong? If so, why? By trying to divert the subject onto scandals of 'Western' clergy, you're not exactly explaining what is it they are so incorrect about in your views. Try to focus your apparent criticism on them, in stead of 'me', although I do not in the slightest bit associate myself with organized religion or the Church, let alone defend their scandals. So not only an irrelevant, but it was also a wasted attempt at deflection.

Simply because your countries are filled with disgusting acts and hatred while you are obsessed with others problems, just take care of yours. Those people in the videos are very few and don't represent but only themselves and no one here cares about them or listen to them, in fact this is the first time I watch those videos. It's like you have been going through all over internet just to defame us with a couple of unknown people. Get a life.
 
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Simply because your countries are filled with disgusting acts and hatred while you are obsessed with others problems, just take care of yours.

You don't seem to comprehend. The criticism is not coming from outsiders, but from Arab themselves. The title of this thread clearly reads: Arab intellectual on Arabs. So, why are you dragging non-Arab countries into this thread, if the statements originate from Arabs themselves?

Those people in the videos are very few and don't represent but only themselves and no one here cares about them or listen to them, in fact this is the first time I watch those videos.

So, that's your rebuttal, you have a different opinion than them. Well, then you're doing a terrible job on refuting their content...
Maybe you can be a bit more to the point, and elaborate why you differ from them in their views? Just throwing informal fallacies does not mean much.

It's like you have been going through all over internet just to defame us with a couple of unknown people. Get a life.

Don't act as the living embodiment of the brain dead and intellectual bankrupt agents that the Arab intellectual are describing, by getting personal and employing an ad hominem.

I just happen to have great Google skills.......Little has to be done to uncover vast amount of information. You should try it, or just ignore the thread and go on with your life with its superior intellectual and moral fulfillment. Why chastise others, when you have no stake in the subject at all?

These intellectuals are not defaming Arabs, they are trying to uplift Arabs from darkness -in their opinion - and revitalize the Arab soul, who they think is lost. But of course, they can articulate their motivation better than me, I'm just a passer-by:

Liberal Bahraini Author Dhiya Al-Musawi

Egypt Author Sayyid Al-Qimni: We Have Tried Islamic Rule for 1,400 Years - YouTube

Egyptian TV Host Amin: Arabs Lack the Capacity to Listen, Have Invented the "Unilateral Dialogue" - YouTube

Saudi Poet Abd Al-Rahman Al-Shimri: 'How Many Times Have We Heard, 'Oh Allah, Annihilate Them'? - YouTube
 
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