@Dr.Thrax
For the past 200 years I would say that the Arab world has been weaker than in any other period in Islamic history and even for large parts of pre-Islamic times. Of course comparable to each time period of that time.
Israel was created because we were in our weakest position back then and because Britain broke their promises. The wars are a study for itself but we know why they ended as they did. Most Arab countries (actually 80% or so) were not involved directly other than sending some volunteers as most of our militaries were very poor back then let alone modernized. The communication structure in the militaries were weak and the armies were led by dictators. etc etc. Israel on the other hand fought for their very own survival. The situations are not entirely comparable in my humble opinion.
All this happened under dictatorships. Under failed Ba'athists that hijacked what I call common Arab brotherhood that every single Arab has. Which means that we hope for the best for fellow Arabs and Arab countries and work for similar wider goals and acknowledge all the things that bind us together (religion (s), culture, language, Islamic history, ancient Semitic pre-Islamic history), similar sufferings and ground realities, cuisine etc. - the list is long). What we saw under all of those leaders in the 1950's, 1960's and 1970's were in my eyes absurdities. Movements shaped by a bipolar world where capitalism (USA and the West) and communism and socialism (USSR) were against each other.
The Arab countries ruled by monarchies were in the US/Western wagon and the secular republics in the USSR wagon mainly.
I am talking about a movement that is coming from within the people. I simply do not believe that most Arabs are unaware of the problems that we are discussing now (ordinary people behind our computers) and the problems that a blind man can even see on the ground. We need to work together in order to change this reality. Find what binds us together.
We know that GCC should become much more self-reliant which is also a work in progress but you also need to understand that the opportunities to start earlier were not taken (for whatever reasons) and also the pressure from the world powers to buy the best of the best weapons. Of course the US and the West are very much interested in selling weapons in billion worths of deals to the GCC. They probably pressure the rulers too. Goes for all Arab states.
The US/West can remove any ruler almost everywhere on the planet if they really want. I am not anti-West by any means I am just saying the reality as we live in a cold world were power is the supreme deity for most.
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A final comment here before I leave.
Also what I hope is that we leave our silly sectarian divisions away for a while although I know it is very difficult when we look at what is going on in the Arab world were almost everyone is taking sides and sticking with his "side". Whether Sunni, Shia, Christian etc. we should not engage in this senseless cycle of violence. Why kill brother or sister based on something like this? The people that are the closest to you of anyone and the very few people (if not only) that you might could trust in a worst case scenario.
It is my hope that Syrians and everyone else (Yemenis, Iraqis, Lebanese etc.) once the conflicts end that were on opposite sides of the wars will learn to make peace and from there on work for the betterment of their countries, regions etc. It is very easy for me to say so when so much blood as been shed but what is the alternative? Eternal revenge? An eternal cycle of violence?
My hope is that you and
@Syrian Lion for instance will be able to unite one day. This is exactly what foreigners want to see. Us fighting over stupid silly things instead of progressing.
In fact this was always my viewpoint and what I was brought up with but since I joined PDF the hostile climate and the constant attacks on Arabs, KSA, Sunni Muslims etc. made me go in a defensive mode. Now outside of counter trolling on PDF I am a changed man on this front. I realized that creating silly differences is wrong even if you are attacked by people who want to create such differences. They want you to fall in their trap. This goes not only for Arab-Arab relations but for every relation.
I can as a a Sunni Muslim (Shafi'i) have theological differences with a Saudi Arabian Ismaili, Zaydi or Shia Twelver but that's also it. Outside of those small differences I will treat him as I treat any other and want to be treated. If we all had this kind of outlook we would be much better off.
This is how things work in the West and the US by large. You know this as well.
Can you fell me bro?
We should always think what we can do for our community and the world/humanity. I believe that this is very much in accordance to how I interpret some of the core values of Islam.
Anyway thanks for the discussion. Always interesting to exchange opinions and be challenged on them.
