Tuesday, January 13, 2009

A Proposal to the Arabs

It is well documented and understood that the best innovations happen at the time of crisis. Wars pushed to the extreme the human mind to think and create. The Arab world has been struggling since 1948 and has been losing it all. Where is the Arabic mind? What did the Arab mind create on the last 60 years? Who are the best doctors? Best journalists? Best engineers? Best students? Etc. The Arabs have a slim share on the “bests” club.

History is rich of examples where countries stood up after failures (Japan, Germany, Spain). Even today, we can learn from countries that are successfully emerging from poverty (e.g. China, India). The Indian family is proudest when the son is a famous surgeon; the Chinese kid spends most of his childhood preparing for the university exam, etc.

Do we really value education? How many books do we publish? How many movies do we produce? Who stopped us!

Do we really value hard work? Check the level of cheating and corruption at all levels? I remembered cheating on my high school exams. Everybody did. And I was a very good student.

Our problem is not only the Governments and the West. A big responsibility of the failure lies on you and me, on the people.

Instead of pointing finger to the west and blaming it for all the misfortunes, it is time for a serious and frank introspection. We should all do an open self-evaluation, and draw concrete conclusions, then change ourselves.
Here is a proposal. Tell me what you think:
1- Say: I lost. Feel embarrassed and accept the loss. (Loss of Palestine, Iraq,our situation, etc)
I am born in 1978. I am 30, and lost every single war, and there were a lot of them. I remember crying when Baghdad was invaded on 1991. I remember how I forgot 1991 then 19xx and 20xx and now 2009. Why did I forget? Because we never really lost, we were somehow persuaded that the real war is not over, or even that we actually won the war, or sometime that it is not our war.
It is time to say: “We lost!” , or rather “I lost!”
The simple fact of declaring the defeat is a mixed feeling. From one side, it will free us from the chronic feeling of agony, and on the other side, it will enable us to breath and look back.
2- Create your own Marshall Plan, or cultural revolution.
Do not rely on the west and the government. Spend time to think how to prepare your kids (in 30 years) to be the world best.
3- Become the best at whatever you are doing: Fill this statement:
“I will try my best to do ….”
Write in a piece of paper, and when you meet with your friends and family during every Eid, show off on how much you are contributing to the best.

We have been trying hard on manifestations and talks, and that failed too. Maybe it is time for a new approach, and if it fails, it is ok, we are used to defeat.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

This is the best article you ever wrote.

Anonymous said...

I guess you're right Tarik

Anonymous said...

This is a great article, I wish more of us in the Arab world would really listen and start implementing.

I hate generalization, but an issue that is wide spread in the Arab world is that we are passionate people (دمنا حامي); we often rush to things without really thinking about them.

I think we need to take the time to think strategically about what we should do in our Arab countries to enhance the lives of our citizens and build a better present and future.

Nice Article.

Unknown said...


thank you

سعودي اوتو