Inkwell Institute
Middle East Desk
Soon the Prez will be making a speech, a major speech on the Middle east….but IMO it will fall on deaf ears….
The narrative in the western media is that the so-called “Arab Spring” is all about the desire of the people for democracy………and with that said I am NOT that convinced of that bold statement……I believe that we Americans would like to deceive ourselves into thinking that all protests are somehow all about the need for democracy and equality……why do I say this?…..Well Walter Lippmann said it best….”No amount of charters, direct primaries, or short ballots will make a democracy out of an illiterate people.” And illiterate I by no means want to offend….but without a working knowledge of the workings of democracy there can only be a return to tyranny……
I have pointed out that countries like Egypt, Libya, Yemen, Syria and Tunisia are good lead stories for newspapers but the people were not necessarily demanding democracy, but rather the opposition to the people in power at the time, because most have taken and held power for decades……democracy is a wonderful concept to try and sell but the truth is most of the ME lives in tribal societies and that is not that conducive to the growth of democracy….tribes depend on a strong head man to lead them and we see how that was gone badly in the past…..
The recent protests and violence in the ME have grown from the fact that most people in the countries in the news work for low wages…..there is little food……prices expand but wages do not…..and other such social problems….most people are not asking to vote on these things just that there needs to be more reforms to make life and living more better for the population…….if true democracy actually takes hold and the will of the people is paramount then the USA is screwed……why? The West will lose its strangle hold on the policies of the region and the people will throw us out….and then what will we do?
Each one of these countries will flirt with democracy before the strong leader takes the reins again and this cycle could start all over again….and the interests of the big corporations will once again control the policies of the region….thanx to the US.
Sad, but not delusional. So many are. Once I was a radical peacenik…a Quaker. I still want peace, but with all my heart believe if you don’t fight the bullies, they will enslave you. Gonna happen. Thank you for your effort to stay aware.
Hello Katherine welcome to the blog…..you are welcome…I find that most Americans could actually care less about the ME….but as I point out we die and bleed in this region and forewarned is forearmed….please drop by often….
Thanx Katherine I appreciate the visit and please visit ofter I always enjoy an exchange of ideas and thoughts……..I am an old radical from the 60’s and I still want more out pf government than we get…..pop in and look around….I would love your thoughts on stuff……
I think you have pretty much described this fairly accurately. Good job
Thanx lb….I appreciate the pat on the back….
Yes. Annoyingly ( 😆 ) I think your post is pretty much on the money too…
Thanx, my friend…….but you know that as soon as things go to sh*t people will want to know what happened….and then I can say (insert expletive here)………lol
Our politicians throw the word “democracy” around claiming that’s what these peole are crying out for. Perhaps that could be, but rest assured they aren’t getting it. Each and every one of these nations, after toppling the existing regimes got something far worse …
Ask the Egyptians.
Good post, by the way.
Thanx for the props……the biggest problem is the US does not understand the tribal mentality….an election does not s democracy make….
Amen brother!
But I suspect the reason why democarcies do not flouris in such places is that America (& the UK) will not stopp interefering (in the name of our national interests). It is the duplicity of the West that keeps such societies in chaos
Bill I wish I could argue but alas you have hit it on the head……