• Quick note - the problem with Youtube videos not embedding on the forum appears to have been fixed, thanks to ZiprHead. If you do still see problems let me know.

When Will The "Western Street" Catch Up With The "Arab Street"?

BPSCG

Penultimate Amazing
B
Joined
Mar 27, 2002
Messages
17,539
Link (use "dontbugme" for logon ID and "bugmenot" for password, if prompted).

Over the past two weeks several Western capitals, including London and Paris, have witnessed feverish activity by more than two dozen groups organizing meetings and marches to mark the second anniversary of the liberation of Iraq. The aim is not to celebrate the event and express solidarity with the emerging Iraqi democracy, but to vilify George W. Bush and Tony Blair, thus lamenting the demise of Saddam Hussein.

I spent part of last week ringing up the organizers of the anti-war events with a couple of questions. The first: Would they allow anyone from the newly-elected Iraqi parliament to address the gatherings? The second: Would the marches include expressions of support for the democracy movement in Arab and other Muslim countries, notably Iraq, Lebanon and Syria?

In both cases the answer was a categorical no, accompanied by a torrent of abuse about "all those who try to justify American aggression against Iraq."

But was it not possible to condemn "American aggression" and then express support for the democratic movement in Iraq and the rest of the Arab world? In most cases we were not even allowed to ask the question. In one or two cases we received mini-lectures on how democracy cannot be imposed by force.
Click to expand...
 
But was it not possible to condemn "American aggression" and then express support for the democratic movement in Iraq and the rest of the Arab world? In most cases we were not even allowed to ask the question. In one or two cases we received mini-lectures on how democracy cannot be imposed by force.
Click to expand...
It's called progressive thinking AKA enlightenment.
 
Why are so many Westerners, living in mature democracies, ready to march against the toppling of a despot in Iraq but unwilling to take to the streets in support of the democratic movement in the Middle East?

Is it because many of those who will be marching in support of Saddam Hussein this month are the remnants of totalitarian groups in the West plus a variety of misinformed idealists and others blinded by anti-Americanism?

Or is it because they secretly believe that the Arabs do not deserve anything better than Saddam Hussein?
Click to expand...
 
Is it because many of those who will be marching in support of Saddam Hussein this month are the remnants of totalitarian groups in the West plus a variety of misinformed idealists and others blinded by anti-Americanism?
Or is it because they secretly believe that the Arabs do not deserve anything better than Saddam Hussein?
Click to expand...
If that's what he thinks, no wonder he got the phone put down on him so many times. It must have been like getting cold-called by a Jehovahs Witness.
 
Re: When Will The "Western Street" Catch Up With The "Arab Street"?

"The Arab street" is a boogeyman invented by the press.
 
Re: Re: When Will The "Western Street" Catch Up With The "Arab Street"?

Abdul Alhazred said:
"The Arab street" is a boogeyman invented by the press.
Click to expand...

No it's not. If you turn left at the Post Office, you can go down Arab Street as a shortcut to the library.
 
The useful idiots live down to their name.

Funny that they remain useful well past their favorite dictator's "use by" date. Which just goes to prove that
the term "useful idiot" is not an exaggeration, but a
description.

-z

BTW: It's getting past time to drop the "useful" part.
 
aerocontrols said:
That's two.
Click to expand...

Well I said one because they are the same organization with the same people, same office and the same phone number.

The only reason they created ANSWER is to get more people to come to the rallies.
 
"but to vilify George W. Bush and Tony Blair, thus lamenting the demise of Saddam Hussein."

just can't progress past this little fallacy can we boys....
 
The Fool said:
"but to vilify George W. Bush and Tony Blair, thus lamenting the demise of Saddam Hussein."

just can't progress past this little fallacy can we boys....
Click to expand...
What's the false part?
 
BPSCG said:
What's the false part?
Click to expand...
If I expessed contempt at the police if they began dragging drunk drivers from cars and shooting them in the head would I be lamenting the demise of drink driving?

This fallacy is very near to the heart of those that want to belittle anyone who does not cheer when told tey are going into a war. Extra points for anyone who can name the fallacy.
 
Grammatron said:
Well I said one because they are the same organization with the same people, same office and the same phone number.

The only reason they created ANSWER is to get more people to come to the rallies.
Click to expand...
But ANSWER isn't organising anything outside the US. In the UK, that's being done by Stop The War Coalition , which is composed of a multitude of smaller groups such as the New Eton Socalist Party, Ravers Against the War , Jogyoji Buddhist Temple, Surrey Anarchist Group and too many other commie liberal terrist subversives to mention.
The only mention of Saddam Hussein I could find on the STW site was this:
Democracy is not on the agenda. Saddam's police force is being reinstalled and reinforced.
Click to expand...
Doesn't sound to me like they're Saddam fans.
 
The Fool said:
If I expessed contempt at the police if they began dragging drunk drivers from cars and shooting them in the head would I be lamenting the demise of drink driving?
Click to expand...
So you're saying Bush and Blair are analagous to trigger-happy police, And Saddam is analagous to a drunk driver? Okaaaaay...

In any case, what did Bush and Blair do that has these anti-Bush and anti-Blair protestors so wroth? They claim it's American "agression against Iraq," Do you believe them? And do you agree with that position?

I also have to ask, if you're going to try to defend these cheeseburgers, is there any anti-American group you won't apologize for? That's not a rhetorical question - I'm genuinely curious to know.
 
BPSCG said:
So you're saying Bush and Blair are analagous to trigger-happy police, And Saddam is analagous to a drunk driver?
Click to expand...
It's a false dichotomy. Not approving of the invasion does not mean "lamenting the demise of Saddam Hussein". But I guess if someone lapped up Bush's, your with us or with the terrorists rhetoric as sound logic, such lapses in critical thinking should be expected.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top Bottom