A Pipe Dream
John H. Adler
November 27, 2006
I am always amazed by the naiveté displayed by our government, past and present.
Students of history of the Middle East must be aware that democracy for this region of the earth is nothing more than an impossible dream. All countries but Israel are populated by followers of Islam. Members of the believers in the Koran put their faith in their religious leaders following their dictates as if they were the words of Mohammed and, therefore, of Allah himself.
The Mullahs and Priests of Islam accept, or rather demand, total adherence to the laws decreed by Mohammed and occasionally implemented by them. Theocracy, in which God is recognized as the supreme civil leader, is the accepted religion of the countries of the Middle East and has been for thousands of years.
The dictates of their beliefs make the people of that region unsuitable for democracy. So far, all attempts to change their politics to anything even approaching democracy have been still-born. And yet, we keep on trying. Why?
For a long time we have lived in peace with dictators, even tyrants, without trying to convert them to democracy. So, what makes the Middle East so different? Oil?
Does oil justify a 21st century revival of the crusades of the 11th, 12th and 13th centuries?
Who are we, believers in the Judeo/Christian ethics and doctrine, to try to convert a region of the earth to our brand of beliefs? While democracy may be right for us and other countries, it is obviously not for the Middle East. If the emergence of Israel, a vibrant, pulsating oasis born out of desert land, has not convinced Moslem countries of the benefits of democracy, then how can we expect to succeed with big words and military force? Our government should wake up to the realization that we have and will continue to accomplish exactly the opposite.
The truth is that almost the entire world of Islam sees us as their worst enemy and is reacting in the most virulent manner. Is it worth the pain?
Students of history of the Middle East must be aware that democracy for this region of the earth is nothing more than an impossible dream. All countries but Israel are populated by followers of Islam. Members of the believers in the Koran put their faith in their religious leaders following their dictates as if they were the words of Mohammed and, therefore, of Allah himself.
The Mullahs and Priests of Islam accept, or rather demand, total adherence to the laws decreed by Mohammed and occasionally implemented by them. Theocracy, in which God is recognized as the supreme civil leader, is the accepted religion of the countries of the Middle East and has been for thousands of years.
The dictates of their beliefs make the people of that region unsuitable for democracy. So far, all attempts to change their politics to anything even approaching democracy have been still-born. And yet, we keep on trying. Why?
For a long time we have lived in peace with dictators, even tyrants, without trying to convert them to democracy. So, what makes the Middle East so different? Oil?
Does oil justify a 21st century revival of the crusades of the 11th, 12th and 13th centuries?
Who are we, believers in the Judeo/Christian ethics and doctrine, to try to convert a region of the earth to our brand of beliefs? While democracy may be right for us and other countries, it is obviously not for the Middle East. If the emergence of Israel, a vibrant, pulsating oasis born out of desert land, has not convinced Moslem countries of the benefits of democracy, then how can we expect to succeed with big words and military force? Our government should wake up to the realization that we have and will continue to accomplish exactly the opposite.
The truth is that almost the entire world of Islam sees us as their worst enemy and is reacting in the most virulent manner. Is it worth the pain?
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