When Arab activists hate each other
March 31st, 2007I don’t like associating myself with the majority of Arab activists, or any activists for an “Arab” cause, because instead of interacting, networking, and aiding each other’s efforts, they compete for dominance. I’m not entirely against that, because it’s natural to want to be the best at what you do, but this rule shouldn’t apply in activism. The aim is to contribute to change, and you will never be able to do this successfully alone. You will always need others, and others will always need you.
I now understand why a lot of things aren’t being achieved in the Arab world, and it’s because of this major lack. There are many isolated NGOs who don’t want to associate themselves with similar networks, and there are many people creating new networks for things that already exist. They are either not aware that these other initiatives exist or they just start their own projects which are identical in theory, but isolated in practice, and instead of merging, they compete. Who does that help? If we bring all of these networks together we can create enormous, undefeatable movements. People don’t realize this crucial point.
Moreover, I often meet Arab activists who speak badly about fellow activists and colleagues. “They are campaigning the wrong way, I will never support them, they piss me off!” Or, “they are so stupid, they don’t know what they are doing.” When I hear these things in conferences I attend, I really lose hope in all activist work in general. I also wonder if the others are saying similar things about me, which is very immature. This is one of the main things we should tackle. It’s one method I apply here, instead of competing with the other activists through our campaigns, we ask for their involvement, we network, we recruit representatives from other similar initiatives in different locations. That helps us a lot, and it helps those whom we encourage and support. This is why in most of our work we are off to a great start.
But look at this other blog, for example, whose writers aim to be helping the Palestinian, Iraqi, and Lebanese cause…
[The following post is in reference to this post at Iraq the Model.]
Iraq the Model on being a House Arab
Remember the two Iraqi asshole brothers that Bush quoted the other day? The idiots over at Iraq “the Model”? Anyway, those two morons JUST had their homes raided by American soldiers. Would you believe that they offered the soldiers BBQ and beer? Can you believe that? How disgusting are they? How embarrassing for them. Those poor pathetic morons.
This hurt me, because Mohammed and Omar are my friends. They really help and support me when I need it. Furthermore, they are Iraqi, so why are non-Iraqi civilians bashing people who want the best for their nation? Their own “mistake” here is apparently not hating the “enemy”!
What they did is helpful and great – yes the US is responsible for awful things going on in Iraq, but these are Iraqis. In Iraq. And they want to STAY in Iraq for a reason! They are in love with their country, and in touch with its people. They also create a lot of networking amongst Iraqi bloggers. I don’t always agree with their views, but we do have a common goal, a better future for our nations. I don’t go and call them assholes because they look at things through the “wrong lens” or express a different opinion.
I love how the writers who called these two Iraqi civilians “assholes” are writing this from the comfort of their own homes in the United States, while the Iraqi writers are writing this from an extremely dangerous location and they are risking their lives for doing what they do. Really, who are the “embarrassing” ones now?
All of these writers however want one thing: peace and stability in Iraq. So, why not be tolerant? Why don’t they work with the writers of Iraq the Model to ensure the fact that their dream comes true for a country they all care about? Honestly, I don’t see why people resort to this kind of hatred when the goal is identical. Forget the opinions, focus on the facts and what’s common between what you want, then work on them. Even if you don’t like the person or you have a personal problem with them, forget it, put your work ahead. Swallow your pride for once and do what matters.
It’s this kind of things that really make me want to separate myself from the other activists who are so concerned about their own personal gains rather than what’s best for their societies. This reaction reminded me so much of the things that are discussed amongst activists in conferences and events. Instead of discussing projects and things we need to do in order to contribute to social change, we are stuck in gossip land talking badly about others (most of whom don’t even deserve it.)
I hope in the future I will not experience this as often, and that we will all respect and tolerate each other no matter what, because the goals, 99% of the time, are always similar.
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I think this is one of your best and sweetest posts!
Thanks Drima, I think it’s because you already know the above so well. It’s hard to come across mature people these days.
Western world progressed because they put aside their differences and worked together. Chinese now understand this, so they are progressing. When the rest of the world figures this out, they will also. Until then, they are fucked.
As usual Jina, I’m loving your funny “crude style”!
The “Western world” didn’t do it because they worked together. They did it because of successful leadership. It’s not the mentalities of the nations at times but rather the mentality of the political institution, which makes a huge difference, because a corrupt government will equal a corrupt nation. If these activists weren’t risking so much for being activists maybe they would quit this crap and actually do some work, but many of them aren’t that courageous.
It’s not a question of who stuck together and who didn’t, it’s a question of leadership and corruption, and how much that’s embedded throughout Arab history. The past two generations were particularly troubled because they were born and raised in a sheltered society while the outside worlds were thriving on their intellectual and creative growth.
I am sure that what I said definitely applies to Western activists – and if you clicked on the link you will see that the person who insulted the two brothers is actually American. I said Arab activists but mostly in reference to activists for an Arab cause, it’s not just something amongst Arabs, but just something I wish to be more realized.
If you see any Western campaign and its opposition groups – it’s very ugly, these are not people who stick together in times of need, definitely not. It just seems better because the political culture is more stable, unlike the cultures we have.
You are dead wrong here. I am not talking about what happened now. I am talking about what happened about 200 years ago when these Western nations gained independence. Anyone with money was able to buy their way through politics. Canada didn’t even have a secret ballet system, people call out the name of the person they are voting for and the candidates bribe people on the spot with beer.
People spend years in prison and people were executed for voicing their differences or taking action against the unjust government. Natives had it the worst being the minority, next came the French. Women were thrown in jail for asking for the right to vote, for asking to have some freedom. Catholics and Protestants fought each other for dominance. Immigrants had next to no right in the new country that they moved to. Trust me, all these mirror any Middle Eastern countries we see now.
You should never compare Western countries now and Middle Eastern countries now, because eliminating corruption and promoting freedumb etc takes time… most ME countries are roughly 50 year old, take a look at Western countries when they were 50 year old.
I honestly don’t understand what my post has to do with Western countries, and why you brought this up. It was specifically about the lack of networking amongst Arab activists, which doesn’t have much to do with the West. In fact, the West has a lot of the same faults – I don’t see a lot of networking amongst their biggest NGOs as well. I only referred to Arabs because of the experience I personally have.
It has nothing to do with the Western world, it has nothing to do with Western history or the history in the Middle East, speaking of which:
Where did you get that from? The region has been around for centuries – Iran, Iraq, Yemen, Lebanon, etc. Even Bahrain, we have at least 6000 years worth of history, a lot of which took place under the historical name “Delmon”, same thing with the UAE, previously called the Trucial states, and the Trucial Oman. They have been around for ages.
And I’m not the one comparing Western countries with the Middle East. I’m the one who said we shouldn’t compare them because they are completely different in terms of history and the interruptions that took place throughout history. We aren’t and will never be the same – our sociology is different, our mentalities and cultures are different, so what works in the West will not and is not working in the Middle East for these exact reasons. We shouldn’t be compared to them, nor should we say “well it worked in the West so you guys must be psychologically backwards,” it’s just the way things are. We’ll never adapt to Western “standards,” which the world considers “the best.” We function under different values. What we consider progress the West might consider backwardness. What we consider valuable the West considers useless. That doesn’t mean we couldn’t be peaceful, but that means the backlash against globalization will always take place. We want to move forward but in different terms, and we want to stay intact to our identities.
You don’t get it. I am not talking about civilization, I am talking about nationhood. History does not equal nationhood. Nationhood is a modern concept.
I merely said why the Western world succeeded from the shit hole they were in and why the Arab world should do the same if you want a better future.
This is what I refuted. The Western world succeeded for a specific reason – LEADERSHIP. If we had leadership that allowed free market economy, free speech, democratic values, we’d be well on our way to a great future.
But we don’t. That is the point. Sweden went from being one of the poorest countries in the world to one of the richest merely due to their opening up of their economy and the ability for its citizens to take full advantage of it – that created competition within the market force, people started creating, buying, selling, big achievements took place. Political, religious, social, and economic rights started being gained, due to good leadership for the most part. The people, our people, have almost no say in it. That’s why they throw them in prisons by the handful, and why it’s considered “radical” to oppose the regimes. People gasp if you criticize. In that kind of locked culture we can’t be compared to the West in terms of who can do best or what we can do. We can’t climb out of our shitholes until our leaders and socio-political elites allow us to.
As for nationhood – you didn’t specify that. You said countries, meaning, a defined territory, which has always been there.
Leadership here didn’t allow for these things either, it was the people who made it possible by working together. Catholics and Protestants managed to work together. French and English worked together. Situation wasn’t identical in every way but it was almost there.
Leaders are not going allow this if the people don’t unite and if you think they are, then good luck with that.
People have to unite to overthrow these government or force them to change, or else nothings going to get done.
Yeah, I wish we can just be joined by billions of Chinese people and have them rally with us against the oppressive regimes (thankfully I think we in Bahrain can actually reason with the government, they are not half as bad as the ones in Egypt, Libya, Yemen, Iran, etc.) That would be pretty hilarious (I mean, if no one dies.)
And then I declare myself Queen of the region, and mess the place up even further, ’cause power corrupts, and I favor money over lives, mwahah.