While I think colonialism can become an excuse for bad, corrupt governments behaving badly, it's hard to separate out all the promise and opportunity in some of these countries — Iran, Afghanistan, Iraq — from Western (and Soviet) meddling, which left them ravaged, poorer, angry, and susceptible to takeover an…
While I think colonialism can become an excuse for bad, corrupt governments behaving badly, it's hard to separate out all the promise and opportunity in some of these countries — Iran, Afghanistan, Iraq — from Western (and Soviet) meddling, which left them ravaged, poorer, angry, and susceptible to takeover and radicalization. Once upon a time, I was pursuing a history degree with this general focus.
Anyway, I think you're right that young people (and, increasingly, old one too!) are fed up with the status quo in many of these countries. They want security, liberty, and stability. Israel has a really great opportunity, here, to help Palestinians get all three — and to help itself in the process.
I agree « Israel has a great opportunity to help Palestinians » but as it stands now I can’t imagine Palestinians ever cooperating with Jews. My brother backpacked around the Middle East back in the 70’s and 80’s when it was somewhat safe then for a white male, and he was invited to share dinner often with families (men only, of course). He said languages, cuisine, and culture changed depending on region, except for one thing in common: hatred of Jews. Dogs, they were called. I never forgot that, anecdotal as it is. I truly want to be an optimist like you Justin and I do wish the best for Palestinians. They live in paradise. In my very humble opinion (hope to be argued out of it) I think they would have to rise above Islam and Sharia to overcome a medieval mindset and truly flourish.
Reading that comment it strikes me that the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence for populations. Countries that are blowing up want stability and countries that have had stability for decades currently have pretty big chunks of their populations that seem to want to blow it up.
I appreciate the skepticism!
While I think colonialism can become an excuse for bad, corrupt governments behaving badly, it's hard to separate out all the promise and opportunity in some of these countries — Iran, Afghanistan, Iraq — from Western (and Soviet) meddling, which left them ravaged, poorer, angry, and susceptible to takeover and radicalization. Once upon a time, I was pursuing a history degree with this general focus.
Anyway, I think you're right that young people (and, increasingly, old one too!) are fed up with the status quo in many of these countries. They want security, liberty, and stability. Israel has a really great opportunity, here, to help Palestinians get all three — and to help itself in the process.
I agree « Israel has a great opportunity to help Palestinians » but as it stands now I can’t imagine Palestinians ever cooperating with Jews. My brother backpacked around the Middle East back in the 70’s and 80’s when it was somewhat safe then for a white male, and he was invited to share dinner often with families (men only, of course). He said languages, cuisine, and culture changed depending on region, except for one thing in common: hatred of Jews. Dogs, they were called. I never forgot that, anecdotal as it is. I truly want to be an optimist like you Justin and I do wish the best for Palestinians. They live in paradise. In my very humble opinion (hope to be argued out of it) I think they would have to rise above Islam and Sharia to overcome a medieval mindset and truly flourish.
Reading that comment it strikes me that the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence for populations. Countries that are blowing up want stability and countries that have had stability for decades currently have pretty big chunks of their populations that seem to want to blow it up.