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| Al-Quds Al-Arabi Editor Calls on Obama to 'Impose US Equality, Rights, on Arab countries |
| 2008-11-13 |
| 'Al-Quds Al-Arabi' Editor Abd Al-Bari Atwan Calls on Obama to 'Impose American Model of Equality, Rights, and Opportunities on All Arab Countries,' Says: In an Arab Country, Obama Would Be Told, 'You Are a Slave'; 'We Arabs Are The Epitome of Racism' Following are excerpts from an interview with Abd Al-Bari 'Atwan, editor-in-chief of the London daily Al-Quds Al-Arabi. The interview aired on BBC Arabic TV on November 7, 2008: To view this clip on MEMRI TV. Interviewer: "Is it really so difficult to achieve a breakthrough in the Arab ruling system, similar to what happened in the U.S? Will it take decades or centuries, Abd Al-Bari 'Atwan?" Abd Al-Bari 'Atwan: "By coincidence, at a time when a black president was elected in the U.S., President Bouteflika amended the Algerian constitution so that he could remain in power for the rest of his life. "What a paradox this is. In the U.S., not only is the change of power carried out by peaceful means, but there is [now] a black president - [who came] from the lowest ranks of society to the top. "If Obama was in an Arab country, like Saudi Arabia or one of the Gulf states, they might have required him to have a 'guarantor' [like any foreign worker]. Under no circumstances - even if he died - would they have given him citizenship. They'd say to him: You are a slave, you are black, you need a 'guarantor,' you are a Kenyan, and your origins are unknown. "I'm sad to say that we Arabs are the epitome of racism. Look at the foreign [workers] in the Gulf - they have no rights. These workers demonstrate, demanding to be placed 10, rather than 20, in a room, demanding to be transported in buses like human beings, rather than in trucks like beasts. "We are the epitome of racism, and I believe that Obama will demand that these Arab countries carry out reforms: First, to abolish the 'guarantor' system, and then to grant rights not only to the blacks, but even to the Arabs themselves, to the whites. The whites in the Arab world are humiliated. Unless you have the 'holy' citizenship of a certain country - you are humiliated. "Obama should impose the American model of equality, rights, and opportunities on all the Arab countries." |
| Posted by:anonymous5089 |
| #6 I believe that Obama will demand that these Arab countries carry out reforms Jimmy Carter redux. |
| Posted by: Pappy 2008-11-13 21:27 |
| #5 Gutsy editor, but he doesn't understand the American model. Equality cannot be imposed, as it is an attitude; changing the heart changes the mind, resulting in how we view others. As for rights, they are derived from our Constitution, which they are free to adopt. We would all gladly support the reform from within, as fascist Islam is the only ideal we cannot tolerate and survive. |
| Posted by: Danielle 2008-11-13 17:18 |
| #4 I believe that Obama will demand that these Arab countries carry out reforms Now there's an idea. Remind me, please, how these same Arab countries responded to the second/third most powerful person in the world during the Bush administration, Secretary of State Dr. Condoleeza Rice? |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2008-11-13 16:04 |
| #3 Blacks in the US struggled for decades to earn their rights. It wasn't something imposed from without. Now that you have seen one of the problems fix it. |
| Posted by: rjschwarz 2008-11-13 15:40 |
| #2 "Obama should impose..." Does anyone recall hearing any foreigner say that GWB should impose the American system on Arabia? |
| Posted by: AlanC 2008-11-13 13:27 |
| #1 "I'm sad to say that we Arabs are the epitome of racism He will be killed for telling the truth!!!! |
| Posted by: Paul2 2008-11-13 13:17 |