Article

2005-02-05 Syria-Lebanon-Iran

Democracy after elections may encourage change in Iran — Kadivar

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Posted by Fred 2005-02-05 00:00:00 AM|| || Front Page|| [3 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 Three years ago, as Rantburg and other sites really started disseminating information about Salafism, and before knowledge of it entered the mainstream, I Googled "wahabi" and came up with three or four pages of nothing but anti-wahabi websites (mostly Sufi and Shia would be my guess).

Shiite theologians had actually done a lot of work to try and reconcile Islam with modernity before the Shah fell. Even Khomeini's son has taken that position.

Most Germans and Japanese behaved pretty well after we rooted out the Nazis and militarists. Of course the Muslim world has other problems.

I think that besides Islam, the other real problem in the Middle East is the herd mentality. What tipped me off was the opinion polls. Results would keep coming back in the high 90's. No population is that homogenous in thought. When the pollsters arrive, _someone_ (mullah/sheikh/mukhabarat -- you pick) is putting the word out on the street to answer in such and such a way. We have to break the tribes. Only then does change come.

Posted by 11A5S 2005-02-05 1:00:12 AM|| 2005-02-05 1:00:12 AM|| Front Page Top

#2 11A5S - Amen. Tribalism as a major root cause for grief (from corruption to jihadi support networks) is certainly spot-on, IMHO. One guy can make an entire region either a sanctuary - or a hotzone - as happened in this story yesterday - the only positive thing I've seen about tribes in years. Hell, I think all of Africa can be added to the M.E. as proof of your point. Being from the wrong side of the river, from one bend to the next, seems to be grounds for murder.

Posted by .com 2005-02-05 1:14:28 AM|| 2005-02-05 1:14:28 AM|| Front Page Top

#3 The reason the western world has advanced is because we have got rid of the tribalism . Every place the tribalist mentality flourishes is backwards and steeped in ignorance.
The US is the ultimate anti tribalist society. We are anti tribalism and pretty much anti class. That is why we are so far ahead of Europe. They still are very class based societies.

Posted by Sock Puppet of Doom 2005-02-05 3:13:34 AM|| [http://www.slhess.com] 2005-02-05 3:13:34 AM|| Front Page Top

#4 ...Europe. They still are very class based societiesSPoD, I would add: "...while they don't have much class to flaunt."

Posted by Sobiesky 2005-02-05 3:20:31 AM|| 2005-02-05 3:20:31 AM|| Front Page Top

#5 Sobiesky, dear, you are such a New World snob! (Me, too, but dont't tell anyone)

Posted by trailing wife 2005-02-05 8:55:59 AM|| 2005-02-05 8:55:59 AM|| Front Page Top

#6 TW, I am not sure I am, if so, so be it, but considering that I lived in Europe for the first 30 years of my life, is it unreasonable to accept that I know my pappenheimers? :-)

Posted by Sobiesky 2005-02-05 9:11:01 AM|| 2005-02-05 9:11:01 AM|| Front Page Top

#7 no tribalism? You've never seen an Oakland Raider home game, huh?

Posted by Frank G 2005-02-05 11:53:47 AM|| 2005-02-05 11:53:47 AM|| Front Page Top

#8 You know Pappenheimers, I know Pfaffelhubers. I like to think we're the best kind of snob: those who are justified.

Posted by trailing wife 2005-02-05 12:02:19 PM|| 2005-02-05 12:02:19 PM|| Front Page Top

#9 lol

Posted by Frank G 2005-02-05 12:05:39 PM|| 2005-02-05 12:05:39 PM|| Front Page Top

#10 All I can tell you Frank G is look at that sheite hole Oakland. The state had to step in a run the bankrupt school system, It's the home of "ebonics" and Jerry Brown is the Mayor. Most people wearing Raiders jerseys are gang bangers, live in the Bario or getto. Tribalism at work.

Posted by Sock Puppet of Doom 2005-02-05 1:14:24 PM|| [http://www.slhess.com] 2005-02-05 1:14:24 PM|| Front Page Top

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