Here are a few
simplistic reflections – they come from a “heedful idiot” – about the wave of
uprisings that arise throughout the Arab world.
Until now, it
seems that the main reason of the revolt is a deep desire of freedom, in front
of the unbearable arrogance of senile and corrupt tyrants. The fundamental
demand of the people of Tunisia, then Egypt and Libya, etc., is to bee freed of
those who embody these oppresive and maffioso regimes. The main drive of the
uprising comes from urban middle classes, people who have access to the media
and are connected to the social networks. The islamist groups or parties,
although present and influent in these countries, seem to have been overtaken
by events.
The western
democratic model – so disparaged by our extreme left and anti-globalisation
activists – seems henceforth desirable for these people that we regarded as not
being “ready for democracy”.
Of course, in
each of these countries, a risk exists that well structured organizations – the
army, or islamist groups – hijack the bustle. It is the case, in particular, in
Egypt, where the Muslim Brothers are strong, structured, and well organised all
over the country. But, if this had regrettably to occur, it would clearly be in
defiance of what the people have expressed: a disgust for the dictatorships
which hold them captives. As a matter of fact, one of the most surprising things,
in the events of these last weeks, was the absence – or rarity – of religious
watchwords or demands.
Even more
significant is the fact that, neither in Tunisia, nor in Egypt and today in
Libya, anti-Israeli slogans are utterd. It is not Israeli or American flags
which are burned on public squares, but the portraits of the tyrants. How can
you explain that, while Arab leaders – and a large number of western analysts –
offload all the responsibility of the Arab people’s misfortunes on the “Zionist
ennemy”? For them, no doubt about it: beat Israël hands down and everything
will be going beautifully from Maghreb to Machrek... But that “old story”
does’nt work any more. These men and women know henceforth who despises and
oppresses them. Let us hope that they can defend themselves, with the same
courage and determination, against an Islam claiming to resume control of their
spirits and their bodies.
Fiodor
(*) This text was posted (on "un idiot attentif") in march
2011, a few weeks after the beginning of the Arabic uprisings in Tunisia, Libya
and Egypt. In these days, it was difficult to forsee that islamist groups would
take the power. Today, the hopes raised by these events are seriously
questioned. That is why I wrote this other article, posted in december 2011:
Confiscated
spring...
It seems clear, today, that I reacted by excess of optimism when the first buds of the “Arab spring” appeared. Everywhere, islamist parties seize power: another demonstration of the fact that elections are a necessary component of democracy, but that it is not sufficient by itself. Such a scenario is observed in Egypt, where the alliance of Muslim Brothers and Salafists conquers an overwhelming majority...
However, it is
clear that the men – and, still more, the women – who restaured the freedom of
speech and started that spring-like wave, have little in common with the
various islamist groups, even “moderate”. These people, most of them young and
of a cultural level upper to the average, were determined to build institutions
freed from religious grip. They fought for democracy, and... they collect
shari’a!
How, then,
could we remain optimistic? Some event viewers tend to see, in the political
scene which is setting up, the emergence of a new caliphate... But there is no room
for despair. Indeed, the heavy pressure of political Islam will probably be
felt during a long period. It may rely on it’s strategy of indoctrination and
on the blind conformity it leads into a little educated population. However, my
conviction is that islamism, quite as the other totalitarianisms, cannot last
infinitely.
Fiodor
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