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"The Arab Mind"

Reader comment on item: If Not [Arab-Israeli] Peace Now, What?

Submitted by Alvin Samuels (United States), Jul 14, 2008 at 23:12

The following quotes from Rafael Patai's "The Arab Mind" Scribners 1973 reflect why it was described by the New Yorker as "A sympathetic wide-ranging study". Regarding conflict proneness Khaldun says "The Arab can obtain authority only by making use of some religious coloring…because of their savagery, the Arabs are least willing of nations to subordinate themselves to each other, as they are rude, proud, ambitious and eager to be the leader." (Pg20.)

Lest you think this only applies to Arabs, Khaldun's disciple Taqi al-Din Ahmad al-Maqrizi, the most eminent of Mamluk historians and himself an Egyptian, says about his countrymen "The Egyptians' character is dominated by inconstancy, indecision, indolence cowardice, despondency, avarice, impatience disdain of study, fearfulness, jealousy, slander, falsehood, readiness to denounce others to the king…the vilest faults produced by the meanness of the soul." (Pg 21)

Conflict proneness "is in the Arab bloodstream". (Pg 218) according to Wilfred Cantwell Smith Arab and Egyptian societies have deteriorated to a point where violence is almost inevitable. This is to be understood in terms of a people who have lost their way, whose heritage has proven unequal to modernity, whose leaders have been dishonest, whose ideals have failed. In this aspect, the new Islamic upsurge is a force not to solve problems but to intoxicate those who cannot longer abide the failure to solve them." (Pg 162)

This was true then and now we witness a people who teach hate, raise their children to become bombs and dance in the street when they murder innocent civilians. Flying planes into buildings killing thousands are the most telling measure of their place in humanity. "Unless totally and hopelessly defeated" (Pg 225) the worst is yet to come.

Alvin Samuels, TX

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Reader comments (24) on this item

Title Commenter Date Thread
Obama has the wrong associations. [22 words]Robert S. WeissOct 31, 2008 21:43141692
Iran's Not Civilized! [138 words]Jonathan SelbyAug 13, 2008 17:07136681
Diplomacy failed, US is Out and Israel's on it's Own [159 words]Jonathan SelbyAug 13, 2008 17:05136680
Obama's two-state destruction of Israel [365 words]DrRJPJul 31, 2008 11:15135969
It must be a miracle! [231 words]Ken BesigJul 16, 2008 11:08135278
"The Arab Mind" [287 words]Alvin SamuelsJul 14, 2008 23:12135116
What about restrict it to Islamists? [78 words]YnnatchkahJul 16, 2008 23:56135116
THE HORRIFIC 2-STATE LIE! [229 words]IamJosephJul 7, 2008 22:53134607
If Not Arab-Israeli Peace Now What--The Horrifice 2-State Lie-Joseph is Right [192 words]AnneJul 16, 2008 09:01134607
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How many need to Die- Response to Marwan [285 words]AnneOct 10, 2008 19:24134607
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afraid of Death [42 words]Ahmed KhotaJul 21, 2008 05:38134438
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diatribe without substance [231 words]vinod gulatiAug 31, 2008 02:35134428
"diatribe without substance." Are you kidding me? [1274 words]Kay PSep 1, 2008 07:58134428
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Israeli State Future Decade [891 words]Lame CherryJul 4, 2008 21:32134418

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