69 million page views

Upheavals and Revolutions - Not All Are the Same - Not All Seek the Freedom of the Truth

Reader comment on item: What's the Goal in Libya?
in response to reader comment: Revolutions.

Submitted by M. Tovey (United States), Jun 27, 2011 at 17:15

So, using the caption 'revolutions,' let us approach the 'Arab Unrest' and answer the presumptive question: why not Muslims? Conceivably this could have far reaching implications, but let us consider just a few. Leave out the Western societies, for the circumstances of 'liberation and freedom' are considered differently from East to West.

From there, let us examine how it is that one of the most 'Muslim' countries around, the KSA, would not fare well in the process of democratization, for the people have expressed their hopes and fears there, but cannot successfully argue that separating the government from its Islamically instituted autocracy from the wealth that gives it its power can ever be accomplished to the benefit of the people. Or, let us move to the 'revolution' that formed the Islamic Republic of Iran, a government that took a form of democracy, but cannot practice it due to the overshadowing control of its Islamically controlled clergy.

Maybe Egypt then, which has a supposed framework of democracy, but of which it not instituted for the military intervention that is described as being necessary for the sake of the unity of the country, how is that working? However, do not try to explain the democratic 'freedoms' of non-Muslim citizens, Egyptians by ethnicity, yet foreigners in the place they were born for not aligning with the 'Muslim' ideology.

Then there is the Sudan, Somalia, and maybe Yemen. How do they work out their issues: are they intent on becoming democracies? For a while, Turkey came the closest to be democratic with a Muslim influence; but as can be seen, the secularism that once allowed Turkey to be more socially integrated has given sway to the more ideologically Muslim characteristics as outlined by PM Erdogan. Leave us not ignore Libya, which by this understanding is one theatre of operations the United States should have left well enough alone, even in view of the Lockerbie incident. If American justice was to be served for the murders of the passengers on 103, its execution was mishandled by others and it should fall to them to make restitution. It will never be properly accorded the justice necessary by this or any other means except that Qaddafi surrenders to authorities for his part in the conspiracy.

If we are to get at the true reason for the unrest that seems to trouble the world for its lack of understanding, Islam is not looking for democratic reforms, but a means to implement the tenets of belief in the quest for ummah. Quite a group of Muslims in America live in a society that has already provided the environment for freedoms in the framework of liberty; but it has been shown this is not good enough for many of them, their own words preaching the overthrow of the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution. If there are any doubts about how many Muslims view American freedoms, look at the dishonor being perpetrated upon the City of New York, being compelled to give space for the inceptive ideology that leveled the World Trade Center.

Why not the Muslims? Listen to the shouting all over the world, in Arabic, Berber, Farsi, Somali, Afrikaans and all the rest, in Waziristan, Tehran, Damascus, Amsterdam, London, Dearborn and all the rest. It is evident it is not what they really want; but for the moment, it is a means to get what they want.

Submitting....

Note: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the authors alone and not necessarily those of Daniel Pipes. Original writing only, please. Comments are screened and in some cases edited before posting. Reasoned disagreement is welcome but not comments that are scurrilous, off-topic, commercial, disparaging religions, or otherwise inappropriate. For complete regulations, see the "Guidelines for Reader Comments".

Submit a comment on this item

<< Previous Comment      Next Comment >>

Reader comments (37) on this item

Title Commenter Date Thread
11Sharia -Free zone [102 words]Michael Hanni MorcosOct 22, 2011 20:32190295
8Libya and Sharia [132 words]ZeenaOct 24, 2011 10:54190295
1Oil and Libya [95 words]Fatima SenateOct 17, 2011 20:28190104
A New Form of Power in Libya [124 words]M. ToveyOct 20, 2011 15:18190104
Two Libyas would be nice but unattainable [134 words]p. schwartzJul 16, 2011 17:58187458
Libya [9 words]Lujack SkylarkAug 4, 2011 14:19187458
4Self-Determinism in Libya [45 words]BB KingJun 19, 2011 20:07186478
What's the Goal in Libya? [195 words]Balarabe AbbaJun 19, 2011 08:53186467
Good plan. Let's implement it [171 words]Frank LukeJun 18, 2011 21:18186458
Islamic Democarcy [118 words]Naushad OmarJun 18, 2011 13:06186442
I hope you're right [56 words]Peter HerzJun 21, 2011 10:30186442
Islam and democracy [142 words]Naushad OmarJun 22, 2011 13:53186442
There is elect and felicity in the Qur'an! Sobhanallah [185 words]dhimmi no moreJun 23, 2011 06:52186442
1There are deeper problems at work [232 words]Peter HerzJun 23, 2011 14:48186442
Yes Islam IS Democracy. [128 words]SHAMSUDDINEAug 11, 2011 08:21186442
Oh the great Islamic democracy [75 words]PrashantAug 12, 2011 01:48186442
1Why I supported the Libya adventure [390 words]John in Michigan, USAJun 18, 2011 06:17186429
Not so Abnormal [98 words]Jay1Jun 18, 2011 05:51186427
Israel [2 words]Naushad OmarJun 22, 2011 14:01186427
confused policy [154 words]mythJun 18, 2011 05:02186426
Dark forces at work [40 words]Avi HeynsJun 18, 2011 04:08186424
Revolutions. [39 words]naushad OmarJun 22, 2011 14:04186424
Since when are Muslims a nation? [129 words]saraJun 22, 2011 18:09186424
1Naushad's question: "So why not Muslims" [98 words]Avi HeynsJun 23, 2011 03:09186424
Upheavals and Revolutions - Not All Are the Same - Not All Seek the Freedom of the Truth [571 words]M. ToveyJun 27, 2011 17:15186424
Why not be civilized? [77 words]Sigmund SilberJun 18, 2011 03:36186420
WMD's [9 words]Naushad OmarJun 22, 2011 14:06186420
1More islamic hypocrisy and ignorance [100 words]dhimmi no moreJun 23, 2011 06:58186420
Let's be civilized. [150 words]Sigmund SilberJun 23, 2011 10:52186420
Vanity lives for its reflection in the mirror [22 words]Abu NudnikJun 17, 2011 23:40186418
Get out! [71 words]Peter HerzJun 17, 2011 23:26186417
Arab democratic movement. [32 words]Naushad OmarJun 22, 2011 14:13186417
Are the Arabs and Muslims really being freed? [113 words]Peter HerzJun 23, 2011 14:40186417
Splitting Libya? [176 words]Nenette GrunbergJun 17, 2011 22:55186416
Alternative Proposal, Dr. Pipes [111 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
Aymenn Jawad Al-TamimiJun 17, 2011 20:49186413
Ulterior Motives [121 words]M. ToveyJun 20, 2011 11:00186413
1A waste of time and money [54 words]Rebecca MouldsJun 17, 2011 20:46186412

Follow Daniel Pipes

Facebook   Twitter   RSS   Join Mailing List

All materials by Daniel Pipes on this site: © 1968-2024 Daniel Pipes. daniel.pipes@gmail.com and @DanielPipes

Support Daniel Pipes' work with a tax-deductible donation to the Middle East Forum.Daniel J. Pipes

(The MEF is a publicly supported, nonprofit organization under section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code.

Contributions are tax deductible to the full extent allowed by law. Tax-ID 23-774-9796, approved Apr. 27, 1998.

For more information, view our IRS letter of determination.)