What the West Doesn't Understand about the Arab Nations...
By ParaTed2k
@ParaTed2k (22940)
Sheboygan, Wisconsin
April 22, 2008 12:55am CST
By talking to them he is acknowledging that their claim to authority. By undermining the sitting president Carter is telling them that he resects them more than he respects the United States.
Arab culture is all about authority. Authority is respected by who bows down to them. Bowing down isn't always a phyical act. Every time anyone shows more respect to them than their peers, it bolsters the position of the person being respected.
Remember when Pelosi went to Syria with her head covered? What we in the West saw was one government official respecting the customs of the country she was visiting. What Arabs saw was that Pelosi was willing to cover her head for Syria and Syrian leaders, but not for her own country, or her nation.
What she did was show the Arab world that she respects them more than she respects the US or her own husband.
Remember back in 90, when Hussein released that video of him and the 10 year old American boy? What we saw was Hussein sitting with an American boy, patting his head and being friendly.
What the Arab world saw was Hussein putting the boy under his left hand. The Iraqi Officer doubled the insult the same way. To touch another person with your left hand is to shame them. To put them under your left hand is to demean them.
When will the West finally learn that unless we treat Arab leaders as equals, we shame ourselves in their eyes?
2 responses
@bradhart (659)
• United States
22 Apr 08
"What the Arab world saw was Hussein putting the boy under his left hand. The Iraqi Officer doubled the insult the same way. To touch another person with your left hand is to shame them. To put them under your left hand is to demean them. "
This is a very old middle eastern custom and the root of the phrase to turn the other cheek. That phrase literally means if you have been slapped to turn your other cheek towards the attacker in defiance and make them strike you as a equal the second time. It is all about posturing.
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
22 Apr 08
If it's "old" then "old" is 90-91. The left hand is the one they use to wash their backsides after defecating. They don't use toilet paper. To extend your left hand to someone is to defile them with feces.
Yes, they do wash their hands, they are clean people. It is a figurative gesture only, but among the worst insults you can give a person.
@flowerchilde (12529)
• United States
22 Apr 08
..yes, but don't you know it's the conservative party and all conservatives (especially George W Bush) which are the true and grave danger to the world?
