Golden Age of Islam

It takes decades to learn democracy. Germany first tried it in 1918. Democracy merely lasted 15 years then it became a total failure. But the second try after 1945 was a huge success. So it's very likely that Egypt's democracy will fail. It's clearly headed for theocratic fascism. So we need a second wave of the Arab Spring. The same is happening in Russia.

JeddahBoy wrote: Without the economic success of the Marshall Plan and denazification, who knows what would have happened?  Those Middle Eastern countries need help too.  In the form of education.  I prefer democracy, but without a well-educated population - it's crap.  Singapore is authoritarian, but because the population is well-educated - you get success.  It takes time, but it is well worth the wait.

I totally agree. And I'm in favor of a new "Marshall Plan" for the Middle East. Yes, education should be priority number one. But, number two is investments. Now here's the problem. After WWII the Allied forces stayed in Germany to make sure the path toward democracy turned into a street and highway. Investments into a new totalitarian system doesn't make sense. Now who should pay for the Marshall Plan in Egypt and Tunisia? Saudi Arabia? They use their money to export theocratic fascism, not democracy. The US and EU? But Egypt just elected theocratic fascists who won't create a constitution worthy of a democracy? If the US and EU invested, the Muslim Brotherhood would use this Marshall Plan money to hire religious police that make sure every Egyptian woman wears a face veil and that Copts pay their jizya surcharge. They would use the money to promote their religious agenda. Innovation is seen as a threat. Germans elected democratic parties after the war, because they already existed before the war. Egypt does not have that tradition. So what can we do?

A good education system also takes time to establish. Singapore benefited from the UK. Egypt's education system is in a dismal state. Curiosity at school isn't rewarded. It gets punished. You'd need a whole set of new teachers with a modern mindset. But who will teach the teachers?

I expect the situation in Egypt get worse. Soon the first tourists will boycott the country. Who wants to have a good time in Sharia land? The Egyptian economy will crash. Maybe in time, the Egyptians will realize that the Muslim Brotherhood is the problem and not the solution.





Edited by Matt Browne - 04 December 2012 at 6:09am

Good posts jeddaboy, and I'd say that the Philippines have gone through just about as much as anyone would wish to go through.  They've have tough times, yet they have made it haven't they?
Yes, education is key.
It is my understanding that at one time that was one of the strongest points in Afghanistan and among the Afghanistan people... before Russia came along and then when Russia was driven out the taliban drove out everything good which once existed there.


Edited by Caringheart - 04 December 2012 at 2:49pm

Hello jeddaboy,
I was sorry to see the news reports today of the Philippines and the typhoon. 
I immediately thought of you.
Caringheart