The success of the Islamic myth of victimhood
Reader comment on item: [Fixing] Islam's Image Problem

Submitted by Ken Besig (Israel), Aug 2, 2003 at 14:03

I commented to Amir Taheri (regarding his review of an Islamic conference) just recently that the Islamic myth of victimhood with its accompanying mantle of self pity has been a resounding success. It has been a success in the Islamic world insuring that dictatorial regimes and monarchies remain in power indefinitely in spite of the fact that these regimes have failed in every possible sphere regarding their own peoples. When one looks clearly at the Moslem world what really stands out is the stark and bitter poverty, ignorance, violence, hate, and fear that are the most prominent aspects of daily life in that world. Yet Arab Islamic regime change is practically unheard of, even though the situation is deteriorating. Indeed, as I write this, the President of Egypt, the most powerful and largest of the Arab Islamic states is grooming his son, Gamal, to be his successor. Hafez Assad, the Syrian dictator did the same thing for his son, Bashar. Need I mention the Saudi, Morroccan, or the Jordanian monarchies?

Worse, this myth of Islamic victimhood and Islamic self pity has remarkably, gained many powerful adherents in the non Islamic West who even promote this false narrative more strongly than its Islamic believers. Daniel Pipes has fallen himself victim to this charade by its ultra liberal American proponents ... and there is very little he can to do reverse his situation. However, I hope this reversal process can be started eventually, the myths of Islamic vicitmhood debunked, and the Islamic world released from this tragic prison of dictatorship, lies and distortions of their reality.

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