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Books and Propaganda

Reader comment on item: Cairene Book Covers

Submitted by Sammish (United States), Jul 31, 2008 at 11:36

I always wondered why many so-called educated Egyptians as well as other Arab nationals have a very unidimentional and extremist view of Israel as a major problem or sore in the middle east region. Their diatribes against the Jewish state in many TV interviews (not only counting the state controlled media but also the seemingly privately owned and powefull media giants like Al-Jazeera) seem completely out of place due to their educational background and attainment which most have acquired in western universities and colleges. It is a puzzle.

One would think that their educational years in the west would exposed them if not to the lies and propaganda of anti-jewish rants but at least to the art of rational and factual human inquiry about the true nature of jewish history and civilization.

I believe that these same "educated" people are the authors of these books or translators of Nazi books from europe. These authors are not the backwards turban wearing medrasa graduates, they are modern educated intellectuals, newspapers editors and university professors (I am sure they are exception) whose sole goal is the undermining peace and rapprochement of Jewish state with its arabs neighbors.

However, I truly believe that the most damaging problem lies not in these printed books targeting the literate few adults but the eductional books and curricular contents of history books targeting elementary, junior and high school students in Egypt. The situation is alarming because I have seen the contents on some websites. What is taught to children is extremely counter-productive and outright criminal against human reason and decency. The elementary school books about geography and history are revisionist and outright anti-semitic to the core. How can anyone see any postive changes in the political outlook of the region when children are fed such lies and propaganda.

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".

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Reader comments (19) on this item

Title Commenter Date Thread
Anti Semitic books in Cairo [78 words]Doris GuttentagOct 27, 2008 16:03141157
Anti US and Antisemetic books in Egypt [94 words]TazeenAug 19, 2008 04:01137002
1I've got a problem with articles like this... [471 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
Kevin MorrowAug 11, 2008 16:22136591
freedom of press [14 words]Emad MuhiydeenovichAug 10, 2008 17:19136547
No, it's called hypocrisy!!! [78 words]JaladhiAug 14, 2008 11:45136547
Egyptians and books in modern classical Arabic [468 words]dhimmi no moreAug 2, 2008 07:40136112
The role of books in Muslim countries [118 words]UgriAug 2, 2008 06:07136109
Egyptian sensationalism [285 words]Rebecca MouldsAug 1, 2008 10:32136057
Ever read the Guardian, Kos, Move on, Counterpunch etcetera? [47 words]Nick GoodAug 1, 2008 07:09136049
The non-political books are also revealing [135 words]JJAug 1, 2008 02:22136035
You Can Buy Looney Books in Any Country [17 words]C.Jul 31, 2008 18:24136016
You Can Buy Looney Books in Any Country? [64 words]KristaAug 1, 2008 20:34136016
Here's a really looney book [98 words]onlytruthAug 9, 2008 12:42136016
So Much for the Camp David "Peace" in 1979. [149 words]YnnatchkahJul 31, 2008 14:55136007
Books and Propaganda [300 words]SammishJul 31, 2008 11:36135970
getting the other viewpoint [118 words]G.VishvasAug 1, 2008 07:31135970
what other viewpoint? [112 words]SammishAug 4, 2008 15:43135970
why read books when you have the internet? [35 words]CandideAug 5, 2008 02:44135970
let the criticised have a say too [118 words]G.VishvasAug 6, 2008 04:40135970

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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".

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