The Arab Ummah — Arab Muslims as a whole — should say “no” with a loud voice to all forms of humiliation and disgrace which they suffer these days. Arabs have to shout at those who try to loot their Arabism, distort their history and destroy their culture! But this cannot be achieved by the repetition of “no” and the issuing of statements and then falling into deep sleep, snoring in the open for all to watch!
The Arab Ummah will not be able to hold its head high when its body is weak. It is impossible for Arabs to confront the coming hurricanes from the United States when all their doors and windows are either cracked or shattered. It is sheer foolishness to believe that the Arabs can fight with king of the jungle with broken nails and blunt claws. When man becomes powerful, all animals in the forest are afraid of him. When his power is weakened, the animals fall upon him.
Sometime ago Bill Gates, chairman of Microsoft, announced his desire to invest in research and development in Israel despite the worsening security situation there. The move resulted in Arab anger but the anger lost its intensity in no time. There were calls to boycott American products following the massacre of Palestinians in Jenin and Nablus to protest Washington’s unqualified support for Israel and passivity in the face of massacres.
I was among those who supported the boycott. At the same time, I urged Arab countries to take measures to ensure substitutes in place of American goods. Most Arab countries, especially those in the Gulf, are consumer states, and import what they require. Against the backdrop of the present economic, social and political situation, is it not time for these countries, which depend solely on oil revenues, to change their policies? Is it not time for these countries to use their oil money to diversify their revenue sources by encouraging national industries and opening more technical colleges and institutes?
We all know that these difficult goals cannot be realized in a day or two. The building process will naturally take decades. But establishing strong pillars for future development is much better than sitting idly inside a dilapidated house, which may collapse at any time.
If we look at Arab countries from the Gulf to the Mediterranean, we find that Arab unity is a thing of the past. Libya cannot be blamed for its decision to leave the Arab League. Now Qatar is planning to follow Libya. It shows that Arabism has lost its relevance and every Arab country is working for its own interests.
Look at the general situation in most Arab countries, especially at the young people who have graduated from university but who can find no job. How can Arabs get along with developed countries and demand justice at international forums when they do not apply it in their own lands? How can they demand political supremacy and independent resolutions when their governments rule their people with iron fists and execute people in public?
Meanwhile, Arab officials harp on their past scientific achievement. Our educational policies remain the same without much change. Our universities are isolated from social issues. The gap between them and the youth is growing day by day as the authorities remain insensitive to the needs and ambitions of youth.
How can we bring up enlightened generations when most Arab governments persist in isolating their youth from the issues of the Ummah, making them a group of educated illiterates? How can we have societies based on transparency when we depend on information media which acts as the megaphone of their governments. Our people can’t demand their rights without fear. Judiciary in most Arab countries has been politicized and lost its prestige.
Splits and disintegration have weakened the Arabs in all areas. There is something simmering underneath and I hope it is the kind of volcano that produces something which will turn barren earth into a fertile land.
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(Zainab Al-Hafni is a Saudi writer. She is based in Jeddah.)
Arab News Features 20 December 2002