This is with reference to the article “The Arab-West relationship” (March 1) by Ramzy Baroud. So once again the western world has been blamed for the problems of the Middle East. The writer just stopped short for accusing the West for the eruption of the so-called Arab Spring across the Arab world.

This mentality can never help resolve the lingering issues in this part of the world. Many people might argue that the writer had a point and he was correct in saying that the West did not understand the Arab world and used the one-size-fits-all approach while dealing with the Middle East. I have nothing against the writer’s views. As a matter of fact, I have huge respect for him but he and his Arab counterparts should take necessary measures to address the issues.

All right, for a moment just assume that the West is responsible for the current and previous problems in the region. What role has the Arabs played? Foreign powers can never impose their will until and unless they find some loopholes in the system or weakness in other nations. The Arab intelligentsia needs to identify those weaknesses that have been effectively exploited to our disadvantage.

Most of the Arab nations have been independent from colonial rule for over six decades. This is good enough time for any nation or group of people to achieve great feats. We Arabs only used our talents and resources in immaterial things. We did not invest in education, media and industry. In today’s world, it is all about economics. We could have had emerged as a strong market for the rest of the world or an industrial hub but we chose not to. Now, please don’t blame the West for this.

I do believe that the western countries particularly the United States have abandoned us but we should consider this as a blessing in disguise. With a proper strategy, we still have a chance to bounce back with full strength and a new vigor. But for that to achieve, we need to change our mentality of blaming others. We should have the courage to accept our follies and take steps to rectify our faults and work together for a better future.