Yours and Damir’s conversation with Robert Nicholson was one of the best on record. The most interesting part for me was when you discussed the suppression of natural Arab/Islamic identity. You view the autocratic rulers who govern many Arab states as a catastrophe, and if only the Arab people were allowed to utilize the democratic process, then peace and flourishing would blossom. As a Jew, I wish your worldview were true. However, I fear that if Arab countries were to democratize, then Islamic fundamentalism would win the day. This would be a true disaster for Israel, gays, women, minorities, etc. Obviously, I don’t know a tenth of what you know about the Arab Spring, but wasn’t that the lesson to be learned from it? If not, please correct my misunderstanding.
Having Robert Nicholson as your guest was a brilliant move….not so much Shadi Hamid, your friend. Growing up a military brat, mostly in Japan, Florida (SAC Bases - my Dad, my hero and an F4 fighter pilot) my view sides with Mr. Nicholoson’s. Arabs from all nations will never co-exist peacefully; they never have. I remember popping home as an adult and my Dad having just read some article on Yasar Arafat…he would be so angry and then when Obama was a young up and comer in Chicago, he’d comment “ watch out for that one”. Fortunately or unfortunately, Dad was right. And thankfully he passed in 2006 and hasn’t witnessed the demise of America and the ramifications that the dems have wreaked here at home and abroad, especially the Middle East.
Yours and Damir’s conversation with Robert Nicholson was one of the best on record. The most interesting part for me was when you discussed the suppression of natural Arab/Islamic identity. You view the autocratic rulers who govern many Arab states as a catastrophe, and if only the Arab people were allowed to utilize the democratic process, then peace and flourishing would blossom. As a Jew, I wish your worldview were true. However, I fear that if Arab countries were to democratize, then Islamic fundamentalism would win the day. This would be a true disaster for Israel, gays, women, minorities, etc. Obviously, I don’t know a tenth of what you know about the Arab Spring, but wasn’t that the lesson to be learned from it? If not, please correct my misunderstanding.
Having Robert Nicholson as your guest was a brilliant move….not so much Shadi Hamid, your friend. Growing up a military brat, mostly in Japan, Florida (SAC Bases - my Dad, my hero and an F4 fighter pilot) my view sides with Mr. Nicholoson’s. Arabs from all nations will never co-exist peacefully; they never have. I remember popping home as an adult and my Dad having just read some article on Yasar Arafat…he would be so angry and then when Obama was a young up and comer in Chicago, he’d comment “ watch out for that one”. Fortunately or unfortunately, Dad was right. And thankfully he passed in 2006 and hasn’t witnessed the demise of America and the ramifications that the dems have wreaked here at home and abroad, especially the Middle East.