my Arab dilemma?

Question

I was watching a local (Arabic) T.V show and since then iam really confused.
here is my Q: Do you think Reform and progress (in specific society) must be associated with Westernization?

if YES why?
if No how (to avoid that)?

i mean westernization in all aspects of life.

Answer 1

Call it what you want. Backwards is backwards no matter how you slice it. Giving up on 14th century oppression and and religious intolerance wouldn't necessarily be considered westernization. It would however be the civilized thing to do.

Answer 2

No, westernization is not necessary at all. If happiness is the goal of the society change, it can be achieved under nearly all and any circumstances.
First of all you have to define reform and progress. Technology is not progress in terms of happiness. Technological gadgets does not make you (or a society for that matter) happy. It is a short term distraction that doesn't yield any benefits for the human. The more technology is present and used the more it becomes a tool for manipulation and control of people. Greed and extortion is at the very core of western thinking and technology is the catalyst to do so.
Define what is good for people, and you will be able to define the reforms that have to take place for the society to benefit.

The western world has despite all it's technological advances fallen back into the middle ages when it comes to ethics and interpersonal relations. In the west people are being treated like cattle, as long as there is not a camera around, potentially exposing the crime. The ways the governments regulate and control the people in the west is despicable and worse than in medieval times. The west has failed and abominations like the Bush junta are a irrefutable proof of that.

To avoid the traps the west has fallen into, educate people. Teach them values. Demonize greed. Embrace nature and tell the people that we are part of a large organism called Earth.

Answer 3

Yes and no
Yes, no one can clam the ownership of any civilization, therefor, what is good and workable from the western civilization is welcomed by the average citizen of any country any where in the world. You can ask any Arab do you like to vote in a free election the answer will be yes and so the rest of the world citizens.
No answer. most of the Arab governments were created by the west no Arab will trust the west to reform the Governments who were created by the west for the west.
In Palestine there was the most free democratic election ever took place any where in the 3 world but the west did not like the out-come of that election.

Answer 4

If you wish to improve your own culture, you should look at dominant cultures and carefully consider what aspects are worth adopting. There is much in every culture that should be rejected, and that should be considered as well. No sense adopting features that have no benefits.

Freedom and equal justice under the law are essential features toward achieving real progress. A written constitution is a great idea, but the most important aspect of that is the Bill of Rights -- that is what protects citizens from their gov't.

Answer 5

I think it has to be.

If you are going to compare the progress in school work you won't take your report card to the guy who was held back for 10 years. You will take it to the top student.

Likewise, when comparing technology you will go the leader. Right now the leader is the west. But, I'd watch India if I were you.

Answer 6

The west maybe the technological leader but their moral standards are next to zero. How about "easternisation" this is the future way. The west better keep an eye on asian countries

Answer 7

Most Arabs think so. Any progress is considered a deviation from Islam and therefore westernization. Islam is a stagnant religion and Islamic government is the progenitor of many moral iniquities.

Answer 8

I think no, every country and people has their own culture...reform comes from inside, through democracy...I mean free Parliaments, able to legislate and to check the performance of the government. I think democracy is a matter of education, it should be practiced in home, school and college...etc...

Answer 9

Yes. Because the west is the technological leader.

Answer 10

Yes and no.

Yes in terms of adopting their democratic practices, their freedom of expression, their economic freedom, human rights, justice, equality, religion freedom... etc.

No in terms of not losing our identity as Arabs and/or muslims.

What's happening now is that Arabs being into globalization process are losing their identity and keeping their corrupted west-supported systems, unfortunately!