Democracy in the Middle East

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia/2009/04/200942217162264694.html

This is such a simple concept and yet they still don't get it. By "they" I am of course referring to Western governments who continually try to impose their beliefs and value systems on the Middle East.

DISCLAIMER: I am not from the Middle East. I am a Westerner.

Why do: Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, George W. Bush, Gordon Brown, Stephen Harper, ya da ya da ya da, continually feel that they can impose our Western values on the Middle East? Did they miss Grade 10 History? For thousands of years it's been a clash of civilizations between "us" and "them". What makes them think that it can change now, today, because we want it?

Western leaders fail to understand the complexities of governing in the Middle East. They don't realize that Hamid Karzai's very life and honour (more important than life in the Middle East) depend on his support for tribal traditions (women covered up and at home, etc.). He can't suddenly do an about face and say okay, ladies, take off those head scarves and burkas, shorten your skirts and get a neck-line in that blouse. It doesn't work like that. His bodyguard would be duty-bound to kill him in his sleep. Mr. Karzai and the people of Afghanistan would expect nothing less.

The West is a sapling compared to the thousand year old olive tree that is the Middle East. They don't understand the culture of family, religion, and honour in the Middle East. The decades and centuries of various opinions on things ranging from the Jews to female circumcision to the right way to cook an eggplant. Mrs. Clinton, all dolled up, wearing her pearl necklace, her hair nicely coiffed and streaked, can't just waltz into Kabul and begin demanding equal rights for women!!!!! It doesn't work like that???? Why must we endure this farce! Day in and day out, being made to read the bleeding heart news stories on women's rights and democracy! You can't change this stuff! It's like a wife trying to get her lazy husband to put his dirty socks and underwear in the laundry hamper, or tabloids to stop publishing stories on Britney Spears and the little Alien man. It ain't gonna happen! So kick back, watch TV, read a book, and just enjoy the country you live in. We can't change people. Period. Let the West be the West and the East be the East.