So someone said this to me:
Wow aha, you’re combating one kind of self-righteousness with another. Your prejudice against “western women” doesn’t let you see past the fact that the actions of these girls were not right, as you’ve yet to tell me how posting those pictures is in any way beneficial. I forgot that only the oppressed can talk about the oppressed. God forbid a western woman talks about your kind. I’m not talking in behalf of them, I’m simply stating that their actions are juvenile and rather counteractive. I’m not framing the Middle East in any way, your prejudice against Western women has you fighting problems which weren’t there to begin with. But alright, I suppose you guys got this done, no sense in us privileged Westerners getting involved in the problems that you and your people can very well handle, yet haven’t. I wasn’t aware that by pointing out that their actions were insensitive to the issue was me undermining you in any way. Perhaps if you let go of that rage you have towards Westerners, you’d be able to see things a little more clearly. You may not have been deliberately trying to make fun of it, but that’s how it comes across. “Look at me I’m so oppressed lolololol.” I can’t imagine someone who is actually going through oppression would find that beneficial to their cause. I never said the point the original post was making was wrong. But again, just because these books are the only ones being published, does not belittle the worth of the story they tell. You seem to think that Western Women are out to get you, however, so I see that my very presence offends you, even though you know nothing about me, my agenda, or my life. Who’s judging books by their cover now?
Today I am fucking angry. When I call someone out on their privilege, I’m the irrational prejudiced one. So it fucking goes.
In the prevailing US political culture, supporting Washington’s policies is considered synonymous with democratic thinking and behaviour, while opposing the American outlook and Israel is judged to derive from the backwardness of ‘captive minds’. According to this perspective, a mentality of imagined victimhood feeds ‘hatred’ of and resistance towards Israel.
But, it is, in fact, this thinking that is utterly undemocratic. If we assume that democratic values are universal values and move away from a Western ethno-centric interpretation, we will find that the rejection of occupation is totally consistent with ideas of freedom and human dignity – two supposedly integral components of democratic thought.
Just as rejecting racial discrimination asserts a belief in freedom, so does the refusal to simply accept the Israeli and American occupations of Arab lands and subordination of Arab people.
Lamis Andoni — Obama does not get it
Confirming stereotypes since 1918
Upon hearing a rumor in 1953 that Hitler was still alive in Brazil, the Egyptian weekly al-Musawwar asked seven public figures … what they would say to Hitler.
Sadat’s message: “I congratulate you with all my heart, because, though you appear to have been defeated, you were the real victor, you were able to sow dissension between Churchill, the “old man,” and his allies on the one hand and their ally, the devil, on the other … There will be no peace until Germany is restored to what it was … That you have become immortal in Germany is reason enough for pride. And we should not be surprised to see you again in Germany, or a new Hitler in your place.”
Yeah, Egyptians, I really don’t know why you’re not more proud of your presidents.
