SHIHAB: Why support unDemocratic regimes? For Immediate Release
Why do we support unDemocratic regimes?
By Aziz Shihab – Americans have big imaginations and the “experts” among them do a great deal of guessing. And, unfortunately, after more than twenty years working for U.S. newspaper, I find newspapers more misleading than leading. Lest anyone wonders why I am saying this, we invaded Iraq for the following reasons: Oil, Israel and our strange egotistical thinking that we can turn the Middle East into a democratic free world. or change its multitudes of people to become just like us. If that is our goal, why do we support regimes that are neither democratic nor free?
Some explanation:
1. We are always hungry for oil and where can we satisfy our hunger other than from the Middle East?
2. Is it a secret that policicians, televangelists and pro. Israel Americans work to protect Israel sometime
more than they work to protect America and,
3. Does the U.S. not know that its friends in the Middle East, only work to protect the leaders there
and not the people?
Arab-Americans have a sacred duty to teach ordinary Americans and students what the facts are, We should
not be afraid. We should challenge untruths and support the truth loudly.
For over fifty years now, Americans don’t know the true story of what happened, and is still happening in Palestine.
The press here knew the facts but kept them hidden all these years.
One thing is important, Arab-Americans need to unite in their efforts to teach, not criticize. Let us teach our fellow Americans the truth and the truth will set them free.
(Aziz Shihab is a an award winning journalist and author of the new memoir “Does the Land Remember?” Copyright Arab Writers Group, www.ArabWritersGroup.com.)
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is the author of Witness in the Holy Land, reflecting her personal experience living under the Israeli Occupation with husband, the honorable Mayor David C. Khoury, and their three children. Her articles bringing awareness of the Christian presence in the Holy Land and the plight of the Palestinians have been published worldwide in numerous newspapers and translated to various languages. Maria is a graduate of Hellenic College, Harvard University and Boston University with a doctor of education degree. Born in Tripoli, Greece, she was raised in Denver, Colorado. Contact Maria at: Khourymaria@hotmail.com. Her guest columns appear occasionally.
ALADDIN ELAASAR is an award winning Arab American journalist and author of several books including Silent Victims: The plight of Arabs and Muslims in Post 9/11 America. Elaasar is also a member of the National Arab American Journalists Association. Email him at omaraladin@aol.com. His latest book is The Last Pharoah: Mubarak and the Uncertain Future of Egypt in the MidEast.
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