Although specifically commenting on former Egyptian ruler Nasser, it makes a few broader points about Arab values contrasted with Western values:

Egypt ceased to be a model for us Arabs to aspire to emulate. Instead, the revolution spawned other miserable totalitarian regimes, which proceeded to put their countries and peoples through similar ordeals, as those who followed in Nasser’s footsteps praised his virtues while adopting all his vices.



Yet despite all that, we continue to celebrate Nasser and exhibit his portraits. Regrettably, this is not officially orchestrated, but an authentic expression of popular feeling ­ unshared only by those who have been scorched by the fire of repression and understand the value of freedom. This is a phenomenon that sociologists and psychologists need to probe, to explain why Arabs think and act in this way.

Is it because most of our Arab world has for decades lived in a perpetual state of emergency, knowing only repression, marginalization and resignation to the status quo ­ which in one country might merely mean putting up with poor quality bread, while in others it could be a corrupt judicial system or inadequate health services ­ or a mixture of all these things and more?

Or does it have to do with our history, which last witnessed the exercise of democracy 1,411 years ago in Saqifat Bani-Saeda in Medina ­ where the followers of the Prophet Mohammed elected his successor after his death ­ after which we were stripped of the right to choose our leaders or even our neighborhood headmen?

...If there is one specific cause of the Arab world’s calamities and backwardness, it is not colonialism (which packed up decades ago), nor Israel (which continues to be a pain in our side), but the abolition of the concepts of liberty and the rule of law--law which clearly defines the relationship between rulers and ruled, in line with our values as a society. This has made the Arab state incapable of developing or meeting the needs of its citizens. And it has totally marginalized and disempowered the people. As a result, they no longer care to vote in elections whose outcome they know in advance, or express opinions they recognize will be ignored. They become reduced to making ends meet and seeking a chance to emigrate to a country where they can live in dignity.

Stop anyone in a public place in any Arab capital and ask him or her to define freedom, the constitution, civil society or the separation of powers. You will hear some bizarre responses. That is if your interlocutor has understood the question at all, or doesn’t pretend to have not understood it out of fear of the mabaheth man standing by the lamppost holding an upside-down newspaper ­ be he real or imagined.