Saudi Liberal Muslim says West is more moral
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- Published on Wednesday, 16 December 2009 00:29
- Written by John Draper
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In a recent article in the Kuwaiti daily Al-Siyassa (October, 2009), Saudi liberal Muhammad Jamil Kutbi wrote that the Arabs and Muslims are unjustified in regarding themselves as morally superior to the West. He argued that although Islam champions values such as equality, justice and charity, the West actually surpasses the Muslim world at implementing these values.
Following are short excerpts from the article.
"We Falsely Accuse the Westerners... of Being Liars, Forgers, and Criminals"
"But today there is a Westerner named Bill Gates, owner of the world's richest and most powerful computer company, who gave away all his wealth, leaving only $3 billion for himself. [The rest] he donated to the poor and the needy, and to social organizations. Now, in the Arab and Muslim world there are hundreds of wealthy people like him, who appear on the list of the world's billionaires. But we never heard of them performing a humanitarian act like that of Bill Gates. Where are these wealthy Muslims [when it comes to performing] human, Islamic and civilized acts of this kind?
"The Arabs accuse the West of loving the [pleasures] of this world and of pursuing power, but that is not true. It is we Arabs who love and sanctify power. It is we who invented the concept of hereditary rule. Mu'awiyah Ibn Abi Sufyan, the first Caliph of the Ummayad Dynasty, was the first who created and shaped [this concept]. This Arab greed [for power] is insatiable and is the cause of internal conflicts, wars and problems.
"Let me point out incidentally that [in 1945,] the British people did not [reelect] their famous leader [Winston Churchill], who was prime minister during World War II, even though he had brought them victory [in that war]."
The Arab and Muslim Judiciary System [that] regards Itself as the Purest, Noblest and Best in the World - [is] nothing but Deception and Fraud, and is Controlled by the Regimes and their Associates"
"The Western judiciary system is better. A Paris court [recently] rejected a lawsuit by French President [Nicolas] Sarkozy, and [the latter], despite his authority and clout as president, was not able to force the court to rule in his favor and according to his will.
The Jews... are better than we Arabs and Muslims" in implementing Justice and Equality
"We are a Nation without an identity or future, and without Essence, Power, Opinion, Morality, Values or Principles"
For longer excerpts go to the source:
MEMRI - The Middle East Media Research Institute
I wonder if he actually got through to his audience. If Muslims could only see themselves objectively, as this man seems to, the world would be a better place. If everyone could see the goal as being to value Justice and Equality like this man, then the Qu'ran might get a different interpretation and all Imams (not just some) would stop preaching violence and hatred.