The Western mind in the prison of power [Archives:2006/967/Community]
By: Esam Ahmed
First of all, I would like to explain why I have chosen this broad title.
As matter of fact, the recent events in the world arena have proven this title, through stories of mind struggle and stories on the young minds of the Arab and Islamic world. But as young people number more than one hundred million, we have great resources of power.
So, Western minds and Islamic minds should ensure better coordination of efforts to invest and direct the energy of Islamic mind in the right direction, because the real power isn't weapons, but the mind, knowledge.
I have experienced increased feelings and sensations in my mind towards terrible events and circumstances in the Islamic world – hesitation, fear, pessimism, lose confidence, and poverty, all of which have lead the Islamic mind to terrorism .
Therefore, I have started rebuilding my thoughts, and I now have doubts about everything. Then I began a discussion in my mind, more questions, more inquires. Why was the United Nations formed? Is the United Nations considered a great achievement for Western civilization? Has the United Nations worked in supporting the values of justice and peace for the Earth's people? Or has it just maintained distance and borders between super powers after world wars?
I wonder when I see Western people hurry to vote for war callers! And when terrorist weapons hurt and cause pain for Western people, I wonder again when they hurry to vote for peace and against the war callers!!!
Does the Western mind lose the capacity to identify between what is good and what is bad?
More questions still yet to come What is the source of terrorism? Where is terrorism created? Is terrorism a Western industry or Eastern industry?
Consequently, I believe terrorism doesn't come from heaven, terrorism doesn't come from GOD, terrorism isn't part of any religion – terrorism has been made by the human mind.
When I look at a wonderful, unprecedented, and sophisticated Western civilization, working over it is the United Nations, building close partnership with civil societies and playing an active central role to maintain peace, security and justice for all.
On the other hand, when I look to a scared, horrible, and thrilled Western civilization, working through it is the building of nuclear weapons, the fighting of unethical, dirty economic wars, and the spending of huge amounts on military expansion, and little on human development foundations.
As I was always told, there are two faces of Western civilization; a wonderful face that gives us optimism and has created unlimited admiration, and an ugly face, scarred through dirty wars.
Eventually, I still keep asking one question – Where is the Western mind that created peace, justice, knowledge and intellectual scientific minds? And so I believe the Western mind in the prison of power. Therefore, there is an urgent need to reform and remedy long-standing shortcomings and deficits in your civilization.
Based on our rights as human beings, we have to live side by side on peace, security and justice.
So, I call and invite all decision-makers in the West, researches institutes, universities, colleges, and everyone interested in world peace to rebuild the Western mind by putting new strategic plans and policies towards the Millennium Development Goals and sustainable development for all.
Otherwise, we will not enjoy development without security, we will not enjoy security without development and we will not enjoy either without respect for human rights.
Esam Ahmed is the Director of Law Affairs, Yemeni National Committee of UNESCO
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