Trashcan of civilizations [Archives:2002/29/Viewpoint]

Last week was one of the most shameful weeks in all Arab recent history. We were enlisted in the UN report on development as the slowest developing region, with the least democratic states, with highest illiteracy rates, and with virtually all negative elements coexisting all at once in our Arab countries.
Why are we at the bottom of the list of world nations despite all elements to improve our countries using natural and human resources and several other factors?
That is of course a legitimate question that needs an answer, yet I have another important question to ask. Why are our leaders so relaxed when looking at those humiliating numbers exposing a truly miserable status among world nations?
It hurts me so bad when I see that our politicians are the least to care about our rank in the world. I found no reaction whatsoever from such reports expressing a sad fact of our regimes carelessness. They may have done their best or what they think is their best, but who is to blame for the deteriorating conditions we are in today?
Why do our leaders usually underestimate the gap between their countries and the rest of the developing world?
Arabs have vast lands, rich oil fields, and most important of all man power and human resources. So why are we continuously in the decline when it comes to development and democracy?
However, when we generalize using the term Arabs we must not forget that there is also a hierarchy within this term as well. In other words, Arab countries have gaps among themselves in terms of development, and it is unfortunate but true that Yemen ranks the last among all other countries after Somalia in terms of overall development and standards of living.
I was once with a Yemeni delegation member who visited Sudan recently to attend the countys anniversary celebrations. He openly said that all members of the delegation were astonished to see how well our Sudanese brothers have developed in various fields of industry, education, and science. The delegation had no idea of the efforts being exerted in the neighboring country to raise standards and develop in various sectors. We thought we were much better than Sudan in terms of development, but when we saw with our naked eyes the facts on the ground, we felt ashamed of ourselves. We dont even compare to them. he said.
We need to change our conditions. We can change them if we have the will, because we already have everything else. As Arabs we need to work together and have some sort of understanding of the need to collaborate our efforts just like the Africans did in forming the African Union. We need to join hands to rise in terms development, democracy and human rights.
But at the same time, as Yemenis, we also need to raise our own standards and conditions to the better. We are part of the Arab world, which is the larger picture, and must act responsibly to improve our own country before trying to change others.
It is all a matter of political will and determination. Unless our leaders get more concerned about our conditions among world nations today, we will continue to fall deeper and deeper into the trashcan of civilizations.

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