It’s democracy indeed

The Arab political culture is certainly failing Arabs of all ages – and by the same token Westerners living in the Arab world – involved in public affairs. The first victim of this failure has been a very precious notion: democracy.

Inside youth groups, dictatorship is practiced on behalf of democracy. Every member orders other group members: No one can “confiscate” the decision of such and such group.

When two youth groups meet, the first warning they give to each other: No one can “cancel” the existence of such and such a group.

A student publication insists that it “alone” exists in its surrounding, it depicts itself as the “only” official newspaper. To other young people who want to express their perspectives, let them go kiss the hands of some big sponsor or university administration, “which would certainly be a censor at the same time,” to give them their newspaper.

Arab media adds insult to injury. A so-called pan-Arabist newspaper writes: “Two US troops were killed, two Iraqi fighters were martyred.” Try to argue about the lack of objectivity in this kind of coverage and accusations of committing the biggest treason would be thrown in your face.

A university administration teaching students in the region tolerance, democracy and objectivity censors its student publication. One of the reasons given for cutting an article was: “The writer was not a student.” When the student registered for a course, the excuse was given as such: “this student is old and does not have a student spirit.” When the student finally quit the university and tried to interview a senior official, this senior official declined to give the interview saying: “I don’t give interviews to students.” But even if the interview seeker was a student, why not giving him/her an interview?

Democracy is everywhere, but it goes like this: “You’re only allowed to practice democracy as long as you never criticize me or what I do. Otherwise, whatever you say would be a form of terrorism, treason, “outside of student spirit,” outside nationalism spirit, sectarian and would be eventually held against you.