12 July 2008

"Verbal utterance, the verbal statement of a threat or an intention (especially when it is uttered repeatedly and exaggeratedly) achieves such importance (In the Arabic culture) that the question of whether or not it is subsequently carried out becomes of minor significance."; (The Arab Mind by Raphael Patai).

Alright, Persians are not Arabs, but many (and particularly voluble president Amadinajad) seem to have adopted much of the Arab culture along with the language; such pronouncements, as mentioned by Patai, are heavily influenced by the colorful Arabic language, and most Persians can and do speak Arabic, though not exclusively.

Yet every time there is an Arabic pronouncement we (the media mostly, but also many in governments) go rushing off into emotion land ringing our hands and moaning.  It makes good press.  Actually most  government is not nearly so naive, and that's why quiet diplomacy continues forever.  Of course Arab veracity and sincerity tend to take different forms than in the West, but I guess most of us don't understand that either.

Gullibility?  Naivite?  Or more likely just plain ignorance.  They play us like a violin - and we let them with gusto.