Arab boys, particularly Saudi Arabs and others from the
“So when they’re in
“Exactly. There are no fathers or uncles. Alcohol and sex are freely available, so why not do as the Londoner’s do?”
We in the west prize our individuality. We consider ourselves individuals first and members of groups second. Arabs (and many other non-western peoples) think of themselves primarily as members of a group – family, clan, tribe. It’s such a fundamental difference between us, failure to recognize it can lead to hatred, terrorism and wars. (More on this in the next couple of posts.)
2 comments:
So, it sounds like you're saying that morality in Arab societies is not a question of the rightness or wrongness of particular acts, but of the social effects of those acts, particularly their impact on one's kinship group. An act is only wrong if it brings social disapprobation upon one's family/clan/tribe/etc. Is that pretty much it?
If so, how does that square with the moral guidelines and teachings of Islam? Does Islam recognize and endorse a kind of situational morality that gives primacy to preserving the good reputation of one's tribe? Can the Saudi Arab in London, spending his money on wine, women and song, still be a good Muslim according to the precepts of the faith?
I'm reporting what Jamal, an Arab himself, explained to me. The fact is, the primal devotion to family and tribe long precedes Islam and colors much of how it has been practiced.
Many of the practices of today's Wahabi islamists are far more "tribal" than Islamic. Mohammed actually preached a far more liberating role for women than had been in place before he came along. Their current treatment in such Wahabist states as Saudi Arabia is actually a reversal of Islamic teachings to pre-Islamic culture.
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