The countries that started the wave of Arab change both have a long way to go

It is considered over when Cairo's streets can not be found on Western news channels and oil begin to flow again.

Let's move on. CNN and ABC have Charlie Sheen to cover.

Yawn!

These Arab/Muslims have made their way onto the TV sets of the world. Why? What has transpired? Is this the French, Russian, or American Revolution? Don't answer all at once.

Of course it's not. The masses of peoples in all the above mentioned states were 'peasants' as well … mostly uneducated so that's not it … it must be THEIR CULTURE DEFICIENCIES! They are Muslim … that is, Islamic!

The only reference points for these 'poor' people is Islam. They WANT MORE ISLAM. Go figure. Let them steep in it for more generations until they get it together … and reject religion altogether (if that's possible).

Turn off our boring reportage of how many bullets were fired by one side or the other … let Al Jezeera get the scoop. They're interested … (could that be their political agenda showing?) …

We have no way to influence the tide … if we stick our toes in the water … we'll be exposed as 'imperialists' … 'Zionist stooges' … better to stay away and hold our noses as they bash each others heads in … until one side or the other prevails … it's their fight … let them fight it out.

I'm not optimistic that a solution with a Western-style democracy will prevail … that's a joke …

Why not admit to the world that the excesses of the Arab/Muslim world's leaders … is transitioning to another round of leaders ill suited to bring profound change to this zone! The major impetus for the 'wave of Arab change' is … hunger! As in an Arab/Muslim Baby Boom generation that is increasingly without work … without opportunity … without adequate education. When the young men in any country are idle … and we're talking about 40% of the POPULATION UNDER THE AGE OF 30 … we're talking about REVOLUTION.

The same would be true here in the West … except our leaders when presented with the same issue in the late 1940's … went on to create the necessary conditions for an unprecedented 60 year growth spurt which has lasted up until today (albeit with some hiccups) … do you see that kind of leadership emerging from these places? Na I didn't think so either.

Both Tunisia and Egypt are stuck in a deep hole, which will take decades to resolve. Now that the military has taken control in Egypt, and plans to in Tunisia, democracy will not return for a while. They claim to want to return to civilian rule as soon as possible, but everyone knows that will not happen. The ruling power will want to stay in power for as long as possible, and both nations will fall into turmoil and authoritarian regimes. The citizens probably won't even argue against the military rule, since it brings change to their nations, and their old governments are gone. In addition, the rise in crime and corruption in Tunisia and Egypt will make it difficult for democracy to be re-instated, and in turn causing the authoritarian regimes to last far longer than intended. So the revolts and revolutions have, in essence, ruined these two nations for decades to come.

Nice report from CNN International. After revolution, Egyptian women are left behind.
http://hussainabdulhussain.blogspot.com/2011/03/after-revolution-egyptia...

"… it must be THEIR CULTURE DEFICIENCIES! They are Muslim … that is, Islamic!"

This kind of comment shows that there is a serious need for people in the West to educate themselves about other cultures. I teach a course on intercultural communication in an american institution of higher education and I often use comments like the one above for class discussions about stereotypes, prejudices, and racism.

This kind of cultural insensitivity and prejudicial attitudes towards Arabs is not surprising, It's all over Fox News. what's surprizing is finding it on the discussion board of The Economist.

The current revolutions in Tunisia and Egypt show that the young generations of these two societies are more dynamic and politically aware than their counterparts in Europe and the U.S. at this point in time. To say that the revolutions in the Arab countries are due to "their cultural deficiencies" is to ignore the accomplishments of theses revolutions. While political apathy, drug abuse, and watching tabloid TV programs are the major concerns for the Western youth, young Arabs are dying for freeedom from despotism and social injustice. That's hardly a cultural deficiency.

I suggest that those who are plagued with Islamophobia and Arabophobia should seek assistance by educating themselves before commenting on cultures they neither understand nor appreciate for their contributions.

@ JZ:

You said: "The current revolutions … show that the young generations of these two societies are more dynamic and politically aware than their counterparts in Europe and the U.S. at this point in time."

What? What are YOU TALKING ABOUT? The young generations of the West are creating the 'social media' that called the people to Tahrir Square! They created the 'world' we live in at the moment.

What you're trying to defend is a group of 'illiterate … poor … uneducated' 'BABY BOOM in size' Muslim thugs … who are calling out for change. So what? They're to be applauded? For What?

When they show their 'bone fides' … by effecting change for the better … in an enlightened Western pattern … I'll be standing up and applauding. All I've seen is a removal of one Dictator and the replacement by another …

Arab change is NOT … TOWARDS MODERNITY … it seems it's a 'false illusion' … these guys are NOT READY FOR PRIME-TIME.

What about the Million Woman March? What about Lara Logan being raped in Tahrir Square?

It's not bigotry … it's reality! Some in the Arab/Muslim world are just now awakening to find how HOPELESS they are … backward culturally … without technical skills to join the West … without the tools … and Why? Because their culture/Islam KEEPS THEM FROM PROGRESS!

LOSE THE CULTURE/ISLAM … that's it. Religion retards everything. Separate religion from the cultural sphere … as yet impossible in the Arab/Muslim Middle East … because their religion is TIED UP in their culture! YOU CAN'T UNTIE THEM. THEY'RE BUNDLED! YOU CAN'T HAVE ONE WITHOUT THE OTHER!

When you untie that Gordion Knot … progress will happen. Arabs are not retarded. They're as good and/or better human beings than all of us. You take the good with the bad … BUT their culture/Islam … keeps them back.

Yes JZ … here's today's headline from Egypt …

"Egypt officials: 13 killed in clashes between Muslims and Christians in Cairo "

This comes AFTER … Muslim crowds BURNT DOWN A CHRISTIAN CHURCH in a village not far from Cairo.

You said: "I suggest that those who are plagued with Islamophobia and Arabophobia should seek assistance by educating themselves"

Who needs an education? I'm long out of school thanks. Just like Phil Ochs said in the '60's in his song … "I'm Gonna Say It Now" …

"Ooh, you'd like to be my father you'd like to be my Dad

And give me kisses when I'm good and spank me when I'm bad

But since I've left my parents I've forgotten how to bow

So when I've got something to say, sir, I'm gonna say it now"

Phil was great … his ideas are still alive today!