Related News
Home » Opinion » Press Notes
US lifts stone, but hits its feet
THERE are no superior or inferior civilizations, but some people in America - for that matter, in the West - always look down upon Islamic civilization with a sense of superiority.
This sense of superiority and prejudice has spilled over into American policies toward the Middle East. By taking advantage of the so-called "Arab Spring," Washington has erased old power regimes in parts of the Middle East and, in their place, has installed Western systems.
But the imposed systems seem to be at odds with local conditions and have failed to improve local life. On the contrary, anger and hatred that arise from the revolutions linger on. A self-righteous America has lifted a stone only to hit its own feet.
The most radical protests against America have occured in Egypt, Libya, Tunisia and Yemen - countries that are styled as the examples of American reform of the Middle East.
The ongoing protests tell America at least two lessons:
In the short run, it's hard to gauge the effects of American-assisted power reshuffle in Syria. In the long run, it's difficult to prevent similar protests if America keeps a bumptious attitude everywhere.
This sense of superiority and prejudice has spilled over into American policies toward the Middle East. By taking advantage of the so-called "Arab Spring," Washington has erased old power regimes in parts of the Middle East and, in their place, has installed Western systems.
But the imposed systems seem to be at odds with local conditions and have failed to improve local life. On the contrary, anger and hatred that arise from the revolutions linger on. A self-righteous America has lifted a stone only to hit its own feet.
The most radical protests against America have occured in Egypt, Libya, Tunisia and Yemen - countries that are styled as the examples of American reform of the Middle East.
The ongoing protests tell America at least two lessons:
In the short run, it's hard to gauge the effects of American-assisted power reshuffle in Syria. In the long run, it's difficult to prevent similar protests if America keeps a bumptious attitude everywhere.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS
- |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证:沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证:31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证:0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证:沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证:沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.