Fundamentalism is for Geezers
It seems the Islamic clerics don’t have a lot of fans with the young people these days in Iraq.
“I hate Islam and all the clerics because they limit our freedom every day and their instruction became heavy over us,” said Sara, a high school student in Basra. “Most of the girls in my high school hate that Islamic people control the authority because they don’t deserve to be rulers.”
Atheer, a 19-year-old from a poor, heavily Shiite neighborhood in southern Baghdad, said: “The religion men are liars. Young people don’t believe them. Guys my age are not interested in religion anymore.”
They still hold sway in other places, but I think the internet will kill religious fanaticism, because when people have access to more information it’s hard to believe the lies they are force fed. fanatics rely on isolating people from outside influences. That used to be possible in some countries where they had a tight rein on the media and culture. But I suspect in 20 years the Middle East will be radically different. Hopefully, in a good way.
Historically governments have perpetuated bad systems though methods which will not be available to them as information flows more freely. The changes wrought by the industrial age will seem minor compared to the changes brought about by the information age. These changes will benefit the common man and spell disaster for the governments who do not work for the people. I look forward to seeing it.
Posted by on 03/04 at 12:07 PM
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