An alternative model for the Middle East: Dubai

[Jawz II]

I find such remarks untrue, stupid and insulting.

Don't mix up culture and race please. There are explinations ehy the Arab culture is not so fertile for democracy. It has nothing to do with race.

and somehow thats not what i was saying?

exept its 10% culture, and about 90% all the constant wars, democracy and stability comes in times of peace

war and threat of war (switch the word war with "danger" if you like) is the biggest threat to democracy, always have been, always will be

 

[The Yankee]

Beirut used to be a jewel....and a city Western countries did a lot of business with. Of course, that was before the wars almost 30 years ago. My mother remembers doing business with people in Beirut actually...I think she had turned down an assignment to go there, just before the crap started, actually.

This government in the UAE seems to have the backing of its citizenry, and isn't that a democratic statement? We can argue back and forth about their immigrant workers that will never vote in even the most useless election. But bad governments aren't necessarily dictatorships either...there have been democratically elected governments worse than many dictatorships or monarchies. We'll open a whole can of worms if we try to shove Western democracy down their throats, whether it is American or European.

 

[Stapel]

and somehow thats not what i was saying?

exept its 10% culture, and about 90% all the constant wars, democracy and stability comes in times of peace

war and threat of war (switch the word war with "danger" if you like) is the biggest threat to democracy, always have been, always will be

Oh maybe I got you wrong then.

 

[Pontiuth Pilate]

This government in the UAE seems to have the backing of its citizenry, and isn't that a democratic statement?

That makes their government populist, not democratic

 

[Stapel]

Well, saying Arabs can't handle democracy is indeed not racist... it's simply factually wrong. Indeed, Lebanon had been a stable democracy during decades and it needed a war and an occupation to destroy it.

It's not a black& white matter.

I think we can't deny there's a negative correlation between the current achievements of Arabian culture and fertility towards democracy.

I'm convinced the Arab culture will develop further and be more open towards democracy. Just like it happened with Western European / Christian culture.

 

[Marla_Singer]

Talking about Dubai... do you know they are currently building over there the tallest building ever made ? It's called the Burj Dubai and it will be inaugurated in 2008. It will be 705 meters tall (2313 feet) for 160 stories. Here is a picture of it :

To show you how big this is, I've attached a diagram showing that tower beside the Sears Tower and the Eiffel Tower.

 

[toh6wy]

I also remember a thread a while ago about a gigantic theme park that the UAE was planning to build in the near future. "Dubailand" I think it was called. It sounded awesome.

 

[Bozo Erectus]

I hoped theyve worked out the bugs since 'Westworld' and 'Futureworld'.

 

[blackheart]

If you're an engineer with a whacked out idea that will make your building stand out, go to the UAE! The only reason they're building that tower is because it will be the tallest for a short while.

 

[blindside]

The UAE are just freaking rich and they didn't do much to get there. They sell gold bullion in the airport.

 

[Bozo Erectus]

Wouldnt they be stupid if they didnt make themselves rich by selling their most valuable resource? Wasnt North America blessed with an abundance of natural resources? Whats your point?