# Should we be thankful that the"Islamic masses remain comparatively backward&ignorant"

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-be-thankful-that-the-islamic-masses-remain-comparatively-backward-ignorant/181543>\
**Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\
**Created:** [June 13, 2003, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-be-thankful-that-the-islamic-masses-remain-comparatively-backward-ignorant/181543 "2003-06-13T12:36:06Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Zenmaster\_Mojo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/85e7bf/32.png) [@Zenmaster\_Mojo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zenmaster_Mojo)\
**Post date:** [June 30, 2003, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-be-thankful-that-the-islamic-masses-remain-comparatively-backward-ignorant/181543/21 "2003-06-30T18:33:31Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by harrmill \*  
> \*\*So, how do we, as average Americans, export knowledge and education to those aras of the world that are in dire need of it? Seems like a country must WANT to change, as your example of China illustrates, and they need to change from within.
> 
> Clearly, the US will have difficulty establishing a “beach head for Democracy” in the middle east with our current campaign unless the underlying sources of hatred for the US are addressed. \*\*

Thanks.

Yes, that is “the rub” isn’t it. For most Muslim nations it needs to happen within those countries. We must somehow pressure the governments of those countries to allow more participation & promote education.

There are free elections in Iran now - even if currently their constitution allows the Ayatollahs to over rule attempts by more secular would-be reformers. But, nonetheless, they are beginning to develop a very active political culture there. The average Iranian was born after the Islamic Revolution and they don’t like it. But, fortunately they are much more educated than Iranians under the Shah.

So, when the new revolution comes, they will be less likely to repeat the mistakes of the former generation.

I don’t know the answer to your question for Iraq. If I were President, I suppose I would start by making plans to withdraw from the country and install multilateral forces and UN agencies to take over. Many Iraqis will always be suspicious of anything the USA says or does. Our record in that region is not good and we are seen as occupiers by most. So, we need a less heavy-handed approach. If we are perceived as the new dictator moving in to send their kids to re-education camps then they will rebel against Western education as soon as we leave.

We need to be more subtle. If we had a president with any diplomatic savvy, I think we could transition to a muli-lateral force (that would not get shot at) and international development agencies that don’t immediately arrouse suspicion. I think we could still control the process.

We could offer money to people from around the world - particularly from friendly & more secular Muslim nations - to move to Iraq and teach there using our textbooks. I think many educated Turks, Jordanians, Indonesians, etc. as well as American Muslims too would jump at the chance.

If successful this international program (call it the International Arab Education Development Fund, The Campaign for Islamic Democracy, or something) could be installed in an office in the UN to offer teachers to countries throughout the region - which we would be the major funders of. All the while, we should be pressuring gov’ts of all Muslim countries to close certain radical Islamic schools and offer free public education elsewhere, as well as, a basket of political reforms.

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