Comments on: “We’re Not As Special As We Think” http://xrdarabia.org/2009/01/14/were-not-as-special-as-we-think/ Informed comment and commentary about Saudi Arabia, reform, and its relations with the US Mon, 13 Feb 2012 02:41:58 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Susan http://xrdarabia.org/2009/01/14/were-not-as-special-as-we-think/comment-page-1/#comment-18174 Susan Thu, 15 Jan 2009 15:33:11 +0000 http://xrdarabia.org/?p=6524#comment-18174 In many ways, the concept can be applied here, stateside. We've also a nationalistic pride, a holier than thou. We've often the idea of a divine providence in our forming as a nation and our carrying on as a people. We're not all that different - The US and Saudi Arabia. We've often the same egoism, holier than thou ... could it be that we're looking in the mirror really? We put up facade and pretense to compensate, sometimes overly so, in order to put control to a situation we feel we've no control to resolve. As a country, Saudi is a baby ... look at us and our formation. We're not so lofty either. Have we had our occasional dilettante in the lofty halls of Congress? Oh my goodness, that certainly tests the infinite range of numbers. The poverty existing there, in a country that's so rich? It's no different than the poverty here, in our country that's so rich. The holy places? I think time will reveal just how much, and time, when it's right, will open herself to us. But that could just be a dream in the night. I've heard my share of wrangling words against Saudi Arabia, and too I've had my equal share of contention with her nationals. But at the same time, they're not so very different from us, from me. Impetuous, frustrating, fun-loving, deeply rooted, but can leave everything behind, passionate, sincere, child-like, and wise beyond their years. It doesn't come from hate, it comes from love ... in many cases. And what I've learned is much. I think ... What is it? Nothing ... and everything. That's Saudi ... and in many ways the region. That's also America. We're not so different, we're all in it together. In many ways, the concept can be applied here, stateside. We’ve also a nationalistic pride, a holier than thou. We’ve often the idea of a divine providence in our forming as a nation and our carrying on as a people.

We’re not all that different – The US and Saudi Arabia. We’ve often the same egoism, holier than thou … could it be that we’re looking in the mirror really?

We put up facade and pretense to compensate, sometimes overly so, in order to put control to a situation we feel we’ve no control to resolve.

As a country, Saudi is a baby … look at us and our formation. We’re not so lofty either. Have we had our occasional dilettante in the lofty halls of Congress? Oh my goodness, that certainly tests the infinite range of numbers.

The poverty existing there, in a country that’s so rich? It’s no different than the poverty here, in our country that’s so rich.

The holy places? I think time will reveal just how much, and time, when it’s right, will open herself to us. But that could just be a dream in the night.

I’ve heard my share of wrangling words against Saudi Arabia, and too I’ve had my equal share of contention with her nationals. But at the same time, they’re not so very different from us, from me. Impetuous, frustrating, fun-loving, deeply rooted, but can leave everything behind, passionate, sincere, child-like, and wise beyond their years. It doesn’t come from hate, it comes from love … in many cases. And what I’ve learned is much. I think …

What is it? Nothing … and everything.

That’s Saudi … and in many ways the region. That’s also America. We’re not so different, we’re all in it together.

]]> By: John Burgess http://xrdarabia.org/2009/01/14/were-not-as-special-as-we-think/comment-page-1/#comment-18152 John Burgess Wed, 14 Jan 2009 21:37:30 +0000 http://xrdarabia.org/?p=6524#comment-18152 Yes, there's more than a little <em><a href="http://www.nizkor.org/features/fallacies/post-hoc.html">Post Hoc Ergo Propter Hoc</a></em> thinking going on here. Because the holy sites are in Saudi Arabia, and I am a Saudi, therefore I must be holy. Never mind that the Kaaba was supposedly founded by Adam, or at least by Abraham... Yes, there’s more than a little Post Hoc Ergo Propter Hoc thinking going on here. Because the holy sites are in Saudi Arabia, and I am a Saudi, therefore I must be holy. Never mind that the Kaaba was supposedly founded by Adam, or at least by Abraham…

]]> By: Andrew http://xrdarabia.org/2009/01/14/were-not-as-special-as-we-think/comment-page-1/#comment-18147 Andrew Wed, 14 Jan 2009 20:27:47 +0000 http://xrdarabia.org/?p=6524#comment-18147 We like believing ourselves to be holy. We like the frequent references to the Two Holy Mosques, and the imputation that because there are many holy sites, that we as individuals must be derivatively holy. Self-flattery is a lamentable, but common, vice. We like believing ourselves to be holy.

We like the frequent references to the Two Holy Mosques, and the imputation that because there are many holy sites, that we as individuals must be derivatively holy.

Self-flattery is a lamentable, but common, vice.

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