Changing the Middle East: Bullying or Inspiring
What is the best way to transform the Middle East into a democratic, peaceful society, prizing human rights? Some, Bush primarily among them, say that it should be done by bullying: You lay the law down, attack militarily and maintain pressure until they change. Others, like the Nobel Peace Prize Committee, believe that it is best to depend on inspiring Middle East people themselves. This the Committee did by awarding the Nobel Peace Prize to Shirin Ebadi, an Iranian female jurist and human rights activist.
We all know the results of our bullying war on Iraq. The "liberated" people want U.S. out, attacks on our soldiers occur daily, factions are fighting factions, jobs cannot be found, terrorists are overrunning the country, and the people are living under great disorder. Maybe this situation is temporary. I sure hope so. But the U.S. is not making any friends and the prospect for peace in the Middle East is dwindling, not growing.
In contrast, take a look at what the Nobel Peace Prize Committee did. It singled out for a Peace Prize a courageous woman in Iran, Shirin Ebadi, who has been devoting her life to the improvement of the lot of women in Iran and to fighting for human rights against the hardline clerical regime.
Ebadi became the first Iranian female judge in the 1970s. After the overthrow of the Shah, however, she was shifted to an unimportant job. So in the 1980s she started a law practice and worked to help women achieve rights. She became a dissident writer and lecturer on human rights and for greater democracy. In 2000, a closed court threw her in jail. Why? Because she publicized evidence of official involvement in attacks on pro-democracy students. After serving 3 weeks, she was let go, but barred from practicing law for 5 years.
When she argues for equality for women Ebadi does not defy the Koran. No, she presents text straight from the Koran that demonstrates her point. She herself is a Muslim and she insists that there is no conflict between Islam and democracy. Instead of defying the mullahs she tries to convince them through her interpretation of the Koran.
Ebadi is doing a wonderful job in Iran. So the Nobel Committe offered her the 2003 Peace Prize to encourage her in her work and to provide inspiration to others in the Arab world.
Here is a partial list of how this award improves the world:
> Inspires Arab women to be more active in their development
> Gives hope to all those working for human rights
> Decreases influence of Iranian hardliners
> Brings true democracy a little closer to Iran
> Reduces tension between Christian and Islamic worlds
> Reduces spread of terrorism
My point is not so much that the Nobel Committee does good things. Rather it is that U.S. should substitute humility for arrogance and empathy for belligerence. Instead of acting as a know-it-all telling everyone what is right and what is wrong, U.S. should look for ways to inspire citizens of other countries to be themselves and to find their own path toward self-fulfillment.
Bullying and war will never produce democracy or peace. Inspiring and helpful actions definitely will.
