Professor Bernard Lewis on Freedom and the Middle East
As you all know by now, Bernard Lewis, professor emeritus of Near Eastern Studies at Princeton, is a giant in his field of expertise. Whenever Lewis talks, it's good to listen. You are under no obligation to agree with everything he says, of course, since professors are not infallible, but Lewis's opinions generally carry a good bit of gravitas.
RealClearPolitics has an essay by Lewis in which he discusses freedom, democracy, and the Middle East.
Read it and tell me what you think.
As I said, you don't have to agree with Lewis. Blog friend Dignified Rant, for instance, does not agree with Lewis's conclusion .
I note, though, that Lewis makes a very serious and relevant point when he says: "...one of the greatest dangers is that on their side, they are firm and convinced and resolute. Whereas on our side, we are weak and undecided and irresolute."