Science Forums 2

[Qfwfq]

I too agree it's no use putting the blame on anybody, because the blame is on HISTORY and there's no use fighting a war against history or putting it into jail, is there? There has alway been fighting for control of the middle east, but Vasco de Gamma started an epochal change that eventually busted a hornet's nest open. In the link on Wahabbism Racoon supplied, one may learn that it had a strong role in anti-colonialism, something that is still driving a lot of sentiment in eastern places especially as they are still the hotspots of current planetary strategy.

Now all this certainly hasn't synchronized history and progress between east and west. It is therefore quite understandable that there are still plenty of differences in culture and mentality around the world (and in reasonable limits this ain't a bad thing either), and you can't expect a few decades of fast and available communications systems to have already harmonized things.

From the link in the OP by Laurie:

Mitchell's ordeal began at 7am on December 17 2000 when he arrived in his 4x4 at the Security Forces hospital in Riyadh, where he was chief anaesthetic technician.

Notice the word:

ordeal

which is exactly what that article is almost talking about: an ordeal. Look it up in a dictionary:

1. An ancient form of test to determine guilt or innocence, by appealing to a supernatural decision, -- once common in Europe, and still practiced in the East and by savage tribes.

Note: In England ordeal by fire and ordeal by water were used, the former confined to persons of rank, the latter to the common people. The ordeal by fire was performed, either by handling red-hot iron, or by walking barefoot and blindfold over red-hot plowshares, laid at unequal distances. If the person escaped unhurt, he was adjudged innocent; otherwise he was condemned as guilty. The ordeal by water was performed, either by plunging the bare arm to the elbow in boiling water, an escape from injury being taken as proof of innocence, or by casting the accused person, bound hand and foot, into a river or pond, when if he floated it was an evidence of guilt, but if he sunk he was acquitted. It is probable that the proverbial phrase, to go through fire and water, denoting severe trial or danger, is derived from the ordeal. See {Wager of battle}, under {Wager}.

2. Any severe trial, or test; a painful experience.

It took quite a while for the Roman tradition of arguing cases by reason to spread around the west, colonialists didn't do such a great job of spreading it in the ME.

Regarding the link about the rape victim, it's quite true that Islamic fundamentalists go harsh in punishing promiscuous situations. Among the many Persians I knew at uni, there were two sisters of a numerous family; another sister of theirs was once caught by the Pasdaran, at a private party with her fiancèe and other unmarried couples. They were all sentenced to severe whipping, though the women were given the option of a heavy fine instead. Most of these friends of mine are firmly against the regime, but I doubt they want their country to be bombed.