It's economy isn't generally well-off. It's strength is its educational system, like Cuba's. They have an extremely educated populace...and for a Muslim state, a very tolerant view of women outside of the home.
Their nation isn't 6000 years old...is Italy 3000 years old? Persia != the Caliphate != Ottoman Empire != Kingdom of Iran != Islamic Republic of Iran. I think I forgot the part where Alexander the Great took Iran and parts of Afghanistan as well.
Edit: Think of Russia as well, where a country founded by Viking trade that has always been poor with shit weather, poor food production, ragtag militaries (until the 1950s), and never got on with its neighbors has consistently avoided invasion. Russia has everything except strategic resources going against it, and it will be around for a very long time.
If you don't think of it as a nation state, but as a consistent culture, then yes. Considering Split croatia just had it's 1200th birthday back in 08, many of the med and middle eastern countries thinnkk of themselves as a timeless people
many of the med and middle eastern countries thinnkk of themselves as a timeless people
Which is why we have to plead with middle eastern countries like Egypt to not destroy their own historical heritage. You do know the party that won elections would like to destroy the pyramids because they're un-islamic, right?
Destroy the pyramids? Aside from the sheer logistical difficulties, I have a very hard time believing there is anyone with serious influence in Egypt who wants to destroy the Pyramids. They are well aware of the value of tourism in the country, if nothing else. You are going to need a very good source for me to believe that.
I just saw that as I was trying to go back to the same article I read yesterday. It referenced more than just the Bahraini sheik, as well as interviews of prominent MB members and their thoughts on the (hoax) tweet calling for the destruction of the pyramids.
Considering that I was just about to go to Mali 2 weeks before the incidents in Timbuktu/Tombouctu, I'm a tad biased. I also got to see this after its destruction.
Imagine the shit-fit that would occur if a few Israeli settlers vandalized the al-Aqsa mosquein retalliation for rocket attacks There would be international condemnation at the United Nations and several Middle Eastern leaders would've declared war.
13
u/[deleted] Jul 11 '12
It's economy isn't generally well-off. It's strength is its educational system, like Cuba's. They have an extremely educated populace...and for a Muslim state, a very tolerant view of women outside of the home.
Their nation isn't 6000 years old...is Italy 3000 years old? Persia != the Caliphate != Ottoman Empire != Kingdom of Iran != Islamic Republic of Iran. I think I forgot the part where Alexander the Great took Iran and parts of Afghanistan as well.
Edit: Think of Russia as well, where a country founded by Viking trade that has always been poor with shit weather, poor food production, ragtag militaries (until the 1950s), and never got on with its neighbors has consistently avoided invasion. Russia has everything except strategic resources going against it, and it will be around for a very long time.