Intellectualism

Happy birthday, Marx. The body count from communist regimes reaches into the tens of millions – that's your legacy. If only he and his followers had been more open to the possibility that they might be wrong.

Back in the Middle East for a few months, I find myself astounded by the absence of the strong voices of Arab intellectuals.
The region that has given rise to the likes of Michel Aflaq, George Habash, Rached al-Ghannouchi, Edward Said and numerous others has marginalized its intellectuals.
Arab visionaries have either been coopted by the exuberant funds allocated to sectarian propaganda, been silenced by fear of retribution, or are simply unable to articulate a collective vision that transcends their sects, religions or whatever political tribe they belong to.

Most people irrationally cling to their political views; most of the rest irrationally revise their political views.