tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8391958287808959571.post8461885353951929669..comments2023-07-04T14:30:51.013+03:00Comments on Religion and Politics in Bahrain: "Bahraini Sunnis, Watch Out!"—Or Else You Might Actually Get What You WantJustin Genglerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07926253352423304711noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8391958287808959571.post-45524362442855214342012-04-05T00:47:26.455+03:002012-04-05T00:47:26.455+03:00I am surprised that a respected writer like Justin...I am surprised that a respected writer like Justin really take Al Shaykh's contribution to the regime propaganda machine seriously. I, and most Bahrainis who have the slightest of sense, look at Alshayek's writings, as well as those of his colleagues at Al Watan, notably Al Benkhali, Aqeel Swar and Swasan Al Shaer, as no more than laughable stuff, something like reading comic books or children fair stories. Those people, over the past 12 months, have lost creditablity, dignity and respect for ever.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8391958287808959571.post-65938572054591747502012-04-02T15:12:06.586+03:002012-04-02T15:12:06.586+03:00@Sal: Transcending narrow religious categories in ...@Sal: Transcending narrow religious categories in the service of pressing for political reform is a worthy objective, no doubt. I suppose my feeling is that the state has been successful in promoting a structural divide of this nature and that, while it is happy to allow citizens to expend their energy fighting each other, is always on the look-out for cross-societal mobilization of the sort you describe. At least in the short term, then, the only viable means of exerting effective political pressure on the state is I think the simultaneous coordination (if not cooperation) of existing religious-based groups acting in their independent but ultimately shared interests. Of course, what you end up with as a result may not look much better than the disease; but I think that the wait for a revolution led by a diverse and educated professional class will be a long one.Justin Genglerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07926253352423304711noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8391958287808959571.post-7756666692995041392012-04-01T14:40:38.437+03:002012-04-01T14:40:38.437+03:00Justin - I think a growing number of people are co...Justin - I think a growing number of people are coming to realize that Bahrain's current impasse is actually a failure of leadership. No one is leading and no one has the charisma and backbone to lead or even take concrete steps to resolve the situation. In whatever form that resolution comes about. In addition, there must be a third way here, it isnt the way of the government and it certinaly isnt the way of Al Wefaq. Both have proved to be moronic and incompetent beyond belief, nevermind Wefaqis and their Iran hugging activities or their widely perceived deficiency for being Shia. <br /><br />In fact, maybe your next piece of analysis should not be a question of Shia or Sunni, and the two implied camps they represent. But what about the secular, westernized, educated class that drives Bahrain's largest GDP contributor the financial sector, the merchant trade, and other segments of business. Leadership in quality and in presence is available there, and is most likely to offer the only realistic and pragmatic alternative to the two entrenched positions of the jokers on either side. It is time that Bahrainis look for a new dimension to the political equation - secularist, professionals, technocrats to run government. The royals have failed and have not strayed far from the fat, lazy and bedouin stereotype they share with their GCC brethern given their inability to get past old age practices, and the wefaqis are extremists that have alienated moderates through their savage and uncultured behaviour on the streets.Sal Rahimnoreply@blogger.com