Article 22: Out of Despair Revived Nationalism
This posting is with reference to the article I presented in class: it is article 22, Arab Assertions: Out of Despair Revived Nationalism.
The centerpiece of this article is a poem by Nizar Qabbani. He was born in Damascus and retired as a Syrian Diplomat. However, he is widely known as a poet. "Qabbani took on taboo subjects, which he described in rebellious, well-crafted, popular language, forever changing the nature of Arabic poetry from a formalized medium into a popular one" (194). The title of the poem contained in article 22 translates to "Annotations to the Notebook of the Disaster." It is his commentary on the 1967 Arab Alliance defeat against Israel. He deems it as an event that should have shown the strength of the Middle East instead, it displayed before the audience of the world, its vulnerability.
Lines 1-8: the author wishes to give insight into his own personal feelings by using 1st person
9-22: He describes salt metaphorically as a preservative: however, in the Middle East, it has preserved only facets frowned on by the West such as a poor women's rights record, turmoil brought upon by frequent war, lack of advanced technology, and politicians who use words, with no weight with the people. Poets, Qabbani deems are the only ones who have been able to empathize with the people and express their plight. Words used by poets are useful but in the mouth of a political, dead air.
Qabbani is very critical of them: he states in lines 23-25 that politicians create war without having the personal experience of war.
He gives a third person account of the Middle East beginning with lines 53. He states that the West views Muslims as 'thick-skinned...[with] hollow souls" who are also juvenile, lazy, and mysterious.
In lines 67 to 81, Qabbani laments that Arab leaders should have used the one advantage they had, oil, to advance their society: meanwhile, due to this ignorance, their people have suffered due to lack of advanced weaponry and that which holds any society together, faith, is condemned and critized even their posture when praying.
Qabbani feels that the true reason for Arab defeat was due to the 'deaf' walls of their leadership: the political figures of their respective countries did not want to hear the little people...what could they know?
Lastly, the poet states that he wished he was able to have dialogue with the Arab leaders because perhaps, defeat could have been prevented.
His advice to the future is that leadership should listen to those they govern. Qabbani's poem was a commentary on democracy.
The centerpiece of this article is a poem by Nizar Qabbani. He was born in Damascus and retired as a Syrian Diplomat. However, he is widely known as a poet. "Qabbani took on taboo subjects, which he described in rebellious, well-crafted, popular language, forever changing the nature of Arabic poetry from a formalized medium into a popular one" (194). The title of the poem contained in article 22 translates to "Annotations to the Notebook of the Disaster." It is his commentary on the 1967 Arab Alliance defeat against Israel. He deems it as an event that should have shown the strength of the Middle East instead, it displayed before the audience of the world, its vulnerability.
Lines 1-8: the author wishes to give insight into his own personal feelings by using 1st person
9-22: He describes salt metaphorically as a preservative: however, in the Middle East, it has preserved only facets frowned on by the West such as a poor women's rights record, turmoil brought upon by frequent war, lack of advanced technology, and politicians who use words, with no weight with the people. Poets, Qabbani deems are the only ones who have been able to empathize with the people and express their plight. Words used by poets are useful but in the mouth of a political, dead air.
Qabbani is very critical of them: he states in lines 23-25 that politicians create war without having the personal experience of war.
He gives a third person account of the Middle East beginning with lines 53. He states that the West views Muslims as 'thick-skinned...[with] hollow souls" who are also juvenile, lazy, and mysterious.
In lines 67 to 81, Qabbani laments that Arab leaders should have used the one advantage they had, oil, to advance their society: meanwhile, due to this ignorance, their people have suffered due to lack of advanced weaponry and that which holds any society together, faith, is condemned and critized even their posture when praying.
Qabbani feels that the true reason for Arab defeat was due to the 'deaf' walls of their leadership: the political figures of their respective countries did not want to hear the little people...what could they know?
Lastly, the poet states that he wished he was able to have dialogue with the Arab leaders because perhaps, defeat could have been prevented.
His advice to the future is that leadership should listen to those they govern. Qabbani's poem was a commentary on democracy.
posted by Teresa at
9:11 PM
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