One of the hallmarks of Islamists is to constantly blame Western colonialism and imperialism of the past for the misfortunes of their societies, especially in the Middle East and the Arabian peninsular.
However, what they cannot explain is that why former colonies like India, South Korea, Hong Kong and Taiwan, etc developed economically, socially and politically in the modern direction after the Second World War.
These country, for example, have also developed strong, vibrant and lively civil societies as well as systems of liberal democracy where men and women are free to participate as equal citizens. Japan, too, has overcome its past and risen again to be a respectable member of the community of nations.
Even China, despite its lack of progress in political liberalisation and democratisation, has come to terms with many aspects of modernity like gender equality, a peaceful system of political succession (no assassinations, terrorism or coup d'etats) and the open market.
Islamists should, instead of spending time of how to make more and more flight-of-fancy conspiracy theories, read and understand how China was once humiliated and subjugated by Western and Japanese imperialism almost to the extent of racial extinction but have bounced back with honour and dignity.
What is the secret of the successful resurgence of China? It was not hardware or weaponry alone. It is an attitude and philosophy of life that encourages and motivates people to admit their own errors and mistakes in the past and to look forward to a better future by working productively and in cooperation with one another to enjoy life.
Forgiveness and reconciliation are also critical as is evidenced by China now welcoming French, German, Dutch, Japanese, Portuguese, Belgian and Russian investments and transfer of technology.
Another example would be Vietnam. After fighting with the French and Americans for 30 years in an honourable war of national liberation, the Vietnamese people now do not hate French or Americans anymore.
Instead, they welcome American, French and all Western investments and transfer of technology. Like the Chinese, younger generations of Vietnamese are psychologically healthy - besides loving their own culture and language, they also learn English and other foreign languages in order to become competitive in the globalising world.
Many Arab nations have gained their political independence since after World War I. They have oil-derived income and wealth. By right, they should have been more developed by now than, say, Singapore, China, Taiwan, Vietnam or South Korea. But what happened?
The root cause for the underdevelopment of the Muslim Arab countries is the lack of a pragmatic and forward-looking mindset.
It is not wrong to remember history but to have an obsession with history, especially past glory and bygone humiliations, is certainly unproductive. People who always want to revenge for past injuries naturally have no time to think of a better future for their children and grandchildren.
Religious and sectarian self-righteousness, argumentativeness and indulgence in conspiracy theories seem to have clogged, if not poisoned, their otherwise productive minds. It is time for Islamists to cease finding scapegoats in the past.
Instead, they should look at their own mindsets, attitudes, philosophy of life, cultures and intellectual paradigms critically and be brave enough to admit errors and mistakes of their own peoples and societies.
Other peoples and societies can only give advice; real action for radical and fundamental reform have still to be conducted by themselves within their own societies.
Endlessly blaming Western imperialism of the past, Satanic America, Israel, Zionism, international Jewish conspiracies and other 'hypocrites' and 'infidels' will lead nowhere. God only helps those who help themselves.
