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What has become of democracy and peoples’ freedom?

When communication and harmony become scarce, commitment is undermined and becomes a mere point of view that is open to interpretation and its opposite. If spontaneous and instinctive solidarity that is not subject to reconsideration is missing, individualism inevitably becomes the motto of political moves and a tempting slogan that helps to break the stalemate.

As for putting the fait accompli above principles, it remains a risky thing that does not alter the principle, but it does harm to it.

Solidarity and democracy are the only criteria for national allegiance, while their lack at all times and places is equated with the lack of the right and the truth. We should commit ourselves to the promotion and defense of the right and just causes jointly and severally. There is no truth except the one that reflects our conscious will, our suffering, and our concern about our civilization and dignity. The right is Palestine. The truth is that this enemy has no other aim than drawing us into admitting his victory and accepting our defeat.

The arch-defeat is experienced in this daily and deliberate undermining of solidarity and in this deep-seated insistence on obliterating democracy, although our Arab nation is facing a number of enormous challenges that constitute in themselves the greatest test predisposing it to collapse or victory. Our nation cannot face this test, and it will not be in a position to face it while it is deprived of democracy as a weapon, and of solidarity as a protective armor.

The test faced by nations is different from the one faced by persons, and the test faced by the homeland is different from the one faced by regions.

We see those in charge of the Arab nation eat, drink, think, fight, and love on behalf of their people. They conduct themselves as they please, each one seeing goodness according to his own state of mind whereas our nation has to hear without developing awareness and see without feeling concern. Thus, the gap widens between [those adopting] the approach of taking decisions on behalf of people on the one hand, and Arab citizens who long only for the path of solidarity and democracy on the other hand.

When the criterion of democratic solidarity is at stake, the absolute truth is manifested and falsity is defeated. The size of the fault appears without impairing the strength of commitment as a relative matter which is so important that we cannot do without it. Fault is originally integrated in the rule of dialogue and construction, but as fault it should not impede dialogue and prevent construction, otherwise it is no longer fault. It becomes a crime perpetrated against the Arab nation and a sin committed before history and generations.

There are rules and fundamentals for dialogue and construction. We resort to the mass media that are unable to perform their normal role due to the abnormal conditions surrounding them, whereby restrictions have made them boring to the listeners, readers, and viewers, in addition to making them alien to citizens.

But if we want constructive dialogue, let us engage in it in the framework of our meetings and at all levels. No matter how opinions are incompatible and reservations are strong, they will remain a foundation motivating citizens to participate and make judgment for the good of their nation. However, if we keep abusing power and engaging in negligent conduct, we will contribute to the nation’s backwardness, hinder the fulfillment of its role, and distort the right and the truth. The outcome by itself poses a threat to the interests of the Arab nation that is concerned with checking its enemies, regardless of their position. Unfortunately, the want enemies are growing in number and our mistakes are accumulating. And whether the enemies desired it or not, the mistakes were hailed by them at a time they were waylaying us and gnawing away on our veins. Repeated mistakes are deliberate and there cannot be other interpretations or dimensions to them. Similarly, permanent powerlessness-based neglect has become an addiction that the Arab nation rejects as a reality calling it to die or commit suicide. It has no alternative but to struggle against it and eliminate it.

For all these reasons we would say that keenness on holding summit meetings is a struggle, that raising the issues of concern to our Arab nation in summits is tantamount to national honor, and that the implementation of Arab summit resolutions indicates loyalty to the nation. Commitment is the only path we, as Arab people, should pursue if we were to differentiate between wrong and right.

Therefore, let us hold summit meetings, engage in dialogue, and issue resolutions.

Let us commit ourselves since commitment is the only source of our power.
This is the path we should follow. We don’t mean it is perfect, but it is the only one available at this era of subjugation.

It is useless to blame wrongdoers without holding them accountable, or to blame the silent while they are on the verge of choking up. We are all the champions of the cause and its strong hands. We have made sacrifices, mistakes, and committed sins for this cause. It will remain our cause and we should keep loyal to it.

Let us all keep in mind that it is easy for a fake mother to accept chopping a son, whose mother she claims to be, in order to partake him with the real mother, whereas the latter does not accept to see him chopped at any rate. It is our duty to be the real mother embracing the cause.