Word: arabism
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Dates: during 1950-1959
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...some reason it seems to me that within the Arab circle there is a role wandering aimlessly in search of a hero. For some reason it seems to me that this role is beckoning to us−to move, to take up its lines, put on its costume and give it life. Indeed, we are the only ones who can play it. The role is to spark the tremendous latent strengths in the region surrounding us to create a great power, which will then rise up to a level of dignity and undertake a positive part in building the future...
There can be no doubt that the Arab circle is the most important and the one with which we are most closely linked. For it is intertwined with us by history. We have suffered together, we have gone through the same crises, and when we fell beneath the steeds of the invaders they were with us under the same hooves. We are also bound within this circle by virtue of religion...
...center of world oil production has shifted from the U.S., where wells are going dry. the cost of land is going up and the wages of workers have risen, to the Arab area where the wells are still virgin, where land over vast spaces continues to cost nothing, and where the worker continues to receive less than a subsistence wage. Half the proved reserves of oil in the world lie beneath Arab soil. Have I made clear how great the importance of this element of strength is? So we are strong−strong not in the loudness of our voices...
...turning point came in 1932, when Standard Oil of California hit oil on Bahrein. Belgrave persuaded the Sheik to take a step unprecedented for an Arab ruler: to split Bahrein's oil income ($8,500,000 in 1955) three ways−one-third to the Sheik, one-third to "the people" and one-third to a national reserve fund. The consequence is that while the oil wealth of neighboring Arab countries has often been squandered on Cadillacs, harems and princely pub-crawls, Bahrein's oil has helped to propel a whole people into the 20th century...
Among the Arabs to whom he had devoted his life, some conceded that "Belgrave was a good man and did much for Bahrein," and then hastened to add "The world has changed, and today everyone wants independence." One Egyptian put it more drastically: "Belgrave was one of those so-called Arab experts. Just as Glubb went, so he's gone, and so will go all of them. Nobody's impressed any more with Englishmen who can recite the Koran. The hell with them...