The struggle between the “old” and the “new” never seems to end. It is continuous and no region and people of the world are excluded. The struggle is between the mindset that fears change and considers it to be a suspicious and malicious conspiracy and a mentality that looks to the future. This conflict exists in its various forms, both in the West and in the East. As economic prosperity and the cycle of history change, new countries with new standards have the right to take the lead.
A sudden positive shift in economic circumstances can sometimes lead to somewhat vulgar behavior and choices that affect the arts, along with religious and social views and other sectors.
The highly successful film Crazy Rich Asians, based on a novel of the same name, shows the madness and tyranny of materialism in society in Singapore compared to traditional Chinese society. In a similar way, some Europeans today criticize the behavior of Americans and oppose their “ideas”.
In fact the genius of the American Declaration of Independence benefited from the legacy of Greece and the Magna Carta of Britain along with the French revolution, and more than two hundred years ago it added to them rights and duties, such as “the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness”.
What has been happening in the Arab world for the last hundred years is a conflict of principles and not a political, social or class struggle. In the last ten years or so, there has been a clear conflict between the past and the future. This conflict which has led to a series of regional crises has resulted in a prestigious global financial institution stating that the Arab world is a higher risk zone than black Africa as there is significant development in different African countries in the style of governance, accounting and law.
History is the philosophy of the past and the wisdom of events that have taken place or that are happening, and everything that does not improve the state of the present and is not a viable platform for progressing into the future has no value.
