It seems that as Tunisia works to figure in which direction their country is headed, there is a lot of confusion that clouds the national psyche. Accustomed to a strongman dictating the steps of the Tunisian dance, the duality of their newly free country presents a dilemma. On the one hand, Tunisians are finally free to choose for themselves the future of their country. On the other hand, they now have to contend with the ramifications of everybody having an equal say in the politic of the country.
Central to this patriotic confusion is the debate over the role of Islam and the centrality it should have in constructing a new, democratic state. The current ruling party (who won in free and fair elections last year) is a group of moderate Islamists (Ennahda). They are certainly moving the state in a more conservative direction, but even the term "conservative" requires some qualification. Given that open displays of religion by Muslims were essentially not tolerated by Ben Ali, the new freedoms of the people of Tunisia allow for freedom of religion, too. As such, the prevalence of Islamists is noticeable. Especially since they are in power at the national level, their influence is palpable and their reach is extending. Some people take refuge in the fact that the state is embracing a more religious stance in both national and global politics. For example, many young Tunisians without jobs find a haven in the political activism of the Islamist youth, they see their purpose as to serve god first, then country. Others, however, find it irksome.
"I don't even think that the Islamists are Tunisians," said one woman I spoke with. "They want to control everything and dictate each thing that we can and cannot do. They are extremists and that is not truly Islam and not what it means to be a Tunisian." She was quite adamant that a move towards an Islamist state is a move towards the past rather than the future. This is a sentiment shared by many Tunisians. They fear that the Islamists want to censor the media and limit freedoms such as the ability to drink alcohol, a problem that could profoundly affect the tourism industry at the base of Tunisia's economy. Fortunately the current president is a moderate man who knows the dangers of dictatorship, and does not seem prone to allowing a takeover by the Islamist party.
This divide is one I have consistently run into since arriving to the country three weeks ago. Thus the problem of democracy. People want to choose, but after decades of dictatorship and a strongman leading the country, the results of your decisions follow you and plague your conscious. There is no one to blame but the active citizenship and the people who voted.
The divide between embracing the Islamist party, and rejecting them outright seems to broadly (read: this is a big generalization after 3 weeks) be split between generations. The younger generation embraces the demonstrations at the state level of the importance of the Muslim faith, where as the older generations who lived under French colonialism, then 3 decades of Bourguiba and 2 decades of Ben Ali are hesitant to see another seemingly militant, and far less progressive party come to power. But such is the democratic process. Everyone is free to choose.
The links above are all to interesting NPR stories. Currently Steve Inskeep is traveling across North Africa to the Arab Spring countries and this week he is in Tunisia. The articles are poignant, interesting and worth reading, so I have linked them all here. I am not just giving a plug to the liberal media (though NPR is GREAT). Thanks for reading. I will keep on posting.
Asslama, A Bientot
Central to this patriotic confusion is the debate over the role of Islam and the centrality it should have in constructing a new, democratic state. The current ruling party (who won in free and fair elections last year) is a group of moderate Islamists (Ennahda). They are certainly moving the state in a more conservative direction, but even the term "conservative" requires some qualification. Given that open displays of religion by Muslims were essentially not tolerated by Ben Ali, the new freedoms of the people of Tunisia allow for freedom of religion, too. As such, the prevalence of Islamists is noticeable. Especially since they are in power at the national level, their influence is palpable and their reach is extending. Some people take refuge in the fact that the state is embracing a more religious stance in both national and global politics. For example, many young Tunisians without jobs find a haven in the political activism of the Islamist youth, they see their purpose as to serve god first, then country. Others, however, find it irksome.
"I don't even think that the Islamists are Tunisians," said one woman I spoke with. "They want to control everything and dictate each thing that we can and cannot do. They are extremists and that is not truly Islam and not what it means to be a Tunisian." She was quite adamant that a move towards an Islamist state is a move towards the past rather than the future. This is a sentiment shared by many Tunisians. They fear that the Islamists want to censor the media and limit freedoms such as the ability to drink alcohol, a problem that could profoundly affect the tourism industry at the base of Tunisia's economy. Fortunately the current president is a moderate man who knows the dangers of dictatorship, and does not seem prone to allowing a takeover by the Islamist party.
This divide is one I have consistently run into since arriving to the country three weeks ago. Thus the problem of democracy. People want to choose, but after decades of dictatorship and a strongman leading the country, the results of your decisions follow you and plague your conscious. There is no one to blame but the active citizenship and the people who voted.
The divide between embracing the Islamist party, and rejecting them outright seems to broadly (read: this is a big generalization after 3 weeks) be split between generations. The younger generation embraces the demonstrations at the state level of the importance of the Muslim faith, where as the older generations who lived under French colonialism, then 3 decades of Bourguiba and 2 decades of Ben Ali are hesitant to see another seemingly militant, and far less progressive party come to power. But such is the democratic process. Everyone is free to choose.
The links above are all to interesting NPR stories. Currently Steve Inskeep is traveling across North Africa to the Arab Spring countries and this week he is in Tunisia. The articles are poignant, interesting and worth reading, so I have linked them all here. I am not just giving a plug to the liberal media (though NPR is GREAT). Thanks for reading. I will keep on posting.
Asslama, A Bientot
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