Scapegoating others does not solve our problems

On the other end, of course, is the "enemy".

First, this was the "communist" and "socialist" (including Arabs), eventually turning into the absolutely "corrupt" West, and ultimately broadening to encompass the "liberal" at large, including America and Europe. Today that enemy is "homosexuality," phenomena designed to be "exported" to us, just as previous "evils" were.

The problem with this train of thought is that it prompts societies to mobilise against an "imminent threat" without any self-examination.

Instead of first acknowledging the internal reality that the Arab world reckons with, which includes facts that are neither ideal nor exemplary, their panicked fingers begin to point blame singularly at the West.

What drives this is a persevering belief that, tolerance aside, the West is "corrupt" because it is irreligious (as we always firmly believe), and therefore all kinds of great sins can be expected to come out of it.

A generation of angry youth

We forget that we have been in this endless cycle of discourse for decades, which has only given way to generations of angry young Arabs and Muslims who take up arms at the first opportunity and seek to take "justice" into their own hands, rather than using words.

This has also given rise to terrorism, which the Arab region has paid for with years of intellectual backwardness, economic underdevelopment, and social and political crises.

These very crises have exploded and occasionally continue to explode in our faces, preventing the region from moving forward – whether it's the advancement of its societies or progressing past the exploitation of its resources and wealth.

Make no mistake. Warning against this blanket "phobia" of the West should not be seen in any way as a defence of any idea or phenomenon that causes anxiety and anger in some.

However, it points to a need to shift away from this fear-based approach – encompassing both the unknown and the known emanating from the alien "other" and foreigner – and instead turn inwards to have a true and honest confrontation with oneself.

If those carrying the banner of resistance are sincere in their calls, then they should start with themselves and their own surroundings.

Let's consider how many cases of rape are committed in the Arab world, many of which go unreported; how many cases of sexual harassment and child abuse; how many cases of incest; how many cases of violence against women and children.

Not to mention the scale of illiteracy, poverty and unemployment, or the extent of child labour and cases of forced child marriage. These, amongst countless other abnormal social phenomena, only serve to breed unrest, violence, chaos, and social disorder.

Anyone under the illusion that it's possible to turn a blind eye to all these realities, and believes that the root of all misfortune and evil is the West and the West alone, should think twice.

Instead of emotionally charged mobilisation, let's take an honest look in the mirror and ask ourselves: what have we done, and what are we doing, to confront the cultural alienation that is pushing our youth away today?

How does the gossip-fuelled obsession with celebrities, football players and influencers, or the indiscriminate fascination with foreign languages, especially English, differ from the sexual manifestations we oppose?

Why don't we abandon our ardent preoccupation with Western philosophies of violence that drive the production and dissemination of weapons around the world, with the same dedication with which we oppose homosexuality?

Why don't we take a serious and responsible stand against Western dominance of all technological means and fight to have our voices and contributions recognised in this arena?

Why don't we confront the excessive amounts of violent video games, movies and TV series that have potentially resulted in the deaths of thousands of people around the world?

In short, why did we choose the battle of "homosexuality" alone?

Can we guarantee that, in the face of massive mobilisation campaigns on social media and across traditional media, none among us will decide to take up arms and, for example, break into a gay club in a Western country, driven by the enthusiasm that has been instilled within him to commit a horrible massacre, to which our only response would be that our societies are innocent, and our values do not condone such actions?

Perhaps the answer to all these questions lies in consciously or subconsciously believing that our lives are linked to the West, with which we have a strange, chronic and inextricable love/hate relationship.

As much as we import cars, mobile phones, movies, TV series, music and all kinds of other products and technologies from the West, we are always afraid of importing cultural and social values, ideas, trends, and tendencies.

This is a perfectly legitimate fear, but the question remains: What proactive measures have we taken, and what are we currently doing, to safeguard ourselves and future generations from these various influences?

Are we merely accepting consumer goods passively, without recognising their potential connections to broader phenomena or considering the consequences?

What prevents us from becoming creators of our own modern lifestyles, contexts, tools, and means?

The world is rapidly advancing, driven by technology that is shaping our future. This moment calls for the intellectual leaders among us to reflect upon and develop smart solutions that enable us to adapt while minimising harm.

As for the discourse that creates external enemies and turns a blind eye to internal crises, it's a repeating cycle which we have witnessed over and over again, in various forms and disguises, and I am afraid that we are once again deep in its trenches.