Perhaps societal divides in the Arab world closely resemble the groupings in the West. Perhaps a significant majority of the citizenry simply want to be "left alone", to live their lives, raise their families, and pursue their dreams.

But in the Arab world, as in the ostensibly “more civilized” West, a small, very small, very vocal minority, are adamant that they, as the natural arbiters of all that is holy, are the *only* ones competent to direct society in the "right" direction. Strangely, the (usually) self-appointed leaders of these vocal minorities are often forced to live in five-star hotels, or in gated and guarded 'compounds', with their armies of servants and bodyguards. Wherein they work diligently, for generations, to subvert the mechanisms of government; to control and direct *ALL* public discourse.

And we let them! Hell, we enable them. Because, of course, we “just want to be left alone”.

Do we suffer from stupidity, terminal complacency - or a death wish? Or all of the above?