Memetic Horizon

Currently a debate is taking place amongst the people of Iraq as to the future of their government.  In the background, and increasingly in the foreground, are terrorists, insurgents and other malcontents that run from criminals to would be dictators.  All of these are showing the many different memes that have accumulated over the years between the different sects of Muslims, Arabs and other ethnicity's.  On top of that is the way the people view government in general, and Western-style liberal democracies specifically. 

 

Fascinating is the blending of new technology, like cellphones used to detonate bombs and the internet to advertise activities, and the old, like using scimitar swords to decapitate, in fanatical terrorist practices.  One can see the acknowledgment and desperation of the situation when the U.S. appointed Baghdad government had created a new Iraqi flag based on showing the three major populations in cohesion. 

 

Theocratic Shi'ite criminal syndicates in Basra have maintained law and order and oppression.  The populous has largely felt pressured to support the group as they seem to be the only ones strong enough to keep peace. 

 

We see the traditional Shi'a, who follow the descendants of Mohammad and only a limited number of oral text, written after Mohammad, calling for a confederacy, and possible seperation, while the Sunni, who follow a line of political leaders, calling for cohesion.  The Sunni, due to being the minority, is fighting for a strong federal government with a powerful executive position, harking back to leaders like Hussein.  There are Sunni's who are taking a secular position, hoping to put religious differences aside and get a fair chance at power, while young Sunni's adhering to Wahhabism want a more vigorous use of Shira law in the constitution, not unlike Shi'ite fundamentalist, but not agreeing on the definition of Shira.