Page 467 - Neglected Arabia (1906-1910)

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(2) Besides the power to begin, the Occidental has the power
to continue. And that is very important. Many of my Oriental
friends have the courage to begin a thing, but they do not continue.
To continue requires not alone patience, but perseverance, stub­
bornness.
(3) But man, if he has begun and then continues, if he does
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1 not continue on the straight line, what is the benefit? The Occi­
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dental, besides his power of beginning and his power of continuing,
respects integrity, truth.
m If one man alone begins, though he continue in the straight line,
(4) And with all these qualities, he has the power to unite.
he alone advances, and his toil is greatly increased. But if all unite
■0 \ the strong draws the weak along the straight road, and the whole
s§ advance.
v, These are the evidences of our civilization: Facility of living
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and intercourse, education, freedom.
These are the causes thereof: Initiative, power to continue,
uprightness, unity.
If we examine all these elements, we see in Occidental civiliza­
tion one great outstanding feature: It is materialistic. All our
4 inventions are physical—what can be seen, heard, tasted. I do not
say it is our aim, but it is our danger.
And now we come to the question itself. Has the Oriental
greater capability of civilization than the Occidental? We believe
yes. I
In every Oriental is found one element in particular which he
inherits from his fathers, and to which by nature he inclines. It is
that of imitation.
An Oriental can be lead 1,000 farsakhs—he cannot be driven
one span. Give him a good leader, brave, capable, honest, the
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Oriental follows faithfully and tirelessly. Not alone does he fol­
low, but he follows well. E. g.. an Indian carpenter. Give him a >
picture of a'piece of furniture, which has been made in America by i
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workmen with complicated machines and at great cost. With his
simple tools—his drill, his hammer, his adze, his saw, his chisel—
1 sitting on the ground, no factory, no machines, he produces the 4

i furniture, exactly like the one in the picture—nay, better.
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There is no need of multiplying examples. You know as well
as I do that the Oriental can imitate. Inasmuch as the Oriental
can imitate material things, why cannot be imitate the means, the J
facilities of living and intercourse, which the Occidental possesses? J
They are all material. With a capable teacher to lead them, to
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teach them. T am sure the Orientals can imitate all* our Western
inventions and discoveries. *
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