[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"$fh5InfJVdhevKn3QnS7WkKkX4AY2L23sF32r1vyE-h_8":3,"$fsl5Ny8lc7p-73QfNjkob4YdEvz82UHtljmH_eRm53PA":27},{"author":4,"tags":11},{"author_id":5,"author_name":6,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"bio":9,"short_bio":9,"slug":10,"image_url":9},112536,"Bashar al-Assad","B",122,null,"bashar-al-assad",[12,16,20,24],{"tag_id":13,"tag_name":14,"tag_count":15},3625,"country",11,{"tag_id":17,"tag_name":18,"tag_count":19},496,"war",8,{"tag_id":21,"tag_name":22,"tag_count":23},294,"people",5,{"tag_id":25,"tag_name":26,"tag_count":23},17134,"israel",{"quotes":28,"pagination":132},[29,38,50,61,72,81,92,103,112,121],{"id":30,"quote_text":31,"author_id":5,"source_id":32,"has_image":33,"author":34,"source":35,"quote_tag":36,"commentary":37},3567830,"The problem with the West is that they start with political reform going towards democracy. If you want to go towards democracy, the first thing is to involve the people in decision making, not to make it.",7,false,{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[],"**The Backstory**\nThis quote is likely from a speech or interview given by Bashar al-Assad, the President of Syria, in the early 2000s. At that time, the Arab Spring was brewing, and Assad was attempting to project a image of reform and modernization to the West. However, his regime was already notorious for its authoritarianism and human rights abuses.\n\n**The Hidden Insight**\nThe hidden insight in this quote lies in its critique of the Western approach to democracy promotion. On the surface, the quote appears to be a rejection of democratic values, but upon closer examination, it reveals a deeper critique of the way the West imposes its values on other cultures. Assad is suggesting that the West's emphasis on political reform as a precursor to democracy is misguided, as it neglects the importance of cultural and social context in shaping political systems.\n\n**How to Use This**\nIn today's globalized world, professionals and creatives can apply this insight by recognizing that \"one-size-fits-all\" approaches to change and development are often doomed to fail. Instead, they should prioritize a nuanced understanding of the cultural and social context of the communities they aim to impact, and develop strategies that take into account the unique historical, economic, and social dynamics at play.",{"id":39,"quote_text":40,"author_id":5,"source_id":41,"has_image":33,"author":42,"source":43,"quote_tag":44,"commentary":9},888216,"There can be no peace without unity.",4,{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[45],{"id":46,"tag":47},3891501,{"id":48,"tag_name":49},4281,"unity",{"id":51,"quote_text":52,"author_id":5,"source_id":41,"has_image":33,"author":53,"source":54,"quote_tag":55,"commentary":9},888214,"[The Jews] tried to kill the principles of all religions with the same mentality in which they betrayed Jesus Christ and the same way they tried to betray and kill the Prophet Muhammad.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[56],{"id":57,"tag":58},3891499,{"id":59,"tag_name":60},91,"jesus",{"id":62,"quote_text":63,"author_id":5,"source_id":41,"has_image":33,"author":64,"source":65,"quote_tag":66,"commentary":9},888213,"It's not exactly fair to make a mistake yourself and then start blaming others for it.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[67],{"id":68,"tag":69},3891496,{"id":70,"tag_name":71},6349,"blame",{"id":73,"quote_text":74,"author_id":5,"source_id":41,"has_image":33,"author":75,"source":76,"quote_tag":77,"commentary":9},888211,"We have hopes that we can see rational American presidents; fair, obey the international law, deal with other countries according to mutual respect, parity, etc., but we all know that this is only wishful thinking and fantasy.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[78],{"id":79,"tag":80},3891495,{"id":13,"tag_name":14},{"id":82,"quote_text":83,"author_id":5,"source_id":41,"has_image":33,"author":84,"source":85,"quote_tag":86,"commentary":9},888208,"Syria is geographically and politically in the middle of the Middle East. That is why we are in contact with most of the problems forever, let us say, whether directly or indirectly.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[87],{"id":88,"tag":89},3891493,{"id":90,"tag_name":91},1550,"forever",{"id":93,"quote_text":94,"author_id":5,"source_id":41,"has_image":33,"author":95,"source":96,"quote_tag":97,"commentary":9},888207,"[Enemies of Syria] are the enemies of the people and the enemies of God. And the enemies of God will go to hell.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[98],{"id":99,"tag":100},3891492,{"id":101,"tag_name":102},2941,"enemy",{"id":104,"quote_text":105,"author_id":5,"source_id":41,"has_image":33,"author":106,"source":107,"quote_tag":108,"commentary":9},888204,"If you want to kill the Syrian people, who's going to support us as a government, as officials? No one.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[109],{"id":110,"tag":111},3891490,{"id":21,"tag_name":22},{"id":113,"quote_text":114,"author_id":5,"source_id":41,"has_image":33,"author":115,"source":116,"quote_tag":117,"commentary":9},888202,"Every country has criminals who have to be fought. They can exist anywhere, including the government or the army - or outside the government and army.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[118],{"id":119,"tag":120},3891487,{"id":13,"tag_name":14},{"id":122,"quote_text":123,"author_id":5,"source_id":41,"has_image":33,"author":124,"source":125,"quote_tag":126,"commentary":9},888201,"Trust that the thing in life that excites you the most comes complete with all the tools necessary to support you in the doing of that thing. It is automatic; it is built in. All you need to do is act on the opportunities that doing that situation brings to you.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[127],{"id":128,"tag":129},3891486,{"id":130,"tag_name":131},1175,"opportunity",{"currentPage":133,"totalPages":134,"totalItems":8,"itemsPerPage":135},1,13,10]