“Forward Steps for a Backward People”

In the process of doing some research on some Iranian historical matters I came across the Google Books archive of the legendary and iconic piece of Americana, Life Magazine.

Naturally, I decided to do some searching around for Middle East related things and came across this gem of an antiquated (or as we would call it in 2010, racist) headline (pictured below) that would make Roger Sterling c.1963 proud.

The article itself, published in 1951, is not that much better in that it begins by stating “the Eastern Nations have never distinguished themselves for any understanding of Samuel Johnson’s axiom, ‘a decent provision for the poor is the true test of civilization.’”

Well, that’s the author’s opinion, but still I can’t help but wonder if the author of the Life Magazine piece even bothered to look up the concept of Zakat? Or analyze Dr. Mossadegh’s ambitious (and democratic) plan for the distribution of wealth in Iran that was quickly quashed by the “civilized” US?

I would argue that these “Western” arrogances (if I may invent a word) as seen here in 1951 continue to frame American views of Muslim societies such as Iran.

I am willing to bet, that were the author of this piece alive today, he would most certainly hesitate to call the United States a backward place despite it’s poor record on poverty. I only wish he would have used such restraint in 1951 as well.