First, I haven't watched the vid, just commenting on ..well .. comments : ):

maybe we are at 1857 in the Arab world

I have no idea why that year is important. Ref would be useful. Apols, I am not a mind reader : ).

defeatism is utterly contemptible,

Absolutely

perhaps a weekend in Yemen might put some steel in your spine, you will want to get there for Friday prayers and the mass gathering that folows, a million people gather to sing Yemeni hits like "We dont care....lets have a world war" or my personal favourite "To the Saudi King and his imbecile son"

Myself, being an atheist, and .. although I do appreciate the existence of religious need, I am sceptical that this event is purely .. well, religious. It is clearly people's will.

I've met many Yemenis. In a sense they proved to me that what they have to offer is as good as it gets. Cool cats.

t

PS. I'll check out the vid ..