Graphic source: the Armoury of St. James. The unfolding emirate features a graphic of Saladin, who I picture here, but since the site does not credit a source I don't know if its borrowed or not.
Here is one of the ideas that can only happen in the wonderful, zany world of the Internet.
A hardy band of 'Netters, no, I didn't say nutters, announced that they are beginning a YouTube Emirate.
What is an emirate? This is the quality, dignity, office, or territorial competence of any Emir (prince, governor etc.). These folks think on a small scale apparently: the opposite of "if I were Emperor of the world," and then the person fills in the gaps of what they would do.
An emirate designates a political territory ruled by a dynastic Arab Monarch styled an emir. They are not too popular in the modern world as most emirates dissipated or were integrated into larger modern states. These are small time thinking folks.
The Arabic etymology suggests the term is generalized to indicate any province of a country that is administered by a member of the ruling class, e.g., a Sheikh of the royal family.
The basics of the idea then are to create a cyber small-time monarchical Arab state in YouTube-ville. Are you with me?
The group has gone so far as to write up a constitution, and by constitution they don't mean the French Revolution variety but an agreement to accept authority as Mohammed did some centuries ago.
Authority is a major point to this group: to wit, "There is to be one single leader of the Muslims on YouTube" (#2).
Sexism is important for this band as well since of that one leader it is stated to: "honor his authority" (#2).
The one authoritative leader has help though because there are two advisory committees. And what, pray tell, are the two top priorities that are needed to fill those committees? The "Disciplinary Committee" and the "Religious Consultants" are required (#3).
But perhaps the laws of the emirate are the high point of constitutional thinking here. From whence do laws of this mighty band arise? Of the laws governing the band it is stated: "All laws of the Qur'an and Islam must be followed and given precedence to this document. . . . The YouTube Terms of Service must be followed and given precedence to this document" (#5).
So let me get this straight: the Qur'an, and the YouTube Terms of Service, are held in equal regard as laws of this emirate?
Good thing this statement is still in draft form. I am no expert on statements like this but I suspect there are difficulties when any group maintains that a religious book and an American company's agreement with its customers are equal.
We do have a problem when folks are so inspired by past failures, Islamic Empires, but try to wed those notions to 21st century technology.
Is it just me or am I alone in appreciating the irony? Thanks to the U.S.A., and specifically an American company giving away free technology--based as it is on Western research in an open, free, scientific, and secular society--some people have allowed their fantasies to spiral exponentially.
I hope the emirate enjoys the blessings of the U.S.A.
Posts
