"Face" Among the Arabs

While I was looking for info on the Canadian Caper, I ended up on this website; https://www.cia.gov/library/center-f.../subjectII.htm

This article was one of those I read and found interesting. https://www.cia.gov/library/center-f...3a05p_0001.htm

It was written in 1960 or so and declassified in 1994. I was wondering if the article was accurate in 1960 and if so, still accurate today.

Quote:

The Arab in his society is likewise expected to show personal integrity in order to be socially acceptable. He, however, manifests his honor and integrity by making a public, outward impression of dignity derived from an ostensible lack of guilt. Even if facts and conditions speak to the contrary, the social veneer of non-guilt must be maintained evident and dominant if he is to achieve the socially demanded face. Dignity and stature are granted only to those who show themselves as flawless; the society of the Arab world has no place or respect for one whose faults or errors come to public knowledge. Blame, fault, or error accruing to an Arab personally brings his immediate fall from social grace and a loss of dignity or face. He therefore feels revulsion and bitterness for anything that tends to compromise him in this way.

I wonder how far this saving face and tact is taken? For example does it work the same way in military boot camp in Arab countries?

Quote:

Americans and most other Western-bred persons regard it as merely socially inconsiderate or impolite to mention another's errors in public. Management courses teach psychologically graceful ways to correct erring employees without hurting their feelings, suggesting for example "Maybe it would be better if we did this another way" instead of a blunt and ego-damaging "You are doing this all wrong." The Arab would be quick to grasp the wide divergence between the two approaches. But what in American life is a matter of tact and consideration is to him a highly charged social confrontation with many complexities and subtle ramifications of which the American would never have dreamed.

I can't imagine any drill instructor or company commander charged with training new soldiers to treat them with "kid gloves" in this fashion. :)

As far as the bolded words above; I can't help but think this is how Trump supporters feel when he grab guns or says due process is over-rated. There is no guilt in his actions because he did nothing wrong.

Ranb

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