--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's strange for me to say it, but this…" description: "\"It's strange for me to say it, but this process of change has started because of the American invasion of Iraq. I was cynical about Iraq. But when I sa..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f5/walid-jumblatt-23040_arab-world_it-s-strange-for-me-to-say-it-but-this-p_3062867.jpg" --- # It's strange for me to say it, but this process of change… ![“It's strange for me to say it, but this process of change has started because of the American invasion of Iraq. I was cynical about Iraq. But when I saw the Iraqi people voting three weeks ago, 8 million of them, it was the start of a new Arab world. The Syrian people, the Egyptian people, all say…” quote by Walid Jumblatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f5/walid-jumblatt-23040_arab-world_it-s-strange-for-me-to-say-it-but-this-p_3062867.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f5/walid-jumblatt-23040_arab-world_it-s-strange-for-me-to-say-it-but-this-p_3062867.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f5/walid-jumblatt-23040_arab-world_it-s-strange-for-me-to-say-it-but-this-p_3062867.jpg) > “It's strange for me to say it, but this process of change has started because of the American invasion of Iraq. I was cynical about Iraq. But when I saw the Iraqi people voting three weeks ago, 8 million of them, it was the start of a new Arab world. The Syrian people, the Egyptian people, all say that something is changing. The Berlin Wall has fallen. We can see it.” [Walid Jumblatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walid-jumblatt/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He notes democratic progress in Iraq and the Arab world, likening it to historic changes. **In simple terms:** He sees democratic change in the Arab world. Key Takeaway Support emerging democracies. Themes politics democracy change Mood hopeful critical Type political reflective When to use this quote - elections - reforms - regional cooperation Key Concepts Political transition civil society Questions to Reflect On - What obstacles remain for democracy? - How can reforms be sustained? A Different Perspective Optimism may overlook ongoing challenges. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Arab world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arab-world/) [Berlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/berlin/) [Berlin wall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/berlin-wall/) [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Change Started](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change-started-1617721/) [Cynical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cynical/) [Cynical Iraq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cynical-iraq-2561001/) [Egyptian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/egyptian/) [Fallen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fallen/) [Invasion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/invasion/) [Iraq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/iraq/) [Iraqi people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/iraqi-people/) [Israel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/israel/) [Millions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/millions/) [New Arab](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-arab-5145910/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Process](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/process/) [Process of change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/process-of-change/) [Saws](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saws/) [Strange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strange/) [Three](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/three/) [Voting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/voting/) [Wall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wall/) [Week](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/week/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [I was cynical about Iraq. But when I saw the Iraqi people voting . . . it was the start of a new Arab…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walid-jumblatt/i-was-cynical-about-iraq-but-when-i-saw-the-iraqi-people-voting-it/) [Walid Jumblatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walid-jumblatt/) > [When I went to jail with that problem with my wife, they didn't let me see my kids for two or three months, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manny-ramirez/when-i-went-to-jail-with-that-problem-with-my-wife-they-didn-t-let-me/) [Manny Ramirez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manny-ramirez/) > [I wanted to change my name when I first started because I thought, 'No-one is going to believe that it is my name.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-fender/i-wanted-to-change-my-name-when-i-first-started-because-i-thought-no/) [Sam Fender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-fender/) > [“I thought change started from within." "Sometimes. Sometimes it's forced upon you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-hannah/i-thought-change-started-from-within-sometimes-sometimes-it-s-forced/) [Kristin Hannah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-hannah/) > [You can't change where you started, but you can change the direction you are going. It's not what you are going to do, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/you-can-t-change-where-you-started-but-you-can-change-the-direction/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [Here was something that I did all the time, and thought nothing of it, and it turns out the rest of the world thinks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-wells/here-was-something-that-i-did-all-the-time-and-thought-nothing-of-it/) [Dan Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-wells/) > [The moment I understood this - that my Parkinson's was the one thing I wasn't going to change - I started looking at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-j-fox/the-moment-i-understood-this-that-my-parkinson-s-was-the-one-thing-i/) [Michael J. Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-j-fox/) > [I actually ended up going through a vocal change. It started about two years ago, and it's only been recently that I found my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lzzy-hale/i-actually-ended-up-going-through-a-vocal-change-it-started-about-two/) [Lzzy Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lzzy-hale/) > [Just when I think I have learned the way to live, life changes and I am left the same. The more things change the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-prather/just-when-i-think-i-have-learned-the-way-to-live-life-changes-and-i/) [Hugh Prather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-prather/) > [The Syrian people, the Egyptian people, all say that something is changing. The Berlin Wall has fallen. We can see it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walid-jumblatt/the-syrian-people-the-egyptian-people-all-say-that-something-is/) [Walid Jumblatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walid-jumblatt/) > [Humans tend to start the process of change by acknowledging themselves. Thus blacks asserted black pride and 'black is beautiful;' women declared 'I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-farrell/humans-tend-to-start-the-process-of-change-by-acknowledging/) [Warren Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-farrell/) > [We know from astronomy that the universe had a beginning, from physics that the future is both open and unpredictable, from geology and paleontology…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-r-miller/we-know-from-astronomy-that-the-universe-had-a-beginning-from-physics/) [Kenneth R. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-r-miller/) > [You can do anything you decide to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amelia-earhart/you-can-do-anything-you-decide-to-do/) [Amelia Earhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amelia-earhart/) > [The sun, moving as it does, sets up processes of change and becoming and decay, and by its agency the finest and sweetest water…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/the-sun-moving-as-it-does-sets-up-processes-of-change-and-becoming/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [No civilisation, not even that of ancient Greece, has ever undergone such a continuous and profound process of change as Western Europe has done…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-dawson/no-civilisation-not-even-that-of-ancient-greece-has-ever-undergone/) [Christopher Dawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-dawson/) ## More by Walid Jumblatt > [The U.S. always needs an enemy. It comes and goes. Today it is Islam. According to this plan or ideology of the born-again Christians…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walid-jumblatt/the-u-s-always-needs-an-enemy-it-comes-and-goes-today-it-is-islam/) [Walid Jumblatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walid-jumblatt/) > [The Syrians are trying to say that the Lebanese are not capable of ruling themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walid-jumblatt/the-syrians-are-trying-to-say-that-the-lebanese-are-not-capable-of/) [Walid Jumblatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walid-jumblatt/) > [Don't forget we are in a state of war and no peace. But it's very dynamic and challenging compared to the rest of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walid-jumblatt/don-t-forget-we-are-in-a-state-of-war-and-no-peace-but-it-s-very/) [Walid Jumblatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walid-jumblatt/) > [We are all happy when U.S. soldiers are killed week in and week out. The killing of U.S. soldiers in Iraq is legitimate and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walid-jumblatt/we-are-all-happy-when-u-s-soldiers-are-killed-week-in-and-week-out/) [Walid Jumblatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walid-jumblatt/) > [I know something quite sure. We'll never have peace with this Syrian regime. They'll never give us relief, and we'll never forget that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walid-jumblatt/i-know-something-quite-sure-we-ll-never-have-peace-with-this-syrian/) [Walid Jumblatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walid-jumblatt/) > [There is a racist attack against Muslims and Arabs, Algerians, Moroccans, and Tunisians in France.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walid-jumblatt/there-is-a-racist-attack-against-muslims-and-arabs-algerians/) [Walid Jumblatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walid-jumblatt/) > [Syrian influence has not ended yet. It is going to be a very long path.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walid-jumblatt/syrian-influence-has-not-ended-yet-it-is-going-to-be-a-very-long-path/) [Walid Jumblatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walid-jumblatt/) > [No one can live under degradation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walid-jumblatt/no-one-can-live-under-degradation/) [Walid Jumblatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walid-jumblatt/) > [There was a president imposed by Syria. Our battle... is to have a Lebanese president that we elect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walid-jumblatt/there-was-a-president-imposed-by-syria-our-battle-is-to-have-a/) [Walid Jumblatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walid-jumblatt/) > [The Islamic State is a threat to both the moderate Islam headed by Mr. Saad al-Hariri and, of course, for Hezbollah. There is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walid-jumblatt/the-islamic-state-is-a-threat-to-both-the-moderate-islam-headed-by-mr/) [Walid Jumblatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walid-jumblatt/) > [The violence and burnings in Lebanon were the work of Syrian soldiers and workers dressed in civilian clothes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walid-jumblatt/the-violence-and-burnings-in-lebanon-were-the-work-of-syrian-soldiers/) [Walid Jumblatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walid-jumblatt/) > [If I have any advice to give to the Syrian president it is to cooperate for the sake of the investigation or for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walid-jumblatt/if-i-have-any-advice-to-give-to-the-syrian-president-it-is-to/) [Walid Jumblatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walid-jumblatt/) > [We will not rest until we see the suspects behind bars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walid-jumblatt/we-will-not-rest-until-we-see-the-suspects-behind-bars/) [Walid Jumblatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walid-jumblatt/) > [We move sometimes. We send messages to each other. We talk on the phone. Tell me, what can we do?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walid-jumblatt/we-move-sometimes-we-send-messages-to-each-other-we-talk-on-the-phone/) [Walid Jumblatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walid-jumblatt/) > [I condemn what happened in Madrid, but it is suspicious. If tomorrow there will be another bombing, in France for example, who will gain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walid-jumblatt/i-condemn-what-happened-in-madrid-but-it-is-suspicious-if-tomorrow/) [Walid Jumblatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walid-jumblatt/) [Explore all 26 Walid Jumblatt quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walid-jumblatt/) ## More Arab world quotes > [Al Jazeera is a representation of, you know, diversity in the Arab world. In our newsroom, we have every single nationality, we have every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wadah-khanfar/al-jazeera-is-a-representation-of-you-know-diversity-in-the-arab/) [Wadah Khanfar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wadah-khanfar/) > [I think this is really a defining moment for the Arab world. The problem is, it is all going to be about blood, sweat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-think-this-is-really-a-defining-moment-for-the-arab-world-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The routine expression of hatred for others is so common in the Arab world that it barely draws comment other than from the region’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-marshall/the-routine-expression-of-hatred-for-others-is-so-common-in-the-arab/) [Tim Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-marshall/) > [More attention should be given to the Arab world and the human rights abuse that is taking place every day in many countries in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamal-khashoggi/more-attention-should-be-given-to-the-arab-world-and-the-human-rights/) [Jamal Khashoggi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamal-khashoggi/) > [I firmly believed we should not march into Baghdad ...To occupy Iraq would instantly shatter our coalition, turning the whole Arab world against us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-h-w-bush/i-firmly-believed-we-should-not-march-into-baghdad-to-occupy-iraq/) [George H. W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-h-w-bush/) > [The Arab world also won the Nobel with me. I believe that international doors have opened, and that from now on, literate people will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naguib-mahfouz/the-arab-world-also-won-the-nobel-with-me-i-believe-that/) [Naguib Mahfouz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naguib-mahfouz/) > [Women in the Arab world have a rich history in their active participation in political change from the Algeria revolution against the French occupation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zainab-salbi/women-in-the-arab-world-have-a-rich-history-in-their-active/) [Zainab Salbi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zainab-salbi/) > [The unimaginable brutality of this latest manifestation of Political Islam in the Arab world is too much to bear for many Muslim Arab](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hisham-melhem/the-unimaginable-brutality-of-this-latest-manifestation-of-political/) [Hisham Melhem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hisham-melhem/) > [“The Arab world has no peer when it comes to hatred - of the Western world generally, and especially of Israel. Israel-hatred and its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-prager/the-arab-world-has-no-peer-when-it-comes-to-hatred-of-the-western/) [Dennis Prager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-prager/) > [I think all of the attention of the world, to include the attention of the Arab world, should be on Saddam Hussein and whether…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/i-think-all-of-the-attention-of-the-world-to-include-the-attention-of/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [I've been many times to Dubai and the U.A.E., and I have friends that live there. It would be exciting to stage world heavyweight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wladimir-klitschko/i-ve-been-many-times-to-dubai-and-the-u-a-e-and-i-have-friends-that/) [Wladimir Klitschko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wladimir-klitschko/) > [Biden's support for Mubarak in the face of his falling regime sends a powerful and unfortunate message to the Arab world that their freedoms…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-grenell/biden-s-support-for-mubarak-in-the-face-of-his-falling-regime-sends-a/) [Richard Grenell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-grenell/) > [On the flip side, I enjoy covering the Arab world, I've spent my entire career here in the Middle East, but I would never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-shadid/on-the-flip-side-i-enjoy-covering-the-arab-world-i-ve-spent-my-entire/) [Anthony Shadid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-shadid/) > [I'm not much interested in prizes, whether from the Arab world or from the Western world. Writing is a very difficult process and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hassan-blasim/i-m-not-much-interested-in-prizes-whether-from-the-arab-world-or-from/) [Hassan Blasim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hassan-blasim/) > [Love in the Arab world is like a prisoner, and I want to set (it) free. I want to free the Arab soul, sense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nizar-qabbani/love-in-the-arab-world-is-like-a-prisoner-and-i-want-to-set-it-free-i/) [Nizar Qabbani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nizar-qabbani/) [Browse all 165 Arab world quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arab-world/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It's strange for me to say it, but this process of change has started because of the American invasion of Iraq. I was cynical about Iraq. But when I saw the Iraqi people voting three weeks ago, 8 million of them, it was the start of a new Arab world. The Syrian people, the Egyptian people, all say that something is changing. The Berlin Wall has fallen. We can see it.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Walid Jumblatt" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walid-jumblatt/it-s-strange-for-me-to-say-it-but-this-process-of-change-has-started/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Arab world" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walid-jumblatt/it-s-strange-for-me-to-say-it-but-this-process-of-change-has-started/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f5/walid-jumblatt-23040_arab-world_it-s-strange-for-me-to-say-it-but-this-p_3062867.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f5/walid-jumblatt-23040_arab-world_it-s-strange-for-me-to-say-it-but-this-p_3062867.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f5/walid-jumblatt-23040_arab-world_it-s-strange-for-me-to-say-it-but-this-p_3062867.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It's strange for me to say it, but this process of change has started because of the American invasion of…” — Walid Jumblatt", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Walid Jumblatt", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walid-jumblatt/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It's strange for me to say...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walid-jumblatt/it-s-strange-for-me-to-say-it-but-this-process-of-change-has-started/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walid-jumblatt/it-s-strange-for-me-to-say-it-but-this-process-of-change-has-started/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```