Talk:Sultan al-Atrash

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[edit] Work in Progress

I'm doing a full re-write for the article, section by section. So you might find huge differences in language and information from section to section. You can come and check it out later or add it to your watchlist. If you can contribute to it, please do! Orionist 04:08, 16 December 2006 (UTC)

Shouldn't the article be named Sultan al-Atrash? That is, of course, according to the Arabic manual of style. Good luck with the rewrite. :) ← ANAS ^Talk? 21:29, 21 December 2006 (UTC)

Hi Orionist again, I don't want to edit anything on the page, until I am 100% sure. However, as of now The Battle of Ain Dara should be mentioned to explain why al-Atrash family and his Druze followers ended up in Syria.

I saw few Anti-Druze writings in the web and Syrian writers of certain groups, so I rather have you do your own neutral research so the article can be complete. --Skatewalk 05:45, 4 August 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Over-simplification

The author of this article does not do Sultan (Pasha) al-Atrash justice. He/she over-simplifies the man, his struggles and his ideals. One instance of such over simplification lies in the article's assertion that al-Atrash "demanded a national Syrian unity." Gramatical issues aside, I cannot help but wonder about the accuracy of this assertion.

Has the author forgotten about Sultan Pasha's bitter struggles with Presidents Quwwatli and Shishakli? The latter leading to the utter impoverishment of the jabal, and the demolishion of several towns by the Syrian Army. Or what about his desire (articulated to both British and Jordanian authorities) to attach jabal el-Druze to Jordan as opposed to Syria?

At least one of the historians who have published studies, treatises and books about the Jabal's history argues that Sultan was interested, first and foremost, in maintaining the traditional institutions that gave him the power he enjoyed among the Druze. His priority, understandably, was maintaining the jabal's autonomy from the central government (be it French or Syrian) and preserving the freedom needed for the Druze to conduct their own affairs as they saw fit. Whenever that autonomy was threatened, he moved to counter the threat.

I recommend that the author, and whomever is interested in Sultan Pasha al Atrash, follow the link pasted bellow to read a more detailed and comprehensive perspective of the man and his actions. It is one thing to portray a man as one would like, and another to attempt to portray him as he was.

http://faculty-staff.ou.edu/L/Joshua.M.Landis-1/Joshua_Landis_Druze_and_Shishakli.htm

87.200.21.195 (talk) 17:20, 12 January 2008 (UTC) Druze of the two Jabals