No, "closer to home" demands brutal honesty and cutting to the bone. This in itself is not something that comes easily in Muslim societies, and it comes no easier to Muslim governments and their representatives. Closer to home means facing up to issues such as corruption and lack of investment in education and scientific research.

The work ethic must also be examined. It is, in fact, one glaring problem. Dependency on a patriarchal state or on Big Brother figures in the private sector or in society, render the work ethic a meaningless concept. "Tradition" has too often been used as an excuse to foster unearned privilege. It is the way of the Third World, and the Third World is the way of poverty and illiteracy - and we are back to two of the major problems mentioned by Badawi at the OIC conference.

The negation of the contemporary world must be turned around and a sense of pride in achievement must be fostered. At least Badawi is making an effort to bring skeletons out of the collective Muslim closet. This is a starting point for much hard work for many years to come.

RTWT. True human dignity is enhanced when people earn honest rewards for honest work. And people who do so have a stake in their society and its future -- you only have to look at how justifiably proud the Iraqis are of their election to see that. They are earning their stable, free future.

This is a dialogue that is long overdue within many Muslim countries and we are seeing Muslim voices begin to speak out. May they be successful!