Tunis Massacre

Tunis, capital of Tunisia and administrative centre of French North Africa during colonial heydays, is beautiful, articulate, culturally rich city with equally industrious, well educated, bilingual people.
Even now French influence is overwhelming, in food, wine and entertainment.
Tunisia was the only country to come out with credit after euphoria of “Arab Spring” revolution that is but distant memory in Libya and Egypt, in worse state now than ever before.
With ISIS influence spreading fast amongst young, well-educated but unemployed Tunisians, country is heading for disaster.
The attack on Western tourists on day trip from cruise liners, in most popular tourist hot-spot, museum next door to Parliament, is the last straw.
In draconian retaliation, holiday firms and cruise liners have taken Tunisia off their itinerary, thus creating mass unemployment, poverty and resentment, as tourism provides most income and jobs.
One may wonder why these countries, once peaceful, progressive and prosperous choose the path to self-destruction and chaos?
Could it be fiduciary, being fleeced or hatred towards West, once their colonial masters, now uninvited guests who interfere in their internal affairs in name of democracy or is it the clash of civilization, different values, different mind-set?
When we were on city excursion, we visited some of the most beautiful churches, cathedrals preserved solely for tourists, our guide boasting that once Tunisia was multi-faith country but now Islam rules supreme, Christianity has been eradicated? He was surprised when no one left tips?
Bhupendra M. Gandhi             
By email