WI: Abdulfattah Jandali Junior

[JacktheCat]

Sad news today ... but it got me thinking.

What if:

1954
Abdulfattah Jandali, a graduate political science student from Syria discovers that his girlfriend Joanne Schieble is pregnant. After tears and a heart to heart discussion they decide to keep the baby and get married.

1955 Feb. 24.
A healthy baby boy is born to proud parents Abdulfattah and Joanne. They decide to name him Mohamed Steven Jandali.

1957
Abdulfattah Jandali completes his studies, and despite a big argument with his wife, moves his family back to Syria.

... Your thoughts on what would happen next?

[Hendryk]

This ties in with this thread of mine.

Obviously in your scenario there is no way of guessing how little Mohamed, being brought up by different parents in a different country, would turn out.

[JacktheCat]

Originally Posted by Hendryk

Obviously in your scenario there is no way of guessing how little Mohamed, being brought up by different parents in a different country, would turn out.

Ah, but there this.

Same brain, same genius for strategic thinking, same personality 'quirks'.

But substitute a childhood growing up in '50s/'60s Southern California with a middle class WASP family with growing up in '50s/'60s Syria with a Secular Muslim Arab family.

[Evan]

Originally Posted by JacktheCat

But substitute a childhood growing up in '50s/'60s Southern California with a middle class WASP family with growing up in '50s/'60s Syria with a Secular Muslim Arab family.

So he probably doesn't get the opportunity to learn about computers. His curiosity could be repressed, but let's assume it isn't. So where does he turn? And does he stay in Syria or move somewhere else where there are more opportunities?

[JacktheCat]

As I see it that there are three possible future TLs for him here ...

One, he follows his father into Syrian/Middle Eastern politics. (this was his father's original plan, study politics in America and then come back and help reform Syria).

Two, after witnessing Syria's humiliation at the hands of the Israelis, he pursues a military career.

Three, he rebels against his wealthy secular parents and embraces fundamentalist Islam. Goes to fight the Soviets in Afghanistan.

[Hendryk]

Originally Posted by JacktheCat

Ah, but there this.

Same brain, same genius for strategic thinking, same personality 'quirks'.

But substitute a childhood growing up in '50s/'60s Southern California with a middle class WASP family with growing up in '50s/'60s Syria with a Secular Muslim Arab family.

Traits such as intelligence and personality are acquired, not innate. With different parents and a different society to grow up in, he'd become an unrecognizable person from OTL. This kind of speculation is one step removed from the classic "WI Hitler's parents emigrated to the US shortly before his birth?"