From: Dehede011@aol.com
Date: Thu Mar 13 2003 - 21:44:11 MST
In a message dated 3/13/2003 3:54:57 PM Central Standard Time,
steve365@btinternet.com writes: isn't clear to me why Muslims are more prone
to fantasising and lack of realism than others as a result of the lack of
competition in the state system
Steve,
I hear two explanations for this phenomenon. Perhaps they are both
right or both wrong as they don't seem to be mutually exclusive.
The first explanation is that when the Arabs armies were overrun by
the invaders from the East during the middle ages the shock was so great that
the entire Arab/Moslem society fractured.
The second explanation is that they have again fractured because of
the their continued defeats by the Israelis. According to one explanation
their turning to the fundamentalists was a result of this reaction.
However I have to point out the book The Lexus and the Olive Tree as
well as Hernando de Soto's book The Mystery of Capital. The Mystery of
Capital points to the ill effects brought on in societies that do not have a
system for protecting private property. Dr. de Soto points the finger to at
least one major (Egypt) middle eastern country that fails to protect private
property.
You also discussed installing a better form of government in Iraq. My
reading indicates that Bush, etal seems to regard it as very important to
support a form of government that is chosen by the Iraqi themselves. Exactly
what this means when the rubber hits the road we will have to wait to see.
As long as I just commenting on things you have said let me comment on
South America. From time to time I am seeing comments that a fairly quiet
religious conversion is going on in South America that is gradually
overturning social structure. I recently read an analysis in a major
American Magazine but I don't intend to look it up for you -- even if the
fellow was correct as to magnitude I wasn't impressed with his grasp of the
religious movement. LOL
Basically folks seem to agree that the American Christian
Fundamentalists are sending husband-wife teams into South America to do
missionary work. Supposedly the South American women are extremely
influenced by seeing the American Women as an equal member of the missionary
team. The SA women join the church and pull in their husbands. In turn the
missionaries preach a self reliance that is changing the ways of the SA
underclass dramatically. I believe that is a fair statement of what is
supposedly going on. You can watch and determine the facts for yourself.
Ron h.
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