Hi Omar
OMAR:
I'm somewhat perplexed at the notion, expressed in even the most
reasonable posts, that, somehow, the 'west' is 'intellectually
superior', and that the Islamic value-system is Socially Based, and on
those grounds 1) Inferior and 2) Antagonistic.
That just doesn't carry. ...
As for history, well, the notion that the west holds any monopoly
whatsoever on intellectual activity is just laughable. The technological
superiority is clear as day, but tech is not intellect. The only current
superiority I can honestly see is one of technique, not of reason. I
can, but choose not to, go over countless examples of intellectual
achievement by Arab and Islamic individuals. The notion that
individuality is undervalued is simply...well, unread...
ROG:
The major difference is western science. This is a technique that separates
those that had it from those that don't. Of course, it can now flow freely
across any boundaries. The secondary difference is the relative lack of
intellectually-based social organization... ie representative democracy and
free enterprise. Again, this gap is closing quickly.
OMAR:
To a lot of non-Americans - this didn't start Sept. 11th, this 'war'
started earlier, much earlier. And the Americans are the aggressors,
they are the monster, they are a social monster, catering to the
biological needs of it's cells, and willing to destroy intellectual
patterns in other societies in order to create a bigger market for their
particular breed of social monster. To take things teleologically and
say that by virtue of appearing to be 'winning', the USA must be
'superior' is just short-sighted.
ROG:
Could you be more specific, yet at the same time balance the issue as you see
fit? (ie nobody is saying US is perfect, but is it more good than bad?)
Look forward to hearing from you. I won't be able to respond for a week or
so though.
Roger
PS -- How can a fan of the MOQ be an anarchist? this makes no sense and
undermines the top two levels (lowering your proposed solution below even the
social)
MOQ.ORG - http://www.moq.org
Mail Archive - http://alt.venus.co.uk/hypermail/moq_discuss/
MD Queries - horse@darkstar.uk.net
To unsubscribe from moq_discuss follow the instructions at:
http://www.moq.org/md/subscribe.html
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b30 : Sat Aug 17 2002 - 16:01:40 BST