Let's Play Cowboys and Indians

Submitted by Lloyd Freeman (United States), Jan 14, 2004 at 23:11

It is sad that very few people, especially the talking heads, are able to understand clearly what is going on between the Muslim and Western world. So-called experts are quick to categorize terrorists as fringe groups(the Islamic funtamentalists...a so called small minority). But objectively, where do anti-Western terrorists come from? Do they come from Buddhist countries like Thailand and Japan? How about the predominantly Hindu country of India. Do they come from China or Russia( one would think they surely would have an ax to grind with the 'West')? Surely many of them come from Mexico...a nation that the U.S. shamelessly exploits for it's cheap labor. Oh, I know....they have to come from Africa...the poorest continent on the planet...surely they are bitter about their situation and would have good reason to lash out against the West.

What's that you say? 99% of the terrorists who lash out against the West(ie. the U.S.) are from Muslim countries? That's odd.... I wonder why that is? Most of these nations are soveriegn and awash in oil...they have plenty of money. Have they been oppressed?

Well, let's see. India was completely colonized by Britain and China exploited in a terrible way in the 1800's. South America was given the once over by Spain. But these countries seem to have moved on and embraced Western ways. But the Middle East was only partially colonized post-Ottoman empire and then only briefly. After World War II they were quickly given their independence. So what went wrong?....as Bernard Lewis likes to say.

I'm not the brightest tool in the shed...but I can connect the dots. No one wants to say there's a problem with Islam (we in the West must be accepting of everyone...you know....colonial guilt and all that). But let's just ask ourselves one question. If all the Muslim radicals in the world today were to vanish tomorrow....how much terrorism would we have in the world? I know.....I should be barred from asking such a question. But the answer is sobering....a few radicals in northern Ireland (who don't actually target other nations except the ones that concern their goals); a few Tamil Tigers in Sri Lanka (who also only target groups that affect their demands and goals); and perhaps a few other guerrilla groups who operate within fairly predictable parameters and who almost certainly don't blindly blame whole civilizations for their problems.

Can someone tell me why almost all recent terrorist attacks against U.S.(Western) interests originate in Muslim countries? Of course the problem can't be with Islam.

In the meantime....the U.S. was quite willing to let Muslim countries live the way they choose. You don't have to adopt our ways....hey...freedom isn't for everyone....but it sure is FUN! We don't have to like each other....and we were quite willing to let Taliban and Iranian Islamic states take their place in the pantheon of nations...still are.

But let's be clear. If you want to play Cowboys and Indians guess who gets to be the Cowboys? And we all know how that little game ends. Japan... realized their mistake and quickly recovered. The story of the American Indian is tragic. It is a story of two worlds colliding where the weaker world refused to compromise. Might doesn't make right...but it's reality and it's the story of history. Islamic countries are characterized by economic and political failures.....is this your legacy and pride? The Western system works and provides hope for billions of people and China, Japan, Thailand, India and others know this and have adapted accordingly.

Hey Islamic world...it's your choice.

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