There may be an upside to pulling apart

Submitted by Elwood Anderson (United States), Feb 16, 2006 at 20:54

The question of whether integrated cultures are better than separated ones in still open, as I see it. If people emigrate to a different culture they should be willing to adopt the standards of that culture. If this leads to Western countries pulling their troops and other hooks out of Islamic countries and letting them develop the Islamic culture that suits them iboth countries may be better in the long run. There is no reason we can't trade and have good relations with countries that are very different from ours.

I don't think Western countries have to fear a Caliphate taking their country over since we have superior technology to defend ourselves if we will only use it correctly. Most of our problems stem from wanting to convert them to be more like us, the usual "democritize them all and they will become like us" theory. Where religion is involved this is foolish.

Many immigrants who emigrate to the US become Americans in almost every sense of the word. They learn the language, adopt human rights traditions, etc. This happens even though their countries of origin may be totalitarian or sectarian, for example, from China and Iran. They are here because they like Western ways.

Then there are others like some Muslims and even some Mexicans who do not adopt the ways of their new host country. They refuse to learn the language and try to keep the religious and cultural standards of their countries of origin even though these conflict with human rights and free speech traditions of their new country.

Pulling apart shouldn't mean isolation, as we have with Cuba, North Korea, and now Iran, Syria, and other Islamic countries. We can show by example why America is a great country without imposing our will on other countries, as if we are the worlds gold standard and its policeman.

We should also work to reform the UN and make it a better venue to address international issues, rather than mould it to suit our own interests.

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