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Politics : Formerly About Applied Materials -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: zonder who wrote (66925)	12/6/2002 11:11:57 AM
From: Fred Levine	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 70976

Zonder and Mike-- To characterize the west as seeing things in black and white while the east sees in shades of gray is silly. Having been to Asia and Mideast several times, and meeting many people from there, I see some differences but the differences between individuals transcends national differences in thought. Indeed, once while being at a very international party, we had a heated discussion of the role of our responsibilities to our parents. Of course, there were differences, mainly the Japanese view that parents own children, but there was no barrier to communication. The differences, due to education and/or IQ, within each country are greater than the differences between countries. In fact, last week, at a party at my apartment, one of my Ghanian ex-graduate students reported publishing an article in an international journal indicating that their were no differences in causes of depression between Ghanians and Americans. Having been in Turkey, there are bigger differences between the religious Muslims and the secular Muslims than we see between the religious and non here -- with the interesting exceptions of Muslims and orthodox Jews. I'm sure you are aware of the brutal method that Attaturk secularized Turkey, including the expulsion of Greeks. There are those, in both east and west who don't see things catagorically. However, when I listen to Muslim extremists speak of the US as the great Satan, and the belief, widespread in the ME, that Israel destroyed the WTC, I think your argument of the subtle thinking of the East holds no water. In fact, listening to them makes Mike (vbg) look subtle. I have personally disussed the WTC with Muslims who are convinced that it was done by Israel. Needless to say, they weren't the brightest bulbs that ever burned, but they represent a dangerous mass of people who are prepared to kill due to ignorance and misinformation. The misinformation is propogated by the mullahs and the media. The protocols of Zion are being broadcast on Egyptian television. The subtle thinking of the east is exemplified by the exclusion of proslytizing of Christianity, or even worship, in some Muslim countries, by the massacre of Christians by the Hindus in N. India, and by the Japanese military mentality that led to untold brutality. Both sides are guilty of categorical thinking, but I think the west's faith in empiricism leads to less of that. (I could bore you to tears with this, and I would love to do so). BTW, you confirmed my point about categories being human constructions. Bacteria now fit in the seams. fred PS-- At that party, and this is common in NY, there were people from Iran, Korea, Israel, Burma, Germany, France, Zimbabwe, Ghana, and India. My boys from the Bronx were also there along with miscreants from Brooklyn. Obviously, there was no problem in communication. I wish it were a model for the planet. As an aside