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Originally posted by JCobb:
I don't think there is always (or ever)the obvious panacea for social problems, and if, perchance, you are aware of it, then please, (in all seriousness, I don't claim to know everything) inform us.

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Originally posted by HKCavalier:

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Originally posted by JCobb:
I don't think there is always (or ever)the obvious panacea for social problems, and if, perchance, you are aware of it, then please, (in all seriousness, I don't claim to know everything) inform us.

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Sorry to take so long to get back to you, JCobb, but I sometimes have a pretty strong reaction to the posts in these threads and I have to keep away for several days at a time. It's a little like trying to carry on a sane conversation while the couple next to you scream and throw kitchen utencils at each other...

I'd like to take a crack at your panacea idea at least as it pertains to terrorism. This may seem like a grandiose enterprise for just some jerk on the internet like me, but you asked and I'm game.

First of all, a "War on Terror" is never gonna work. Wars stop individuals (thousands and millions of individuals in their tracks), not isms. Marxism is (largely) dead, not because of the millions who have died in wars against marxist regimes, but because marxism is ultimately not as attractive to people as modern, "enlightened" capitalism is.

Marxism arose out of the absolutely appalling conditions in the factories of the early industrial revolution. Marx believed that capitalism was to blame for the inhuman conditions of the workers, but history has shown us (at least, so far) that it was really the inhumanity itself that was the problem. So capitalism cleaned up its act a little (just enough), put on a happy face (sent the workhouses overseas and out of sight), gave the workers cable tv and conquered marxism at its source.

So, what about terrorism? I'd say that the source of terrorism is hatred brought about by marginalization and political hopelessness. Fundamentalist Muslims see their world being marginalized by westernization. They feel helpless to do anything about it.

So, I suggest that we take the wind out of their sails at it's source. The west needs to embrace (or as the marxists might have it, "co-opt") Islam. We need to mainstream it. For the tiniest sliver of the budget we spend on the "War on Terror" we could put Islamic Studies courses in all the high schools. For the time being, as a part of the "war effort," we make farcee or arabic or (for the truly studious) sanskrit required languages. Establish robust student exchange programs with willing Islamic Nations. The government could fund Islamic movies and Hollywood could promote Islamic movie stars "for the good of the country." MacDonalds could start selling " happy middle-eastern meals."

I'm trying to be funny here, but I hope you get the point.

Just think of the language issue alone. America is the most monolingual country on the planet. We won't even learn spanish! When you learn a person's language you share a part of their culture, part of their heritage. And people tend to feel respected when you know what they're saying, you know? Teaching americans to communicate with Iranians and Iraqis and Saudis is real action, real change, it crosses boundaries and builds relationships.

Anyways, that's my panacea: a shared language, real cultural exchange and happy meals.



HKCavalier

Hey, hey, hey, don't be mean. We don't have to be mean, because, remember, no matter where you go, there you are.

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