Haimann's post is long overdue on this list. Rhetorically, as The Great
Satan, Islamists characterize the USA as the great tempter - the identity of
Satan in Islam. The US if nothing if not materially tempting to other
societies, who do NOT necessarily see our materialism as provoking
resentment or envy - or as something "better" than theirs.
        On the other hand, a good case could be made that hatred of the
blasphemy of such materialism is an effective approach to recruiting holy
warriors against the US.
        Of course, all this religious indignation relies on human
credulousness on the subjects of "God" and "religion," constructs that date
from the early days of human consciousness but have no demonstrable reality
outside of such consciousness.
-Tc
Anthony R. S. Chiaviello, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Professional Writing
Department of English
University of Houston-Downtown
One Main Street
Houston, TX 77002-0001
713.221.8520 / 713.868.3979
"Question Reality"

> ----------
> From:         Richard Haimann[SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
> Sent:         Sunday, January 20, 2002 10:26 PM
> To:   [log in to unmask]
> Subject:      Re: Env ethics - Wendell Berry & a new economy
>
> Continuing to claim that Islamic fundamentalist terrorist tactics taken
> against the U.S. and European nationals is because of resentment of the
> U.S.
> or European lifestyles is making a claim that U.S. and European societies
> (and values) are better than those Islamic societies (and values) outside
> the U.S. and Europe.  This attitude breeds resentment, not the material
> well-being of various populations in any nation.  Go to the Islamic
> studies
> center in your university or city and have this conversation over coffee
> with anyone there and ask them for their candid opinion.
>
> ___________________________
> Richard Haimann, P.E.
> mailto:[log in to unmask]
> http://www.haimann.com
>
>
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Discussion forum for environmental ethics.
> > [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of brad bartholomew
> > Sent: Saturday, January 19, 2002 7:14 PM
> > To: [log in to unmask]
> > Subject: Re: Env ethics - Wendell Berry & a new economy
> >
> >
> > I don't think military repraisals and increased
> > surveillance is the long-term solution to the new
> > terrorism, although I agree that these measures are
> > necessary in the short-term.
> >
> > Sure Al-Qaeda has a political agenda, but the point I
> > am making is that there would be no Al-Qaeda were it
> > not for the vast pool of disaffected, impoverished
> > youth from which it can draw its recruits.  These
> > people have no career prospects and no future and
> > resent the wealth and lifestyle of the US and its
> > citizens.
> >
> > The long-term solution for the new terrorism is for
> > the US and all developed countries to profoundly
> > change their attitude towards the poor and
> > dispossessed in all Third World/Islamic countries.
> > Strident efforts should now be made to raise living
> > standards in all these countries.
> >
> > Current policies of lending vast sums of money to the
> > governments of these countries are simply not working,
> > and are just driving these countries further into
> > debt. Developed countries have to start providing
> > direct assistance to the poor at grass roots level.
> >
> > Yours truly,
> > Brad Bartholomew
> > Webmaster
> > Scientists for Population Reduction
> > http://www.scientists4pr.org
> >
> >
> >
> > __________________________________________________
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