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Please! I did not say nor mean to imply that people in genuine need should not be helped because of difference in religion. I only asked why commonality in religion so seldom seems to engender charity among Muslim nation. I meant it only as a rhetorical question and was not attempting to lower the level of scholarly discourse in this list. Still, religion is a powerful force relating to nations and their boundaries. No particular group should be somehow exempt from having its actions examined in the light of scholarly discourse. Lowell G. McManus Eagle Pass, Texas, USA ----- Original Message ----- From: "Ilan Kelman" <[log in to unmask]> To: <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Wednesday, November 12, 2008 8:51 AM Subject: Re: [INT-BOUNDARIES] Maintaining the higher ground v. Stemming the Tide > If there were any real threat, why do the > Maldivians have to look to Hindu India, Buddhist Sri Lanka, or Christian > Australia for rescue? It begs the question: Why don't the > Maldivians' brother Muslim nations (many of which are rich and severely > under-populated) step up to help them? In these discussions, I would hope that we could avoid statements that seem to imply "Don't help them because they are a different religion from me" and the factually inaccurate "All Muslims are the same, so of course Muslims will help each other". Furthermore, India, Sri Lanka, and Australia are all multicultural states with many religions amongst their population, even if one particular religion or one particular sect forms the majority. Finally, survival during past sea level fluctuations does not necessarily imply definite survival during future sea level fluctuations. As per the discussion already, including the scientific references given, there is a clear and definite "real threat", keeping in mind that not all threats manifest in the end. That is part of the challenge of this topic and of making evacuation-related decisions. I am not suggesting that the media reports or political statements are fully accurate, but I hope that on this listserve, we could try to retain a reasonable level of legal and scientific discourse in statements made. Ilan _________________________________________________________________