Richard Landes: Romney Is Right on Culture and the Wealth of Nations

WSJ ^ | 8/5/12

[SoFloFreeper]

A 2002 United Nations report written by Arab intellectuals acknowledges the problems the Republican candidate pointed out.

Mitt Romney caused a firestorm last week in Jerusalem by commenting on the cultural dimensions of Israeli economic growth. Palestinian spokesman Saeb Erekat, correctly seeing an implied criticism of Palestinian culture, called Mr. Romney a "racist" and complained that Palestinian economic woes are really caused by the Israeli occupation. Analysts said Mr. Erekat's reaction was a sign that Mr. Romney has disqualified himself as a broker for peace. The episode reveals as much about the dynamics of the Middle East conflict as about presidential politics.

[SoFloFreeper]

So even the ultra liberal UNITED NATIONS will admit what Judeo-Christian ethicists have said for centuries: Culture DOES matter.

And yet, Christians today are attacked and accused of hate for saying a Biblically based culture is best.

[EQAndyBuzz]

The entire Arab world is in chaos. While they are all killing each other and trying to take themselves back to the 7th century, some scientist in Jerusalem is working on the next cure for cancer, the next storage device or a better way to grow fruit and vegetables.

Yeah, it’s culture.

Sidenote: Water has leaked into the Velodrome as torrential downpours fall on London. I guess someone who saved our olympics asking if you are prepared should be taken seriously and not as an insult.

[SunkenCiv]

A 2002 United Nations report written by Arab intellectuals acknowledges the problems the Republican candidate pointed out.

Thanks SoFloFreeper.

Islam Faces a New Era
by Munawar A. Anees
1999, Civilization Magazine

[snip] Today's Muslim world is also being betrayed by a similar intellectual passivity regarding the Internet, the dynamo of the next Renaissance. While the French fight an uphill battle to prevent English from laying siege to the French-speaking world via the Net, none of the major Muslim languages plays a major role in this huge knowledge machine. Equally conspicuous is the absence of Muslim countries from one of history's greatest scientific endeavors, the Human Genome Project. Islam is not intrinsically opposed to ideals of justice, equality, and human dignity. It is folly to assume that technological sophistication or economic prosperity need weaken, or run counter to, religious belief. Meanwhile, at some distance from the ivory tower lies the grim reality of much of the Muslim world: poverty; mass illiteracy; want of basic hygiene and primary health facilities; lack of fundamental liberties of religion and speech; little protection from state persecution. [/snip]