I'd hate to be a whiteboy of 20. The World is gonna really unravel in the next 40 years.
"It is obvious though that the world is changing right before our very eyes"
On this point they are dead on. It's scaring the heck out of me, and it ain't all Islamofacist phobia either.
Who would think the publication of some cartoons....CARTOONS, folks!......would be an idea for end of the world discussions......There are days when I do think I lived through the BEST of America.....and it's all downhill from here on out....BUT, I think we're in the middle of a war right now, and so my outlook is tainted.
Interesting analysis... it seems that Huntington was right after all. This century's theme is competing civilizations. The writer's basic premise that the West has created its own discontent seems sound, as well as the insight that the conquered peoples have returned to conquer the conquerer, so to speak. It appears my son is in for a lifetime of challenge.
As I write this, most women I know are watching Desperate Housewives and whining that gas is too expensive. The men are watching a game of ball, and whining about the same.
Try and relate the problems facing our culture, and they will shrug as if you have seven heads.
Seems rather hopeless at times.
God forbid anyone at Pravda should glance at the economic numbers before writing this stuff...
The desire for openness was based on an expectation that people worldwide would want to live well (ie, indoor plumbing, electricity, etc) - That doesn't apply to suicidal jihadis. "Normal" people worldwide - not cultists...
Not if the melting pot is turned up good and hot. Here in America we do a pretty good job of stripping away the old culture. Just give us two or three generations and the old culture will be pushed aside and forgotten. The melting pot is ruthless but it's one of our strengths, and seems to be an advantage we have over Europe.
And yet we keep the door wide open!
While the post contains some good points - for God's sake ! this is a Russian pointing out what's wrong with Western Civilization.
Please point out when Russia ever had it figured out better than us ?
Russia has always fought WITH U.S. in the end - so if another end is comming --- this article seems to really point out the enemy as, minorities and Islamic Idiocy, not the West.
In WWI deals were cut for the spoils of the Ottoman Empire before the "Great Game" was started. I'd bet there's some positioning going on right now.
PING
What crap. The West has been "ruthlessly" transforming what peaceful nation that wasn't an enemy of free and civilized societies? If not for the West the tallest building in Africa would be a tree hut, the Soviet Union would still be in brutal control of their border nations and stepping over the dead bodies of everyone who dared object. Third-world nations would be greatly worse off than they are today, and Marxism, facism and mohammedism would be the chief rulers of the earth.
The U.S. has been spreading its wealth, technology, medicine and disaster aid all over this earth for the past 70 years. We have come to the aid of many a free people being oppressed or attacked. We even feed our enemies, like N. Korea.
These Russians are still tasting sour grapes from us overthrowing their real ruthless empire in the Cold War.
Part of this is laughable when you know the facts. For example: "Having children has become something like atavism in the West which causes too much discomfort and trouble to people's professional careers and personal development"
A reduced birthrate IS a problem in the west. However, the birthrate in the USA is 2.07 births per couple, whereas Russia's is 1.2... equal to that of Italy and the only other major western nation that has a lower birth rate is Spain at 1.1 births per couple...
Check out this great article on that particular subject:
http://www.opinionjournal.com/extra/?id=110007760
But then again, Pravda's sophistries are what we have long come to expect from a country that is now ally to Syria, Iran and Cuba, and that is still interested in dealing with the North Koreans. We delude ourselves about Russia if we do not see them for what they really are. Pravda is merely the mouthpiece for the Russian master deceivers.
Looks like the same Soviet crap I've read before.
As a rule, immigrants preserve their national identity, which gives them a reason to defend their rights and needs.
Again, this guy's analysis is right on the money; look at our situation with the Mexican invasion.(taken care of business using our laws and winning).
This is the snake pit we build and we are getting bit by it at our own game.
Boy, how I hate this Russian guy for been right; Our Western style imposed democracy platform on other foreign nations is (like he said) going to bite us in our Democratic Westernised butt.
You get tired of all this freedom stuff and long for the times when we were all ruled by tyrants and overlords.
Yup, who needs freedom. Apparently the rest of the world doesn't....... < /sarcasm off >
F the sheetheads!!!
If they are real men then they would not be sending women and children to do the dirty work while they hide IED's in the dark.
Come on you wimps- fight us face to face.
Ready and waiting for your chicken&h!t a$$e$...
I agree with the author. However, I feel most of the blame lies squarely on the shoulders of some shortsighted representatives.
We truck our produce and other goods across country, import foreign produce and other goods, send our children off to school on buses and then we have the unmitigated gall to scream that it's someone else's fault that oil is in short supply and we need to tear up Alaska to find more.
Currently, I'm observing the plains states complaining about their water tables that have been reduced by lack of conservation. HA! What will California do if the Colorado River dries up? I know. They'll attempt to purchase it from Washington state...but that's been tried before...by Enron.
And now Bush is selling off the forest to lumber mills. How many more houses will have to be built to accommodate all the immigrants?
The Bible tells of the last days at Rev. 6:3-8 and we're in them.
Russia ain't exactly overrun with new children either, Sergei.
Unlike the “highly developed Western civilization,” Asia , Africa and Latin America suffer from the overpopulation crisis.
And yet their TFR's are largely collapsing as well.