Benjamin I did not realise you were so young, but that does not excuse your total lack of knowledge.

"opposed to the identical appearances of Africans, Asians, and those of the middle-east".

Try telling an Egyptian (yes it is in Africa) they look identical to a Zulu. Tell a Japanese they look like a Sikh from India, tell an Iranian (not arab) that they look like a Saudi.

Good grief what are we teaching kids today.

There's a lot of naivete out there, particularly from the Left, and it shows up in this thread.

Many people seem to think that Western values are so logical, so self-evidently beneficial, that other cultures will simply throw up their hands in surrender when confronted with the superiority of our way of life.

Surely the lesson of the past few years is that this is staggering hubris. Many in the Middle East and other places reject Western values, and probably always will. Migrants come to Australia for the economic opportunities, primarily. They don't necessarily ascribe to our values, as the rantings of that Hilaly ratbag and his strong grassroots support attest to.

Look at a country like Malaysia. It's had the opportunity to go the route of the West and it's said, no thanks, and is quite deliberately charting a course towards Islamic fundamentalism. Look at Turkey. An economically successful country but one which still has to have draconian laws to stop the Islamists from taking over. Look at Russia, democracy not doing too well there. Look at China: many seem to think that democracy there is inevitable. I'm not so sure

History does no fly off at tangents and you cannot extrapolate current trends indefinitely.

Sure India and China are potential dominant powers. Whether they can fulfill their potential remains to be seen.

History is littered with unfulfilled potential. Russia is a prime example for a long time it was bigger in size and population than the US. In the 30's while the west was in the great depression it's economy was booming. Ten years later its victorious armies were spread out over the world. Yet another 50 years later it's empire has collapsed and it is a shadow of its former self.

Europe too is undergoing a growth spurt. Twenty five years ago when southern Europe emerged from right wing dictatorship its nations were absorbed in the EU to protect their democracies. Northern Europeans scratched their heads and wondered how they were going to pay for it all. A generation on and Greece has held a successful Olympics and Spain's economy is more powerful than Italy's. The same is happening now that eastern Europe has escaped communism.

China and India have great potential and you'd hope that their politicians can make it happen for their citizens but don't be surprised if corruption and nepotism wreck the dream in the long run.

Interesting to listen to you all discuss this one.
Who knows how it will all unfold?

Especially if the gospel once again significantly strengthens humanity here - and there.
Thankfully, Christ is Lord of the nations, and also of history.

Even in the judgement of unbelief, the world is still in faithful hands.
Thankfully.
Perfect love casts out fear!

India....I can understand.
China... I can understand.

but "Islamic people"? perhaps someone can enlighten me on 'how' ?

here is food for thought.

ALL should visit and view this. (*warning*, dramatic footage)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l1ymxQZ-DLE#qI9AKgfzs3Y

I'd like to hear comments on exactly how we as normal citizens might respond to this ? (jdrmot@tpg.com.au if you wish to make a private comment)

cheers all.

Good question David,
My answer: The freedom which a person can have in Christ, is of such a high and excellent quality, that it needs to be better known, and appreciated among 'Westerners', if it is ever to make a significant impact upon the Islamic world.
Many coming out of Islam, into such freedom, warrant our support, help, and the use of our microphones, and publicity.
I personally know Daniel Shayesteh, formerly an Islamic fundamentalist in Iran. He knows this freedom, and has a very moving, very real story to help take the lid off this 'little by little' invasion of liberty.
People in our society need more knowledge of these things, to engage well with it all. Certainly the sanitised versions of the dynamics, we are regularly getting from the insipid politically correct media, need to be transcended, and by-passed. Sadly, we have relied on the mainstream TV and paper to be our interpreters. They are too naively optimistic, that we will all just live in harmony, once Islamic people 'feel' accepted.
A brief outline of Daniel's story:

http://www.cma.org.au/cmamissions/missprofiles.asp?name=Daniel%20Shayesteh