Societies that are based on the principle that "Might has the right to rule", is indemic in the Arab mind. The bigger the tribe they have the right to subdue the lesser. This brings pain, servitude and death to the lesser. The Arab culture is evident in the writings of Mohomet. It is legitimate to kill infidels and those of other faiths (kafir}, to take women as sex slaves and place special taxes on non muslims.

Western minds influenced by the Judeau-Christian view that all persons are equal and to be valued is not understood by the Islamic world. Western minds are guided by a moral law, Arab minds by a sense of shame.

Dear David F.,

I used to worry why Islamic fundamentalism intensified
at all - especially at a time when we might expect the
societies involved to be moving forward, toward
modernisation, rather than backward, towards tradition.

A friend of mine - a sociologist explained that
fundamentalist revivials, in whatever religion, take
place in times when social changes have led to
turmoil, uncertainty, and the erosion of familiar values.
When people find themselves confused, threatened, or
even appalled at changing conditions. They may see a
"return to basics" as a solution.

It's not surprising, therefore, that Islamic
fundamentalism has surged in societies like Iran, which
have experienced wrenching social change as a result of
their oil wealth. Some of these societies had previously
remained culturally fairly static for generations - then
in less than the space of a single life span, they were
thrust into a world of airports, highways, schools,
and television, factories and power plants.

As part of of this process, some of the Islamic societies have
been flooded with foreign advisers, officials, and
entrepreneurs. In the view of the fundamentalists, foreigners,
especially from the West, are often seen as a profoundly immoral
and corrupting influence. The principal foreign enemy of
the fundamentalists is the "Great Satan," the United States.

I guess fundamentalists find it politically helpful to have
an alien enemy. It enhances the solidarity of of any
community, if it perceives a common out-side threat.

Then of course there's also the conditions in their own
countries. Most Muslims are desperately poor. Their nations'
oil wealth has often been unequally shared, creating a new
elite whose lifestyle arouses deep resentment in the
populace. As you pointed out the 1979 Iranian revolution,
in which the shah, a deeply unpopular ruler was perceived as
an American puppet, was deposed through a movement led by
Shiite Muslim clergy.

I guess it is safe to say that Islamic fundamentalism,
arises out of specific social
and cultural conditions, and may then, in turn, influence
the subsequent course of social change.

What happens next, we'll have to wait and see.

My view is there was no organized opposition party in Egypt prior to the people's revolution as all opposition was brutally crushed. In the election in the power vacuum that followed, only the Muslim Brotherhood was organized and effective in campaigning and won a ruling majority accordingly. Its religious based excesses in power and its ineffectiveness over the economy has lead to the mass protests and subsequent military intervention.

The next election, soon I hope, will not see the Brotherhood gaining anything like the 51% of votes it won last time but it may well form a coalition in which its behaviour is moderated by its partners. The economy is a hard matter for whoever wins power.

Josephus,

Your version of the Judeo-Christian view seems to have failed this guy.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2005/oct/07/iraq.usa

But it was never about "ending tyranny".

It was about sticking their bib into another country to gain major influence over resources.

Dear Josephus,

Every time I read your posts I am reminded of the Elders of Zion slander against the Jewish people.

It is difficult to come to any conclusion other than you are engaged in a similar style of demagoguery of the people who follow Islam.

Just look at some of your sound bites;

“blatent(sic) Islamic lies”...”Democracy is not understood by Islam”...”It is Western democratic freedoms which America has; that is the conflict.”...”Islam will seek to implement this agenda in all democratic countries as Muslim populations increase.”...”the principle that "Might has the right to rule", is indemic(sic) in the Arab mind”...”Western minds are guided by a moral law, Arab minds by a sense of shame.”...”take women as sex slaves and place special taxes on non muslims”.

These are not applicable to the vast majority of the Muslim population of the world nor are they applicable to the vast majority of the Arab population. There is a recognition that support of despotic regimes in the Middle East by the world's superpowers for the purpose of obtaining a secure supply of un-naturalised oil has been a feature of that part of the world for the last 100 years. The Arab spring uprisings have revealed just how much the populations of these countries want the freedoms of democracies.

You however are set on slandering those efforts.

Why?

What is your agenda?

Whose interests are you looking to protect?

Some truths are not finding air here.
Pre-America being a world power, Imperialism saw many miss use other country,s.
Not all of those are as dysfunctional as the middle east is right now.
IF America and the west is to blame, why is say the Philippines not falling apart.
What role is America playing that make Muslim hate Muslim and deaths come as a result.
I have fun! in watching the anti west contributors commit the very crime they charge us with.
Blind Bias.
Many things have lead to this is there ever a chance Democracy is not the way to bring harmony.
Should we have left Iraq to kill its minority's with poison gas?
Did we do wrong in helping Libya stop being murdered.
The religion is the reason some kill others.
And too it is used to target in their Gods name others at the place of worship, today is death day.
Day prayers are held and the deaths take place.