Posted by Squiggles on September 11, 2006, at 9:07:02
In reply to Re: Fundamentalism, posted by finelinebob on September 11, 2006, at 0:04:03
I'll have to put "A Racist Mind" on my reading
list. I've read a lot on the Nazi propaganda and the influence of Hitler on an educated, Western,
European people. As i understand it, the Jews were already on "the hit list" as an underclass in many Eastern European countries during the time of the German Socialist republic. So, they were a target.What i have noticed is that during times of upheaval, or national strife or humiliation, such as Germany was undergoing at that time, the rise
of a "leader", who will take the nation back to its previous status of a great nation, is opportune. The public laps it up. Fear is a great motivator, and groups who are not part of the shaky identity of the nation are excluded and become part of a cleansing drive. And the group can be minorities or other countries. Doesn't this remind you of what is happening in the U.S. and to those the U.S. has attacked?So, the circumstances have to be right for racism and war to arise. I think the most powerful circumstances are economic ones which may deteriorate the image of the nation, along with the consequent social problems which cannot be or will not be resolved-- it is easier to wage war.
The social conditions which can prevent such upheavals, are a cosmopolitan environment, which grows under a mingling of cultures. That cannot be forced on people but comes naturally when there is trade between nations, neighbourhoods, and neighbours. Familiarity between groups promotes friendship and tolerance. So, nationalism and its associated religious uniqueness is a good foundation for fundamentalism and just like the weather, when clouds start to form, the differences become significant triggers.
It's almost like an organic mass with its own laws
when observed from a bird's eye view.Now, that the mess has started, i think it's harder to reverse. It should have been prevented with better diplomacy.
Squiggles
poster:Squiggles
thread:684102
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/poli/20060809/msgs/684982.html