[Paleopsych] islamic radicalism

[Christian Rauh]

Gerry,

I don't see your point.

My first point is that there is (mostly economic) pressure to conform to
US culture. Obviously, when the pressure comes from some other place
people will conform to the strongest.

My second point is that people in the US are unaware of this pressure.
But at the same time fear any outside pressure from another source
themselves. For example, an international court or an arabic country.

There is no pressure for the US academician to learn portuguese. He may
do it, but solely because he chooses that.

I don't think that pressure to conform is bad or that it can be
eliminated, but I think it can be better equalized.

Christian

G. Reinhart-Waller wrote:
> One reply an unemployed U.S. academician might make is "why is a
> Brazilian citizen able to land a cushy job at state university in
> Connecticut?"
> 
> Are you also a U.S. citizen?
> 
> They might further comment:  "If I learned Portuguese, would I then get
> a decent academic job in Brazil or are such positions reserved for
> Brazilian citizens"?
> 
> People learn English usually because it guarantees them employment.  If
> and when Arabic language and Muslim religion and lifeways become a
> ticket to wealth and prosperity, then people will learn Arabic.
> 
> Gerry Reinhart-Waller
> 
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Christian Rauh"
> <christian.rauh at uconn.edu>
> To: "G. Reinhart-Waller" <waluk at earthlink.net>; "Lista Paleopsych"
> <paleopsych at paleopsych.org>
> Sent: Thursday, March 10, 2005 11:43 AM
> Subject: Re: [Paleopsych] islamic radicalism
> 
> 
>> Gerry,
>>
>> I am a Brazilian citizen and I was forced to learn english because
>> without knowing it I would not be able to get a decent job in this world.
>>
>> My point was to show the irony of people fearing having to learn arabic
>> or going to mosques when other people are having to learn english. What
>> they fear is to be influenced to do things they otherwise would not.
>>
>> The US exerts pressure in other countries. In other places, people have
>> to learn English. One can argue that it is not a deliberate and
>> conscious pressure, however, to the person learning the language, the
>> prospect of not having a decent job is as coercive as troops on the
>> street. That's economic pressure.
>>
>> And to the counter-argument that you always have the individual choice
>> of *not* learning english, goes the answer that you always have the
>> individual choice of *not* learning arab or going to mosques. But you
>> will have to face the individual consequences.
>>
>> As a final comment, I don't think that, in general, American citizens
>> are aware of the amount of influence and pressure that the US exerts in
>> the world. That is the reason why I believe that, in general, most
>> Americans can't understand the cynicism that foreigners have towards
>> "spreading freedom".
>>
>>
>>
>> G. Reinhart-Waller wrote:
>>
>>> Christian Rauh writes:
>>>
>>>> I have been forced to learn English.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> When?  By whom?  Why?  Which country would do such a heinous thing?
>>> France?  Germany?  Sweden?  You aren't buzzin' about being an American
>>> citizen and having to speak English, are you?
>>>
>>>
>>> Gerry Reinhart-Waller
>>> Independent Scholar
>>> http://www.home.earthlink.net/~waluk
>>>
>>
>> -- 
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> 
> 
> 

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