Which marine? The one that beat up that poor priest? I really don't know what to make of it. Either the priest was crazy and scared the marine, or the marine was crazy. All I can say for certain is that it isn't like you insinuate that it is -- naked anti-Islam hatred by stupid hicks.
Or allow them to wear a Burka when they should be in a mini-mini skirt Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image! ... well, not the fat ones, they should be in a Burka Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!
But that's not what you want, as you've said. This next bit was a little ironic in that respect (I assume it was rhetorical?): Do you think we should allow people to beat their wives, to oppress and chastise people of other religions and to kill homosexuals and wayward women because its part of their religion? Look, if their daughters don't want to follow it, they should be free to have those options. If only this were true everywhere, eh? Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Iraq, for example.
Then you see why I have no problem with the Tibetan culture developing without such atrocities. Indeed. If only.
And you would apply this to all cultures, then? Yes. Actually, I'm getting a strong vibe as to why it won't be.
Improved quality of life and more than equal rights for the ones assimilated into a bigger, more progressive economy? Sure, wouldn't you? Which is?
Really? And so if a society imposes vicious oppression on a given belief set within a nation-state, say, the members of that belief set should just what? Assimilate in all areas of their culture? Does that include religion? Let's pursue this dialogue further. I just like to be sure about these things.
Depends on what the "vicious" oppression is in opposition to. Stuff like child marriage, burning widows, slavery, gender segregation, chopping off body parts of children, etc, deserves "vicious" oppression in my opinion. Religions with notions of pure blood, laws about marriage and excommunication etc should just be left to die out naturally, without allowing them to impose their beliefs on surrounding societies. About what? Your own beliefs?
And just how do you prevent them from imposing their beliefs on others, SAM? War? Invasions? Bombs? Nukes? Biological warfare? ....or just ask them nicely not to impose their beliefs on others? Baron Max
Modern education seems to be doing a great job of it. Look at all the atheists in Japan and Europe. In the USA, amongst the most educated people, atheism is also predominate. ~String
You have not been out in the country much have you? Modern eduction is provided to many suburbian and country youth to a very high standard out in the states, and yet these people have developed a tolerance, nah I say complete de-phasing of logic and reason, they can be made to understand advance science and engineering but still managed to believe in some white, bearded guy that lives up in the sky and somehow listens to each and everyone of them and gives a dam.
I've lived in Europe and the USA. While "the sticks" don't really have what I call modern education. Those communities are prevented from teaching people rational thought because of religous influences. Thus, I named Japan and Europe, who have majority "atheist"/"agnostic" populations in most regions. In the USA, did I not CLEARLY state that amongst the most educated groups, atheism is predominate? I'm aware of the deficiencies of rural communities. Their education system more resembles that of the 40's than of the modern era. Some communities are required to indoctrinate people into bullshit like "intelligent design." That cannot rationally be called "modern". ~String
Hey I went to highschool in a sub-urban/farming town, their high school had all the amenity! I personally have met educate people here, chemist, biochemist, biotechnicians and honestly some of them have some very wacky beliefs! Of course percentage wise the educated are going to be less thiest but some of them manage wild mental gymnastics, unless they are an evolutionary biologist they still manage to be thiest!
Interesting. So what are we going to do about Saudi Arabia then? But what if that belief - like in Saudi Arabia or Egypt, for example - becomes more fervent and illogical with time?
So the Taliban would permit such modern education without the US or other forcing them to accept it? No, String, the Taliban and people like them are wanting nothing more than to keep education from the people! So my question to SAM still remains a valid question. Baron Max
I'm sorry are we talking fantasy now? You need to actually get an education first then come back and talk about this. The only fervent and illogical person I see is you. Yeah all those are bad ways of imposing your beliefs on other people. And no, it will work on the Taliban as well as it would work if the process were reversed and the Taliban were bombing the Americans into "liberation" Most likely, Americans would give up before the Taliban will
Well then, it's like you say, isn't it? You need to have an education to talk about this. Best of luck.