By Fareed Zakaria
“Culture makes all the difference,” said Mitt Romney at a fundraiser in Israel last week. He was comparing the country's economic vitality with Palestinian poverty.
Certainly, there is a pedigree for this idea. Romney cited David Landes, an economics historian. He could have cited Max Weber, the great German scholar who first made this claim 100 years ago in his book The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism.
The problem is that Weber singled out two cultures as being particularly prone to poverty and stagnation. They were China and Japan. But these have been the world's fastest-growing large economies over the past five decades.
Over the past two decades, the other powerhouse has been India, which was also described for years as having a culture totally incompatible with economic success, hence the phrase “the Hindu rate of growth,” to describe the country's once-moribund state.
Remember, China was stagnant for centuries and then suddenly and seemingly miraculously, in the 1980s, began to grow and industrialize three times faster than the West did. What changed wasn’t China's culture, which presumably was the same in the 1970s as it was in the 1980s. What changed, starting in 1979, were China's economic policies.
The same is true for Japan and India.
Had Romney spent more time reading Milton Friedman, he would have realized that historically, the key driver for economic growth has been the adoption of capitalism and its related institutions and policies across diverse cultures.
The link between economic policies and performance can be seen even in the country on which Romney was lavishing praise. Israel had many admirable traits in its early decades, but no one would have called it an economic miracle. Its economy was highly statist, even socialist.
Things changed in the 1990s with market-oriented reforms, initiated by then-Finance Minister Benyamin Netanyahu, and also sound monetary policies. As a result of these policies, Israel’s economy grew much faster than it had in the 1980s. The miracle Romney was praising had to do with new policies rather than deep culture.
Despite all this evidence, most people still believe that two cultures in particular, Islamic and African, inhibit economic development. But the two countries that will next achieve a gross domestic product of $1 trillion are both Muslim democracies – Turkey and Indonesia.
Out of the 10 fastest-growing economies in the world today, seven are in Africa. The world is changing, and holding on to fixed views of culture means you miss its changing dynamics.
But culture is important. It’s the shared historical experience of people that is reflected in institutions and practices.
But culture changes. German culture by 1955 was very different from what it was in 1935. Europe was once a hotbed of violent nationalism; today it is post-nationalism and almost pacifist.
The United States, meanwhile, was once an isolationist, agrarian republic with a deep suspicion of a standing army. Today, it has half of the world’s military power.
Daniel Patrick Moynihan, the former U.S. senator, once observed: “The central conservative truth is that it is culture, not politics, which determines the success of a society. The central liberal truth is that politics can change culture and save it from itself.”
That remains the wisest statement made about this complicated problem – and probably too wise to ever be uttered in an American political campaign.
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Fareed, I had all the respect for you until you published your views on the above speech made by MIT ROMNEY. Let me tell you first thing , I am not favoring Romney. But David Landes research is absolutely true. There is no doubt that culture makes all the difference. Your values , your beliefs makes all the difference. Cause greater than self , makes all the difference. Don`t criticize Romney for the sake of it. Nowadays , I am seeing that you are criticizing him for each and every remark he makes. Don`t do that, ppl are sensible they know what is wrong and right. He may be making mistakes but its not fair to criticize one for the sake of it. I know how much u love obama, but cmon ppl are sensible here.
But wouldn't you be a bit offended if someone said in south africa during apartheid that blacks were so much poorer than their whites in the same country because of white culture?
A lot of people felt that Rommey's comment, however he meant it, was an insensitive thing to say, particularly about Israel/palestinian situations. Certainly not diplomatic.
I might be biased as well, but what if someone said your country's citizen produce much less money than Qatar, Luxembourg, UAE or Singapore? (since he specified GDP per capita)
Is a culture the cause for economies more than natural resources, policies, history and climates, etc?
The book "Why Nations Fail" seems to claim the conflicting conclusion of David Landes by comparing with 2 culturally similar places.
Maybe Fareed, me and you or anyone should not be so certain of any one theory to be "absolutely true" universally as you say.
Neo, culture matters but it's not necessarily the be all end all of why a country's economy fourishes or fails. You're right that there have to be resources and those play a role as well. But don't forget that people are a resource too. Culture is a reflection of how disciplined, creative, ambitious, opportunistic etc. a people can be. None of these things will necessarily make a country rich if they have nothing to start with. But they will amplify the benefits of having resources. But if you start out with many resources, you'd probably have to work at it to not be successful. I'd be complacent enough to enjoy getting a 1% return on $1 billion rather than a 100% return on $0.01.
However, a potentially legitimate point is being made about what's going on with Israel and the Palestinians. Israel vs. its neighbors is not especially resource rich. There's no oil to speak of. Yet Israel does pretty well versus its immediate neighbors considering its smaller territory and population. Now, Israel vs. Palestinians – they are working from essentially the same natural resources. I understand that there are arguments to be made that the Israelis are limiting Palestinian access to what little resources are available. But there is an obvious advantage that the Israelis have over the Palestinians that is wholly cultural in nature – they are not spreading themselves all over the place making too many babies to support within their means. This allows the Israelis to devote their resources to improving their lot rather than just making ends meet.
The other advantage the Israelis enjoy in this regard is time – they have been applying an urbanistic rather than agrarian mindset for some time now (prior even to the foundation of Israel since they imported it from Europe when the Jews returned en masse) and that principle of devoting resources to improving their lot has had time to pay dividends. The Palestinian people are starting out from zero here so it will take a long time until they realize any benefits from adopting a cultural shift.
Sir,
You need to learn that it is the duty and responsibility of the media to discuss, offer counter points and criticize politicians for their incorrect or unreasonable positions. Mr. Romney's speech was extremely offensive to the Palestinian people as well as other nations in the Middle East. Mr. Romney' point of view was factually incorrect and contrary to the historical experience of various peoples around the world, as Mr. Zakaria correctly and quite eloquently explained. Mr. Romney's speech was nothing but pandering for political contributions and, he would hopped, votes!
Finally, Mr. Zakaria should certainly continue provide analysis and commentary on any politician that he sees fit. After all it's his role as a journalist to do so.
"Cause greater than self , makes all the difference." So are you saying that because other countries cultures put something else in front of their personal gain, they do not prosper. While in the US we put ourselves first, so our economy is better?
You apparently have not lived abroad. There is no culture less greedy than the the American people.
Otherwise this opinion is a disappointment. Politics is the most greed and power oriented activity of all human activity. It is not going to solve anything. Government is not our mommy.
Mitt Romney is a tax evader, a draft dodger, a cheat, a thieft, a crook, a fraud and a communist!
Not a communist – he's a corporatist, and a fascist.
"Fascism should more properly be called corporatism because it is the merger of state and corporate power." – Benito Mussolini.
name calling from a troll....BBBWWWHHhhahahaha
Mitt Romney is getting all his support from red states who's economies relied on and benefited from four hundred years of FREE slave labor while blue states were the pioneers of the industrial era that built America.
An economice situation that hasn't existed for about 30 years now? Red states are CRUSHING blue states in industrial output...the top 10 "blue" states as compared to "red" states are losing across the board. Not very creditable and relevant when you have to reach back several generations to place blame... The disparity among blue and red states today in the context of industial output and success has NOTHING to do with "slavery", it has to do with Unions and the tax policies of the blue states and you know it. Of course I've read many of your statements before on various topics and maybe you don't....
Companies are moving to red states as a part of the "race to the bottom" Low taxes and lack of protection for employees mean companies can keep more money while giving their workers less pay, benefits, vacation time, and job security. American worker productivity is higher than ever and many companies are making record profits because they figured out that without pesky unions they can lay off 1/3 of their employees than use the threat of pink slips to make the remaining workers pick up the slack.
He is a journalist and this is his take on something Mitt Romney said. Romney might very well be America's next president so as a concerned citizen of the world, I for one would like to hear what Fareed has to say. Dissecting a speech made by a presidential candidate is not the same as gunning him down. Fareed never tried to disguise his support for Obama. However he has always appeared to be a journalist who looks at the obvious in a very unique fashion. Of course every human being has their bias. But analyzing a segment of a speech hardly qualifies as a bias.
Hard to imagine that something so obvious is debated. I guess when you are liberal nothing is obvious.
Very intelligent analysis – one can infer that the author is no politician, and never could be in any American election. All people seem to care about is who has the sweet BS to flood the air ways with. On the other hand, true substance will leave one waning for support. Out American populace is entirely too lazy to think critically!
Interesting observation. Culture is like race. It does affect how people respond to situations and the policies they adopt. The article raised a couple of points which cannot be disputed. Cultures we deemed as stagnant proved to be dynamic in the right setting. This makes the whole point about culture moot because what we believe about cultures proves to be incorrect anyway.
So, lets stop telling intelligent, hard working and creative people they are doomed to fail because they happen to be on the wrong side of a border and begin to support them no matter where they happen to live.
This is good news for africa but fareed u failed to mention those countries so that their leaders and stake holders will strive more efforts to strength the econmoy. Badamasi from Nigeria
What Fareed said about Africa is nothing news. It is the law of economy. Rich countries will grow slowly and poor countries will grow faster! They will eventually catch up, Convergence. When ? 3000......
Hi Sushil,
Freed just made a scientific point and did not criticize Romney. That is his scientific style. I wish Obama had listened to Fareed when he said "First Economy second Economy and third Economy. Anyway, Fareed is one of the best if not the best ever in CNN in terms of his unblivable knowlege and analysis talent.
Hi second your sentiments. I also wish people would stop equating getting rich with being a job creator or a good business man. Romney has proved that by his recent denunciation of further stimulus. His comments are counter to almost all economists throughout the world. The number of economists that disagree is like the number of scientists that don't buy climate change.
Romney might have confused culture with custom! Culture identifies the shared beliefs and practices a particular place, class, or time to which they belong. Culture reflects our zeitgeist and we change in the course of our lives.
Custom is something that people always do or do in a particular way by tradition. Some customs are obsolete yet some people still stick to them, which explains they lack behind.
I'm sorry to disappoint you but custom is part of the culture because people do something in a particular way for the ONLY reason they share beliefs and practices telling them to do it this way and not the other way.
The children of people on the gov't dole cannot help but have a twisted view of life, no self esteem, no ambition, no work ethic. They are in a death spiral. So yes, culture surely contributes to one's success.
A culture is always based on ideals. A culture with ideals of peace, hard work and freedom always was, is and will be more productive than a culture with ideals of hate, racism and violence, especially in the long run. Of course, there may exceptions of this rule but even these exceptions support the rule above.
I don't think history supports you on this as much as you would like it to be true.
It's a pity that you forgot to show a couple of examples from history to support YOU on this...
It is extremely easy to assert that one's culture is superior to other cultures that one doesn't even bother try to understand. It is easy to use culture as an excuse for economic disparities. Does culture have an impact? Sure, but I think most cultures have benefits and downsides, so trying to assert that one culture is superior likely demonstrates a lack of understanding of cultures other than your own.
What culture are you talking about?
Mitt didn't say that Isreali culture was superior to Palestinian culture, merely that it was more economonically prosperous.
The GOP culture: Rich, Healthy, Young, White, Christian, and Straight. That's called GOP diversity. All others should be slaves.
There is at least one characteristic you forgot............Vulturous Greed......for all the earth's resources. They can't get enough or waste enough. I don't remember any culture that has excelled for very long with those characteristics. Some are falling as we speak. I'm sorry, you didn't forget it. I now see it in your subject. Guess I was too anxious.
Pete... Your memory betrays you. The ancient Egyptians used all resources they could get. Nevertheless, their culture lasted for some 4,000 years.
What's wrong with that? Sounds like a good plan.
Ed thinks he's a rich republican and that the GOP represent him!!!!!!!!! Hey Ed, get that leak in your trailer fixed before winter sets in. Hahahahahahahahahahaha
I have come to the conclusion that all people of every nation should join the culture of the SIKH. No hate and they do practice, "DO UNTO OTHER AS YOU WOULD HAVE THEM DO UNTO YOU".
Economic progress is impossible without a structure of government to surround it. Look at Somalia and its total lack of government. What do you see? No rule of law, no government to protect private property, just anarchy and violence. Romney told the Palestinians that there culture was at fault, he failed to mentioned that the Palestinians are an occupied country and have no power to make their own laws. Until a peace treaty is signed between Israel and Palestine, expecting that the Palestinians will have the same economic growth as Israel is ridiculous. After all Israel receive in excess of $3 billion/year in US foriegn aid. Per capital, Israel is the biggest Us foriegn aid beneficiary in the world. Only peace will give the Palestinians a chance to develop their economy. Only countries at peace with a stable government can have a viable economy.
And peace can only be achieved when the Palestinians can fix their culture to weed out terrorists and those who want to destroy Isreal.
That's so nineties!
Peace can only be achieved now if Palestinians weed out nationalism and accept their nation-less state. It's all about the culture. Face it, Jews are just inherently more superior. Just ask Romney.
HUMPTY DUMPTY HAD A GREAT FALL: Is Culture Why India's Bubble Burst????
ARE INDIANS UBER TERRORISTS OR WHAT???? Forget the GDP, focus on these murder statistics.
In India, millions of girls are strangled, slowly starved or simply tossed in the trash. Moreover, in India, at least 1,370 girls are aborted every day. As a comparison, some 250 Indians die every day in road accidents. Terrorists killed about six people, on an average, every day in 2009. In the last two decades of economic progress, 10 million girls have died as such in India.
SHAME ON INDIA AND ITS BARBARIC AND MEDIEVAL CULTURE !!!
Indians have killed more human beings (girls particularly) than Al Qaeda and Talibans put together.
Mitt Romney is an incompetent idiot. He tried to contrast an established and thriving economy to a refugee camp that relies on humanitarian assistance for survival. Jerk.
Great article. Both sides are right. Culture needs to be conducive for economic growth. Without proper economic policies, regardless of culture, prosparity will be limited. America has economic policies that have been successful. Yet there are areas within America that have never prospered due to a culture of violence, drugs, self victimization. Many African nations have good economic policies, yet due to a culture of coruption and self service keeps 100 of millions impoverished. In short, you need both.
If I'm elected President, I would create 12 million jobs but I won't do a thing for the poor because there's a safety net for them. Number 47th job creator. Hehe!
Mr Mitt Romney Your Economic Development is the product of history , and your evolved culture will destroy this development it finally . In History Such arrogant claim everyone did during its hey day .
It's so easy to settle this arguement. let's blockade Israel and see how economically successful they can be.
Why?
Scientific method. Isolating the variables to determine the true causal relationship. Since Palestinian and Israel are in the same area, they only different in culture and the fact that palestinian were under Israeli economic blockade for the last 50 years. To prove the assertion that it is the culture that's the cause of the difference between palestinian and Israelis economic condition, we need to put Israel also under economic blockade to see if it is indeed only culture that's the cause of the difference.
Get a grip.
How can you compare Israel's vibrant, global culture to the Palestinian's culture of begging and hate.
It seems to me you called it apples and oranges in a previous conversation.
JesterJames... To realize how wrong you are you should apply your scientific method to the neighboring Arab countries. These countries have the same culture Palestinians have and they were not subjected to Israeli economic blockade. Nevertheless, the economic development in those Arab countries that do not have oil to sell is much lower than the level of the Palestinians. This, apparently, proves the POSITIVE effect of the Israeli economic blockade on Arabs in general and Palestinians in particular.
You write: Out of the 10 fastest-growing economies in the world today, seven are in Africa.
PLEASE, name the countries in Africa whose economies are growing and the growth percentage.
After, please name the countries in Africa whose economies are slowly but surely disintegrating.
Don't forget to mention the culture of those countries. Only then will your story have credibility.
Hay, it's you (the jew-the TERMITES), who goes like SERPENTS caused blood sheds, wars, diseases, hates, manipulations,...among African People in Africa and out-side Africa. We got proofs in America. We know how evil you are.
Jews are never White nor Black, they are evil. Their skins are FUZZY type. They murdered my Christian-Ethiopian lovely people. The jew uses fake names, renting Apartments by Cash and murdered my people. Jews used Toxic, Sleeping and dangerous gasses for robbery, murder, and to caused mental damages against my Christian people.
They over-represented their Communities by holding various Government jobs, to secure the murder cases and to committed more crimes.
Arabs has Oil for guaranteed incomes, but what do Jews have??? That's all...gained with scams.
Before 1938, the world jew population was 3million according to..., how the hell they claim 6million died? According to... I don't know about it, but I am just asking question if it's true or FALSE.
But, not all Jews are bad.
Culture is a part of it. But you still need a strong economic infrastructure in place. – Look at how many Indians, Chinese, Iranians, Russians who immigrate to the US and then do very well economically. Why could they not have done so well in their birth countries? Because their former countries lacked the type of infrastructure you see in the West, especially the USA. – Also, Mitt needs not forget that Israel's receives Billions in aid from the US every year and we also put in place significant tax rules and economic restrictions on nations that try to boycott Israel. – So, its very easy for boy with a rich father to look at a boy with poor father and say "Yeah, its your culture" -
So you are a slimy muslim pretending to be Israeli American.
Why are you muslims so embarassed by who you truly are?
Israel receives loans from the USA that it repays with interest. But then you probably know that and you are trying to BS people into believing your rhetoric.
That's right. Israel receives no US aid. Just ask Zionists.
Well Hyp, if you want lies, ask an islamist.
@nina You are revolting.
How dare I stand up for the right?
How dare I stand up to your lies?
hahahahahahahaha...
Very good point. Israel seem to do very well because they get preferential trade status in the US and also Billions in aid that they don't have to pay back. Give me a quarter of that money and I can make any African country's infrastructure into an amazing hub. A few years ago i tried to import leather shoes and clothing to the US from Africa and my clearing agent in Los Angeles gave me the list of customs tariffs. I was shocked at what I was going to have to pay from Africa – it ranged from 15% to 35% and guess how much you pay from Israel 0%. So before we start praising a culture let's look at the benefits they have and what others are not getting. Most of the high end fashion clothing companies like Hugo Boss, Calvin Klein etc have factories now in Israel because of these benefits. The product does not have to be a 100% made in Israel – it can just be 15% – 25% and it can qualify. Please don't get me wrong – I am not saying Israelis don't work hard but we have to acknowledge things that are in their favor if we want to be honest.
Jason, since muslims need to repeat things over and over again, here is a repeat. I have saved it so that I can repeat it again when you forget.
Thinker23
Hypocrisy... Israel certainly received billions in aid from the US every year. The Arab states, however, receive FIVE TIMES MORE US aid than Israel. ONe of these Arab states, Iraq, receives THREE TIMES MORE US aid than Israel... and the Palestinians are getting several times more aid PER CAPITA than Israelis do. Now it's up to YOU to explain how come the Arabs in general and the Palestinians in particular did not surpass the Israelis yet. Good luck!
August 6, 2012 at 6:38 pm | Reply
Actually, I am an Israeli American of Iranian descent and I'm not always in favor of what Israel or the US do. I have many friends that are Muslim/Arab and Christian. The loans are forgiven by the way. Look it up. All this special treatment creates hate for Israel and we don't need the money as we have a burgeoning technology sector. Also, Not all Israelis are Pro-Netanyahu, Pro War, anti-Arab as so many Americans think. There are many of us moderates in Israel and the US. FYI – 20% of Israels' pop. is Muslim Arab. So get over yourself.
So you are muslim.
You have told us everything else about your genetics, why hide this fact?
Please, quit the boycott propaganda of lies and deception. More and more people are realizing the whole 'occupation' and 'apartheid' story is ONE BIG LIE.
Start researching how other arab muslim nations are treating their 'palestinian' populations. There was a story today out of Jordan that doesn't sound too promising for them. The rebels in Syria just finalized an 'ethnic' cleansing of them in villages. And I could go on and on...One must wonder why the great majority of arabs living in Israel want to remain in Israel and are not too crazy about a 'palestinian' state.
On the other hand, I must thank you. I had always believe these lies until the BDS movement became more public three years ago. That's when I started looking into it and I discovered the truth behind the lies. PEACE.
That's right. Muslim countries dispossessed the Palestinians and drove them into Israeli refugee camps. Then they have the chutzpah to blame Israel for their mistreatment!
Hyp = they are not in an "Israeli Refugee Camps", they are on a Muslim piece of land where they could make some amazing things. Look what Israel did with a desert. However, they choose to elect islamists for a government and are surprised that nothing runs properly. Tell the so-called Palestinians to get their shyatt together, get to work and do something positive with all that money they get from the civilized world. They could build sewers, proper buildings to live and work in, educational facilities... The possibilities are endless.
The so-called Palestinians get all their money from others, mostly the civilized world. It is so commond knowledge that even Wiki has it on record. What do the so-called Palestinians do with all that money?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_aid_to_Palestinians#Major_donors
According to the Development Assistance Committee, the main multilateral donors for the 2006–2007 period were UNRWA and the EU (through the European Commission); the main bilateral donors were the US, Ja pan, Canada and five European countries (Norway, Germany, Sweden, Spain and France).Since 1993 the European Commission and the EU member-states combined have been by far the largest aid contributor to the Palestinians. The Arab League states have also been substantial donors, notably through budgetary support to the PNA during the Second Intifada; they have been however criticized for not sufficiently financing the UNRWA and the PNA, and for balking at their pledges. After the 2006 Palestinian elections, the Arab countries tried to contribute to the payment of the Palestinian public servants' wages, bypassing the PNA; at the same time Arab funds were paid directly to Abbas' office for disbursement. During the Paris Conference, 11% of the pledges came from the US and Canada, 53% from Europe and 20% from the Arab countries.
Palestine Human Development Report (2004), 113. According to analyses, Palestinians are the largest per capita recipients of international development assistance in the world (Lasensky [2004], 211.
Hypocrisy... Can you elaborate on "Israeli refugee camps" please? As far as I know there are no refugee camps in Israel. Not a single one.
Am I missing something?
Thinker, read sarcasm.
nina, isn't it amazing how the rest of the world can verbalize the reasons why Palestinians need aid while you condemn them for it? It becomes Zionists to victimize a people then blame them for it. The history of Israel is an example of what happens when fascism runs amok. But let's all blame the Palestinians for having the audacity to exist where Zionists wanted to establish a nation for Jewish supremacy.
The definition of Zionism explains its intolerance.
Hypocrisy... If the Palestinians did not like the current arrangement they would NEGOTATE A BETTER DEAL long ago. They had plenty of opportunities. After all, Israel can OFFER them peace, a sovereign independent state and all kins of aid and assistance imaginable. Neither Israel nor anyone else can shove peace into the Palestinian collective throat against their will, however.
I am not condemning anyone.
Stop the BS and help yourselves.
Get a proper working government.
Use the money everybody gives you to educate your children.
Build some infrastructure- heck build some sewers instead of tunnels to attack Israel.
Well, thank you, nina. Your presumptuousness is equivalent to flatulence, but that doesn't seem to bother you, which can mean anything from suffering a medical condition to not caring about the noxious odor that follows you. Some of the finest people in the world are Palestinian.
This is your only comeback?
Farting jokes?
Your presumptions are a joke. I don't need to know your DNA to have an opinion. Figuratively speaking, I don't have to pass your smell test, especially when you stink.
Hypocrisy... Israel certainly received billions in aid from the US every year. The Arab states, however, receive FIVE TIMES MORE US aid than Israel. ONe of these Arab states, Iraq, receives THREE TIMES MORE US aid than Israel... and the Palestinians are getting several times more aid PER CAPITA than Israelis do. Now it's up to YOU to explain how come the Arabs in general and the Palestinians in particular did not surpass the Israelis yet. Good luck!
This is funny. The US invades Iraq and destroys what little was left of its infrastructure after more than a decade of blockade and sanctions, and this thinker rushes in to say that the US has given aid to that country. Considering how Ariel Sharon's agenda everytime he came to the US was Iraq first, wherein the only truth about the reasons the US invaded Iraq was to stop Saddam Hussain's aid to the families of suicide bombers, I'd add the cost of that invasion to the aid Israel has received. The cost of invading Iraq alone has now exceeded a trillion US dollars. That's how Israel has prospered. But, go ahead, and take pride in Israel dispossing millions of people, depriving them of their natural resources in order to make the desert bloom. Take solace in creating the world's largest prison, and then blame the victims for their misfortunes. Does that make Holocaust survivors proud?
So what was that about Arabs receiving aid? You mean Egypt and Jordan? For making peace with Israel? Sorry, I'd qualify that as indirect aid to Israel too. Any other Arab country?
So besides invading Iraq on behalf of Israel, and bribing Egypt and Jordan to make peace with Israel, what Arab country has the US aided? Lebanon? Tunisia? Libya? Saudi Arabia? UAE?
See, it takes peace for nations to prosper, which, to any other (un)thinker, would explain the plight of the Palestinians. But it appears that Zionists have become so adept at twisting truths that they believe their own fabrications. What gives, besides what the US has spent on behalf of Jewish supremacy?
Hypocrisy... So you're blaming Israel for Saddam's actions including but not limited to attacking Kuwait, harboring and sponsoring terrorists, developing and using weapons of mass destruction, etc. Talk about hypocrisy...
Hypocrisy... You may blame Israel until the cows will come home but it will not change a thing... You see, it takes two for tango and it takes two for peace... As long as the Palestinians are willing the war to continue it means that they're happy with the results and that murdering Israelis (even if the ratio of dead is 10 to 1) is more important to them than peace or economic prosperity.
Tinker2, you're a letter shy and a number short of a complete thought. See, you must have basis, otherwise your hissy reads like amateur propaganda. I blamed Israel for no such thing, and it's up there for anyone to read. You, tinker bell, ring a bit hollow, as I was merely allocating the invasion of Iraq to the cost of Israel's friendship with the US. Is there a special fund, an "Israel Jar", from which US presidents draw funds to bid for Israel's favor? I remember Ariel Sharon's entreaties to his self-professed student quite clearly, wherein Iraq was described as the primary Israeli concern. I don't blame Israel for Saddam at all. I blame Saddam for Saddam, and he has met his end. And, in case you haven't noticed...ahem...I've been referencing hypocrisy, and it's quite amusing how it manifests itself on the subject of Israel among Zionists. Zionists can't seem to own their purpose, their definition and reason for being, which is to maintain Jewish supremacy in the Middle East, even if it ends up costing the US the invasion of Iraq. So why don't Zionists own up to campaigning for the only true reason the US invaded Iraq, ending Saddam's support of suicide bombers? I'm not going to give you the names of Dubya's inner circle, the so-called cabal, the authors of the many editorials who argued for the invasion, the Israel-firsters, as that would be like schooling you for free. But aid to Israel, it was, especially when it turns out being the only true impetus for invading Iraq.
Hypocrisy... Using insults in a debate is similar to a (dirty) white banner of surrender. You have nothing better to produce than insults to support your claims and you know it...
Go back to Israel if you dont like it, very simple
"Infrastructure"-it's called capitalism and Freedom Princess. You know the things that Obama is attacking.
"does culture make a difference"? does education and Media help determine the "culture" of a society? if so, culture makes a hell of difference in financial well being. Teach and broadcast hatred, intolerance and lo and behold, financial well being takes a vacation. hatred and intolerance are principles upon which it is difficult to base a successful society, unless you have oil.
some cultures value education more than others. they will be more successful.
want a good example. look at asian immigrants in los angeles and mexican immigrants in los angeles.
mitmoo jewbney and others use culture to mask violence, repression, oppression, theft.
i take your wealth, land; i am rich, successful. you are poor.
GIVE me 30 billiion to 100 billion interest free, penalty free dollars each year. add weapons and technology unimaginable. add free land, water, resources, ideas – none mine. i am successful.
you
are not.
and
you are lazy with a deficient culture.
Our culture promotes selfishness. It is the root of Capitolism. mine mine mine...... like a bunch of 3 year olds. Then people want to wonder why all our kids are so disrespectful, selfish and greedy. Its what our society teaches us to be......
Here's a heat map of Americans at or below the poverty line : http://censusviewer.com/2012/07/heat-map-of-us-citizens-at-or-below-poverty-line/ . What do you think causes poverty to cluster in certain areas?
Negrazoid slothfullness!
add history to your heat map
re left wing peter beinart and right wing bret stephens on your 8/5 program:
left wing, right wing, same bird, same destination.
How in the world can you write an article about this obsurd statement and completely leave out the main argument of why it has nothing to do with culture in this case. The fact is, Palestinians have no control over their economy because they are under occupation and Israel keeps the Palestinian economy in shambles to continue their oppression and apartheid keep their illegal occupation going. Any country or group of people under such an oppressive, destructive, violent and humiliating occupation would not have a chance at having a normal economy, let alone a prosperous one. Fareed that is an extremely disappointing article coming from you, but then again, you work for this corporation run by Zionists, so of course you will never say anything against them. Maybe if Pakistan was under Israeli occupation, you'd have something different to say.
That would require analysis, interpretation, and objectivity. Zionists are still harping about how Palestinians cannot expect peace until they eradicate terrorism. Romney's comments clearly illustrate how facts merely obscure US biases for Israeli Jews.
Have you noticed how many articles on CNN.com ban the use of the words "Zionist" and "Zionism" in the comments?
Either way, I think Fareed Zakaria is of Indian descent.
Hypocrisy... "Zionists are still harping about how Palestinians cannot expect peace until they eradicate terrorism. "
Do you REALLY don't understand that someone has to eradicate the Palestinian terrorists in order for the rest of Palestinians to have peace? If the Palestinians are unable or unwilling to do it then Israel has to do it for them... Again, I hoe (for your own sake) that you're only PRETENDING that you don't understand it.
Have Jews accepted the stereotype about their culture's association to financial success now that it is being used to denigrate non-Jewish Arabs? After all, Romney was not praising Israeli culture. He was extolling Jewish culture, as Israeli Gentiles continue to suffer economic, social, and political descrimination in the Middle East's only hegemonic democracy. Can you hear the ADL condemnation? Yeah, I hear hyporcisy!
Anti-Semites all! Hail Jewish supremacy.
No proof, just lies and hate.
No proof of what? No proof that the world is round, that the sun is hot, and that Israel is a Jewish nation? Proof is in the pudding, dear.
Hypocrisy... In the world of civilized adults the accuser is supposed to PROVE that the accused is guilty, not the other way around. As of now you've posted a lot of accusations against the Jews and the Jewish state while offering ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to support thes accusations.
Lies and hate = islamist culture
Spoken like a Zionist.
Unfortunately, what you say is true.
Hypocrisy, your personal inferiority is not the jews' fault. It is your parent's fault – siblings should never marry.
That's right. After all, Absalom didn't marry Tamar. He only r@ped her. There's the missing link to cultural success.
Amnon...Absalom. Oh well, I must be lying.
That was 2000 years ago.
While the rest of the world has become emancipated, apparantly the muslims are stuck in a time warp.
Pat F, meet Nina. Apparently, you two have much to discuss about incest.
In the Arab world, everybody marries their first cousins. That's why all families look alike. There are alot of problems with the kids too because of the close DNA connnection (PHYSICAL AND MENTAL). I escaped from my home because my parents wanted me to marry my ugly fat first cousin.
The reason Turkey is listed as a country with a high GDP goes back to the ARMENIAN GENOCIDE – the Ottomans, and then the Turks, confiscated nearly all the real and personal property of the Armenians that were killed or driven out. Turkey was devastated after its loss in WWI; they blamed the Armenians, killed them all, took all their property and then built what has turned in to a $1 Trillion GDP.
I suppose the Khojaly Massacre that the Armenian people committed during 1992 gave Armenia an economic boost?
GPS is must-see viewing on Sunday for me. I love Fareed Zakaria's cosmopolitan take on world affairs. This take on August 5 was one of his best, going beyond eurocentric notions of culture.
going where exactly?
Culture matters; no question. But I think we'd find that it mostly matters negatively – when there is oppression and the culture is wounded (e.g. Native Americans, African Americans) there is an expectation of failure and dysfunction. People don't even believe there IS opportunity; so they don't try.
Are you a Native American or an Islamist pulling out all the cards you can to embarass the civilized world?
As stated previously, we have atoned and continue to do so for the mistakes we made.
How has Islam advanced?
Actually Fareed Zakaria is completely wrong on this one. I recomend reading this analysis, which includes a comparison of East European countries and their warrying degrees of economic success since 1990. There is a clear correlation between culture and economic development.
http://zoltansustainableecon.blogspot.com/2012/08/mitt-romney-fareed-zakaria-on-economics.html
Not sure about culture, but race most assuredly is. 99.9% of non-whites would rather sit on their duffs and collect a few taxpayer dollars than go out and become meaningfully employed.
Don't you have a Sikh temple in your cross-hair?
well if you're a farmer separated from your land by a 25 foot concrete wall and armed soldiers, or an arab businessman waiting for five hours to get through a checkpoint (unless the soldiers decide to close it), then your culture does work against you.
A hell of a lot of things play a role in financial success. "Culture" is too broad of a term to believe that "culture", by and of iteself, is a determining element. Its use in this way is not an effort at reasoned analysis. Its use is only an emotional and thinkly veiled primitive appeal to basic racial and political bigotry. Romney knows who pays the bills and he needs to rouse their passions. It is much the same rhetoric which Hitler used to whip up support of the German people in the 1930's. For him, it was that decadent Jewish culture which was creating so much evil in his world. In current local politics, it is the Black culture or the Hispanic culture. What evil these Republican demagogues are releasing into the world. What has affected the Palestinians is political and military oppression from many sources in the Middle East. I have one Palestinian friend here in the USA. He is well educated and has been a financial success. His "culture" has not been a deterrent.
I am not an expert in culture, but I know economic success depending on many factors. first of all, goal must be set and investment commitment need to be made so that infrastructure and education can be built and tailored toward success. More importantly, you need a stable environment to develop. Imagine if China has no influx of huge capital investments in the 1980 and on. They will still grow but would be at a much slower rate.
If only Americans would read "Mein Kampf" they would have to deal with the fact that Hitler's ideals, policies, and rhetoric are the basis for everything the GOP has done and said since Karl Rove started pulling the strings. It is glaringly obvious because the language is borrowed almost verbatim.
And Stalin is the ideal for Grover Norquist. Groquist says he admires Stalins methods for taking over the soviet system – infliltrating the bureaucracy with ultra-fanatical loyalists who have no skills whatsoever but are totally loyal to their leader. That has been the republican strategy for the last 30 years. Now our government is filled with incompetent republican operat\ives who destroy the government from within thereby fullfilling the republican claim that "the governmet" is incompetent!! Traitors every one.
Sure, culture plays a part in economic success, but to imply Palestinians live in poverty and Israel has a higher standard of living, due to culture, is a pretty ignorant statement to make. Israel gets billions of dollars in aid and funding from the United States. Palestine doesn't. Palestine is essentially the world's largest prison, and flow of goods in and out of Palestinian areas is controlled (and often prevented) by the Israelis. Palestine is routinely subject to raids and bombings. Israel is not. Palestinian are not allowed to leave Palestinian areas. Israelis can leave their country freely.
I can go on.
Are you kidding me? The Palestinians don't get aid? Why don't you educate yourself on the situation and then comment. Palestinians get more aid per capita than anyone. The Palestinians are barbaric, ignorant fools who don't understand how to create a working government. If they'd quit electing extremists whose only goal is to destroy Israel instead of making peace, they might actually be a livable country. If the Palestinians and the other Arabs would quit living 400 years behind everyone else, maybe they'd be culturally successful. Take the oil away from them and they're worthless, and that's the truth.
Yes, having a criminal mindset makes all the difference.
Just look at the cartels. Making more money than half the countries of the world.
GREEEEEEEEEEEEDDDD IS GOOOOODDD !!!
There's your damn culture.
.
First off, in reality Israel has a vey high poverty rate, much higher than Europe so they are not exactly doing very well. They have a very high borrowing rate as well.
However, since Mitt-boy is comparing Israel to Gaza and the West Bank we can say that It sure helps to get $3 billion or more per year in military aid from another country to pay for your war machine. Then you can divert other money to subsidies for your people. then occupy the country next to you and refuse to allow it economic development, wall it off and refuse to allow people to come and go. Refuse to allow any outside goods in, or anything made inside out. Finally, steal the land of the others and pretend it is yours, build on it and pretend it has always belonged to you. After all that you can claim that the others are somehow deficient because obvisouly they have done nothing.
Fro israel budget info see:
http://taubcenter.org.il/index.php/e-bulletin/public_expenditures_a_look_at_israels_national_priorities/lang/en/
Mr. Mitt should have ask the Germans about kultur before going public and puting his foot in his mouth. After all they are actually leading all the uncultured europeans countries technically and economically. From England all the way to Siberia.
The rest of the world laughs at the US for having no culture. Yet the US has had a successful economy. So clearly, culture does not count for much as far as economic considerations are concerned.
Hope this helps!
In not so distant past decades USA had a much stronger culture of hardwork, being independent and self sufficient and getting thing done on your own.
Now, that culture is being replace by "give me mine", "where is my share?", "tax the rich becuase they have what I want".
Politics is the most greed and power oriented of all human activities. It is not going to solve anything. Government is not our mommy! It is a lot of people struggling to get their way. Power in government necessitates being willing to sacrifice all else including decency for power. This is a filter built into the process. If looking to government to solve social problems is what you call 'liberal,' then God save us from liberals.
I agree with you.... I think.....
Living abroad doesn't justify your comments about the US. That is a terrible thing to say about a country that does so much for others around the world- regardless if there are political or other motivations behind it. If I were "the US" I wouldnt want to help out anyone who calls us selfish.
I am surprised no one else confronted this blatant blasphemy of the US.
Haiti and the Dominican Republic share the same island, split in half. Haiti is dirt poor due to a poor culture, where the Dominican Republic is an economy that functions and is prosperous in comparison. Haiti is almost 100% African descent, where the Dom. Republic is a mix of Spanish and African descent. Totally different cultures.
It doesn't take too many words to describe the roots or causes of "a poor culture" versus a functional one. Is it, for example, comparable to the difference between a culture of slavery and a culture of slave-ownership? Addressing such a meaty question with soupbone makes you sound like a buffoon, a racist, or both.
Nice source to tap. It keeps bleeding regardless of the culture or the customs.
Culture plays a role but there are other factors as well.
But culture and values are the biggest factors for sure.
YES......... A BIG YES.
Check this out:
Is Your Religion Your Financial Destiny?
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/15/magazine/is-your-religion-your-financial-destiny.html?_r=1
Islam on the Outskirts of the Welfare State
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/05/magazine/05muslims.html?pagewanted=all
Pakistani-Canadians: Falling below the poverty line
http://dawn.com/2012/05/16/pakistani-canadians-falling-below-the-poverty-line/
Income Distribution by Religion in the US
http://religions.pewforum.org/pdf/report-religious-landscape-study-full.pdf#page=61
Want to see more?
Journey into Islam: The Crisis of Globalization
http://www.pewforum.org/Muslim/Journey-into-Islam-The-Crisis-of-Globalization.aspx
Given similar socio-economic background a Muslim Indian is 3 times as likely to be unemployed as a Hindu Indian
http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/datasets-and-tables/index.html
Right to Education Act against Muslim Interests – Indian Muslim Board!!!
http://www.samachar.com/Right-to-Education-Act-against-Muslims-says-AIMPLB-lhgtLDgfbbf.html
Nobel prizes – Jews 170, Muslims – 6
http://www.jewishmag.com/99mag/nobel/nobel.htm
Pakistan spends 7 times more on arms than on schools – Pakistan's #1 Newspaper Dawn
http://dawn.com/2011/03/02/pakistan-spends-7-times-more-on-arms-than-on-schools/
Pakistani Americans 3 times higher Poverty than Indians-DAWN 05-23-12
http://dawn.com/2012/05/23/dollars-and-sense-of-american-desis/
An Uncertain Road: Muslims and the Future of Europe
http://www.pewforum.org/Muslim/An-Uncertain-Road-Muslims-and-the-Future-of-Europe.aspx
Arab development – Self-doomed to failure
An unsparing new report by Arab scholars explains why their region lags behind so much of the world
http://www.economist.com/node/1213392
Good compilation of research materials.
Is Islam Compatible with Capitalism?
The Middle East’s future depends on the answer.
http://www.city-journal.org/2011/21_3_muslim-economy.html
Jewish & Muslim Poverty stats:
KEITH ELLISON WANTS US TO START MARSHALL PLAN FOR MUSLIM COUNTRIES TO FIGHT ISLAMIC EXTREMISM-World Muslim Congress
http://worldmuslimcongress.blogspot.com/search/label/Poverty%20Elimination
Often conservaties would say a regan like personality would win in 2012 but what's the point of bringing reagan like personality. Conservative policies are still in place. President just got approval from supreme court policy on HC but he hasn't really done anything to change policy. Reagan, bush41 took a center right aapproach to govern and bush 43 moved right to govern. Even clinton enabled republican policy with enthusiastic support from his advisors. Seriously what set of new policies are Americans going to see from Mitt Romney. I know there is no income mobility under Obama economy but his completely opposite vision from republican policy can be considered strength because presidential election gets decided on long term policy. And also republicans don't have a candidate like Bush, Reagan who can inspire a broad electorate.
Maybe Romney should not go running around in other countries shoving his opinion down their throats just for publicity. On the other hand maybe people like the Palestinians should not jump to the conclusion that Romney is a racist just because he is white and made statements about a culture other than his own.
He's damned if he experesses his opinion and he's damned if he doesn't.... so might as well express it after all he is running the office.
test
Fareed, I have enjoyed your programs and have respected your views until I watched the last one, on the speech made by Mitt Romney. You were bending facts, disrespecting your audience's intelligence, and, very clearly, seemedto be driven by an emotive attempt to defend a culture that is impossible to uphold. David Landes research on the matter is absolutely true: Culture makes the difference! The Israeli democracy, society, and economy are in contrast to its Arab neighbors. but even without Landes' research, facts are clear in front of our eyes, especially to you, traveling journalists... The examples you have mentioned: crediting everything to economic growth as in Germany, China, etc. did not prove your point at all: The German culture has always prompted diligence, precision, and orderliness, values essential for its economic success. The Palestinians have been receiving huge sums of money from UNRA since 1948, on the claim of being refugees, and the THIRD generation is still getting it, mind you! While Israel has absorbed close to 1,ooo,ooo Jews, refugees from Arab countries, who had to flee and leave everything they owned behind. The Arab culture does not respect, life, human freedom, human values, individual rights, precision, honesty, free speech, women's rights, it is a tribal culture that settles all conflicts with murder and revenge. With all honesty Fareed, did you feel at ease when you have said what you had?
Save all the money you want, get all the power you like, eat the finest foods and work your fingers to the bone. Do this, regardless of who else it impacts, which cultures you destroy who have a different value set.
We're all still going to die. How we live says the most about us. I don't chase a corner office. I don't chase 7 digit personal bank account. I don't need it....and I don't typically like those who feel they do. If that makes my culture weaker, so be it.
Yes. There are several factors at play. But culture and values are certainly big factors In wheather a country thrives or is stuck in the dark ages.
Look at the difference between South and North Korea. Similar location and resources. But one has a culture of relative freedom and open capitalism.... and the other ....mmmm.... not so much.
Look at similar differences between Israel and any of the it's neighboring countries.
Oh, and why is that majority of the African nations are so screwed up?
I say people of Zimbabwe were better off when whites ruled.
What Rmoney said in Israel was a postulate of the Nazi’s theory about Superior Culture developed by Mr. Himmler, Rosenburg and Co. World knows where this theory led to. It was particularly inappropriate to say it in Israel…..
Inappropriate or not politically correct?
plain and simple
I grew up in Indonesia – the Chinese/christian descendant are successful one and the indonesian government is helping the native muslim people and discriminate the "infidel" but still for some reason "the infidel" thrive
Of course Israel succeeded. America is pouring billions of dollars every year into Israeli economic, country that has 6 million people while giving only few millions to 55 million Palestinians, The money could be used to boost American economy, infrastructure, and all sort of social benefits for American people. But no, it seems for Congress the well being of Israeli people is more important than the well being of Americans.
I say, our hard earned money should stay here. Those who believe we should continue giving billions dollars to Israel are unpatriotic.
Remember USS Liberty! Jonathan Pollard, a traitor, should be executed.
Palestinians receive billions$$$$$ too.. but what do they do with it?
cul·ture
1. the quality in a person or society that arises from a concern for what is regarded as excellent in arts, letters, manners, scholarly pursuits, etc.
2. that which is excellent in the arts, manners, etc.
3. a particular form or stage of civilization, as that of a certain nation or period: Greek culture.
4. development or improvement of the mind by education or training.
5. the behaviors and beliefs characteristic of a particular social, ethnic, or age group: the youth culture; the drug culture.
Culture is all encompassing.
good definitions.....so.... what is your conclusion?
Culture? How about all the money that the US taxpayer has given to Israel since 1948? Israel has received more US government money than all of Western Europe did from the Marshall Fund after World War II. Meanwhile, why do US state government pension funds buy Israel Bonds when Israel continues to violate the Geneva Convention's Article 49 by building settlements in the West Bank? How does US funding get to the Palestininan authorities-through the Israeli middleman who sits on it! The Palestinians could do well economically with US subsidies too, if the Israelis allowed that to happen. What's culture got to do with it, Mitt, when Uncle Sam is giving away taxpayers' money to a country that violates international law?
I do not want my house to be walled in on all sides and my windows to be stuffed. I want the culture of all lands to be blown about my house as freely as possible. But I refuse to be blown off my feet by any.
—Mahatma Gandhi
A human life, I think, should be well rooted in some spot of a native land, where it may get the love of tender kinship for the face of the earth, for the labors men go forth to, for the sounds and accents that haunt it, for whatever will give that early home a familiar nonmistakable difference amidst the future widening of knowledge.
—George Eliot, 19th century British writer
The planet is falling precipitately apart AND coming reluctantly together at the very same moment.
—Benjamin Barber, from Jihad vs. McWorld
For Deniz
Why think thus O men of piety
I have returned to sobriety
I am neither a Moslem nor a Hindu
I am not Christian, Zoroastrian, nor Jew
I am neither of the West nor the East
Not of the ocean, nor an earthly beast
I am neither a natural wonder
Nor from the stars yonder
Neither flesh of dust, nor wind inspire
Nor water in veins, nor made of fire
I am neither an earthly carpet, nor gems terrestrial
Nor am I confined to Creation, nor the Throne Celestial
Not of ancient promises, nor of future prophecy
Not of hellish anguish, nor of paradisic ecstasy
Neither the progeny of Adam, nor Eve
Nor of the world of heavenly make-believe
My place is the no-place
My image is without face
Neither of body nor the soul
I am of the Divine Whole.
—Rumi, 13th century Sufi poet, translated from the Persian by Shahriar Shahriari
Very nice poem... but gibberish and drivel.
Can you state why?
In the case of Israel vs Palestine, it's not about Culture...it's about BILLIONS of US Taxpayers Dollars going to Israel ever since they were created.
Israel, Americas Welfare State!
You are like a little dog who by taking a Jewish name is rubbing himself all over a big dog's pi$$ so that others will think you are big also.
The truth hurts, doesn't it Nina?
What truth dik wad?
Culture might be one of many factors to economic success, but certainly not the most important one.
Weber was a leading thinker of his era. However, it is obvious by now that he (as well as most Europeans at the time) had little understanding of Asian and non-western culture.
Over the past two decades, many scholars have discredited some of Weber's assertions.
Elise, Sushil & several others who believe Mr.Zakaria to be fair & balanced (or even learned!):
Part-1
Firstly, I must admit that I had not even read Mr. Zakaria's article before I put in my compilations (partial! ) to prove that Yes.......Culture does matter for our overall success.
PLEASE REFER MY TRULY INFORMATIVE, FACTUAL, UNBIASED COMPILATIONS ABOVE posted August 6th 11:42 pm, 11:56 pm, and 12:02 am.
And, the reason I did not care to read Mr. Zakaria's article, was firstly paucity of time, and then even more importantly my in-depth understanding of my former countryman from India Mr. Zakaria’s biased psyche. I don’t blame him though given that he is a Muslim first and the son of a devout Muslim scholar……….irrespective of his claims, and.…..that’s called Taqiyya!
Having said that, Mr. Zakaria is NOT to be confused for other liberals you find all over the media who hold an excessively simplistic view of the world and fight for universal good (even for the undeserving who don’t believe in peace & harmony!).
So, on the contrary my former countryman Mr. Fareed Zakaria is a Muslim, and like the MAJORITY of Muslims in the world he hates America, Israel and the entire free world, and believes that the entire non-Muslim world is ganged up against Islam. He fights for almost every Muslim cause in the world be it Palestine, Kashmir, Chechnya, Kosovo, Bosnia etc, and just as Muslims all over the world NEVER EVER FAILS to connect Muslim discontent (incl. American Muslims) with every other real & perceived inequality against Muslims anywhere in the world, e.g. Burka ban in France, Minaret ban in Switzerland, opposition to GZ VICTORY Mosque, enhanced interrogation of terrorists, security checks at a/ps etc. etc.
He has FAMOUSLY SAID several times that AMERICA IS “THE” GREATEST DANGER TO THE WORLD and “NOT” AL-QAEDA” (Ref: Reflections on 9/11 and its Aftermath” CNN-GPS Sept 9th, 2011):
......to be contd.
Part 2:
Here are some fine examples of Mr.Zakaria’s biased writings:
1)Where he squarely blames the west, Russia and his native India for Muslim hatred, holding these nations “squarely responsible” for NOT merely Muslim discontentment but also “Muslim Terror”, and CONCLUDING that the danger is from us and NOT from them!
a) “Why do they hate us”-Newsweek Aug 22nd 2007 –
b) “Reflections on 9-11 & Aftermath” Sept 11th 2011
c) “Why America Overreacted to 9-11” – Newsweek Sep 4th-2010
d) “How Russia created its own Islamic Terrorism Problem” Time Jan 27th 2011
e) “Don't Overreact to Terrorism – Newsweek Jan 09th 2010
f) “India Occupying Kashmir” – Rediff June 25th 2001. In a ceremony while receiving India’s third highest civilian award from the Indian Ambassador to the US Mr. Zakaria condemned India for its role in Kashmir terming it “Martial Rule” and castigated India for its perceived illtreatment of Muslims.
f) “India Please Stand up” CNN GPS Mar 26th 2012
2) Where he tries to showcase Muslim radicalism as a direct result of their backwardness & poverty & NOT their radical religious IDEOLOGY (disregarding far more poverty ridden places such as Haiti, Nepal, much of Sub-Saharan Africa), URGING already HARD HIT Americans & Europeans to CONTRIBUTE more, w/o ever mentioning the oil rich Sheikdoms or their own rich people (for e.g. ONLY 1% of Pakistanis pay income taxes-many of whom are far more affluent than average Americans or Europeans who toil more than 3 months a year JUST to pay their taxes!).
a) “What People Will Die For – Newsweek Jan 5th 2008
b) “Put Pakistan (Govt. & Miltary) on Notice” but keep pumping money! – CNN GPS May 13th 2011
c) Plus all of the articles under (1) above.
3) Where he deliberately DOWNPLAYS the threat of radical Islam in the west.
a) “Jihad against the Jihadis- How Moderates WON against extremists” – Newsweek Feb 12th 2010
b) “Learning to Live with Radical Islam” – Newsweek Feb 28th 2009
c) “Congressional Hearings on threats from radical Islam” ABCNews.com Feb 11th 2011
d) “When Terror Loses its Grip-Time May 20th 2011
Part 3
4) Where he PRETENDS to be concerned about America while CONSTANTLY highlighting the fact that America’s best days are over, and talks about the emergence of other powers. While that may be somewhat true, you can see a definite bias in the coverage, almost WISHING TO SEE OUR DOWNFALL, just as most Muslims the world over want!
a) “Are America’s Best Days Over” Time March 3rd 2011
b) “Beyond Bush” June 11th 2007
c) “The Future of American Power” Foreign Affairs May-June 2008
I believe culture is the X factor in socio-economic progress of nations & peoples, but it's not of course the only factor because other factors can influence, enhance or block the culture factor too..... Please read this my latest Philippine Star newspaper column, where I had tackled the idea of culture as the X factor to socio-economic development of nations & peoples.... http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=834985&publicationSubCategoryId=82 Pls tell me your feedbacks at WilsonLeeFlores on Twitter or http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Wilson-Lee-Flores/122467601116985
Thank you for any other magnificent post. Where else may anyone get that type of information in such a perfect method of writing? I've a presentation next week, and I am at the look for such info.
Mr. Zakaria carefully avoids Romney's ignorance of facts on the ground and the reason the Palestinian economy is not comparable to Israel's. When will it be permissible for American journalists to use the word "occupation?"
Of course the culture will matter for economy success ~ Just like the Kechara Wealth Vase ~ It is from the Tibetan, and it could help us to get more wealth lucks. When everyone is rich and keep use money, it will lead to the success of economy ~
Once you've taken control of a peoples "means of production" by deception, then killed and weakened their society, you can say that your culture is a determinant of success. Jacob taught the current modern day devil how to deceive and kill their father to gain control over societies. Once this occurs, they then want peace. If USA citizens want to fight a war for the parasitic imposter jews of the imposter israel, then elect Romney. Israel cannot exist without the support of the USA. Romney has no self righteousness or moral compass just as the imposers have none. Let Netanyahoo fight his own battles.
I am a useless piece of camel dung. I post anti American, anti GB, anti semite, anti India, anti modern anything because I am a good moooooslem. I steal people's monikers because I am so ashamed of myself and post the most stupid comment. When people get angry with me, I claim insanity. I am the same guy.
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I believe, what was valid about a 100 years ago may not always hold true in the current state of affairs. While cultures change and business and politics form an alliance or sometimes a nexus... if we stick to the basics governing human behaviour, we can be pretty safe. I mean assuming that consumerist form of democracy is the panacea for all the problems of economy is preposterous, and that seems to be the basic mistake many of the economies have made. It gives rise to the tendency of unbridled greed- a form of human behaviour which is difficult to control if the state itself is encouraging it through its philosophy. Many of the Asian economies which you have referred to, are better in controlling this and therefore were safe in the recent economic crisis. This is all ofcourse in relative terms....
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