|
March 3, 2002
Wall of Ideas By THOMAS L. FRIEDMAN
"I've spent the last six weeks traveling around the Arab-Muslim world, talking with people about Sept. 11 and U.S.- Muslim relations. ... How was this iron wall of ideas built? By many hands."
"Do we ever press our values — democracy, freedom, women's rights — in the Arab-Muslim world? No. We talk about them only for China or North Korea, never for countries whose oil or bases we may need. Is there any wonder some people there see us as hypocrites?"
"But our Arab-Muslim allies also helped erect this wall. ... they have let their conspiracy theories about America and Israel become easy excuses for why they never have to look at themselves — why they never have to ask, How is it that we had this incredible windfall of oil wealth and have done so poorly at building societies that can tap the vast potential of our people?" ... [more]
2:48:25 PM 
|
