Re: Catchup voting results

----- Original Message -----
From: Gerry Reinhart-Waller <waluk@...>
To: <cybalist@eGroups.com>
Sent: Monday, 24 January, 2000 2:04 AM
Subject: [cybalist] Re: Catchup voting results

Responding to a discussion between John Croft and Gerry Reinhart, Dennis
Poulter writes from Malaysia:
Dennis Poulter wrote:
>

> Excuse me for jumping into this, but living as I do in an ethnically and
> religiously mixed but predominantly Islamic country, I just couldn't let
> this pass. We are currently in the midst of various religious holidays,
> having started with Christmas, we have since had Eid al-Fitri for the
> Muslims (end of Ramadan fasting month), last weekend was Thaipusam for the
> Hindus, and next weekend is Chinese New Year. It is customary, and indeed
> encouraged by the government, that we go to each other's festivities.
> The Islamic culture here is certainly not barbaric, but far more tolerant
> than, say, UK. But this has been true of most Islamic societies through
> history. However, people here do feel increasingly under pressure from what
> is perceived as a rabidly anti-Islamic fundamentalist Christian United
> States, which seems bent on global domination. This has been particularly
> brought into focus by the tragic events occurring in neighbouring Indonesia
> as a result of IMF-imposed economic policies, and from the western criticism
> levelled at PM Dr.Mahathir, it seems because he dared defy the IMF and find
> economic solutions tailored for this country.
> Anyway, on the assumption that you are not rabidy Racist or PC, may I
> suggest you read some books from the other side of the coin. I would
> particularly recommend Edward Said, a Palestinian Christian, refugee of 1948
> vintage, educated in UK and US (Harvard and Yale) and currently Professor of
> English and Comparative Literature at Columbia University. Two of his books
> "Covering Islam", and "Orientalism" would seem most appropriate as an
> antidote to anti-Islamic fervour.
>
> Regards from Malaysia
> Dennis Poulter


Happy Chinese New Year to you. I know very little about the internal
politics in Malaysia but I do know that the US has a knack for being the
"bad guy" around the world. But if the US doesn't support the IMF,
should the US come out against it? Frankly, I can't possibly think what
that position might be! And I know it must become embarassing living in
another country especially if you are a US citizen. I'm familiar with
Said's "Orientalism". Not only was his message poignant, but the style
of his writing really influenced me -- he drew me into his thought
process and made me think the book was written expecially for me.

Since you in Malaysia are melding all the religious holidays, do you
think you are politically correct or at the other end of the broomstick
with folks like Rushton and Bloom?

You sound as though you are mimicking my conversation with Sergei
Arutiunov of Moscow (it's included below in the AlekseevManuscript.com
as the preface). Back in the early 90s I felt the melding of religions
was the way to proceed. Now, I'm not sure. Many folks are bent on
preserving their own traditions, and if they have those traditions, then
that's what they should do. Others of us have no particular traditions
and for us, a melding is one option. But whatever happens, preserving
the freedom to make that selection becomes the bottom line.

BTW, I saw Said in Cambridge< MA at the Wursthaus (which I understand is
no longer there).

Gerry


--

Gerald Reinhart
Independent Scholar
(650) 321-7378
waluk@...
http://www.alekseevmanuscript.com