Greebozz said:
I fully appreciate how unpleasant it is to have coalition troops in the Middle East if you are a passionate Muslim.
So you believe that non-Muslims are happy with the situation?
But while people are essentially the same I worry about the effect caused by growing up in cultures where you only get the one viewpoint drummed into you. I worry that causes a dangerous nationalism.
When I read your posts, I see you as an outstanding example of what you wrote here.
In the West many people know Muslims and people from all over the world.
In the West most people mind their own business, just like everywhere else. Stick to their families and "groups" and "circles" and when they travel abroad, they do exactly the same. Visting a country as tourist - the vast majority without even speaking the language - is not "getting to know the people". Having some foreigners living in your street or neighbourhood is not "knowing them".
But I worry that many of the Arab countries culturally are very closed.
Every culture everywhere on thig globe is closed to outsiders unless they make the effort to learn about it.
"The West" is absolutely no exception.
Americans generally are very friendly warm hearted people.
It is a bit puzzling why all of a sudden you tear this into your argument, but since you did:
They are generally also ignorant about the rest of the world, generally also patriots into the extreme, generally only speak one language, generally don't see the need to look beyond their own obrders and generally have an attitude expressing tehir firm belief to be The Best Of The World.
All this can indeed be combined with being friendly etc...
But how many Iranians have met an American?
How many Amrecans have ever met an Iranian? Let alone in Iran?
There is a feeling that the Arab and Muslim world has never liked the West.
Define "never".
So it rather negates the anger that Muslim express over the war, because it seems to be there never was a time when Muslims actually liked us.
May I ask you why on earth you are so focussed on "being liked" by Muslims?
On the whole in Britain to a large extent the Muslim and western cultures don't really mix.
So you don't think that tehre is hesitation and reserve at both sides...
not all Muslims of course but I am talking about traditional communities.
Define "traditional".
Can you also explain what you think to be "traditional" UK communities?
salaam.