Ailea Stites
Recent Activity
Ailea Stites commented on Is there a clash of civilizations? on January 30, 2008, 4:15 PM
I agree with Reza Aslan 100%, and would also like to add that our "civilizations," if you accept the definition that the "West" is Western Europe and the US, and that the the other civilization concerned is the Middle East, we have to remember that there has been and continues to be trade between these two civilizations. It is not fair to say that there is a clash of civilizations when the West has peaceful coexistence with the kingdom of Jordan, for example. What's going on now is most definitely NOT a clash of civilizations; to call it that is cheapening and essentially dumbing down a situation that is inherently complicated. I definitely agree with James Gelvin's views on the subject (he's a professor at USC; check out his book "A History of the Modern Middle East"). P.S. (Reza Aslan rocks my world.)
Ailea Stites commented on Is there a clash of civilizations? on January 30, 2008, 9:15 PM
I agree with Reza Aslan 100%, and would also like to add that our "civilizations," if you accept the definition that the "West" is Western Europe and the US, and that the the other civilization concerned is the Middle East, we have to remember that there has been and continues to be trade between these two civilizations. It is not fair to say that there is a clash of civilizations when the West has peaceful coexistence with the kingdom of Jordan, for example. What's going on now is most definitely NOT a clash of civilizations; to call it that is cheapening and essentially dumbing down a situation that is inherently complicated. I definitely agree with James Gelvin's views on the subject (he's a professor at USC; check out his book "A History of the Modern Middle East").P.S. (Reza Aslan rocks my world.)