Romney claims Israelis culturally superior to Palestinians

[_Cicero]

You could be intellectually serious, and enter the discussion, but no, no, this is the Trailerpark...

Hmm, and why exactly was it that you were recently banned (again) from MD&D Droopy?

[Guest]

And on cue, Droopy Godwins himself yet again.

Islamic culture has contributed much more to the advancement of humanity than has angry southern wingnut culture.

Angry Southern Wingnut Culture (ASWC). Hmmm...never heard of it, and, not being from the South (and still feeling more than a bit alienated from the general feel of things even after over 10 years), I wouldn't know anything about it.

Muslim culture did contribute to the advancement of humanity - in medieval times - (as did the Celtic) but Islamic society has been on the skids for about 500 years, and in deep decline for the entire 20th century. The Muslim world, broadly speaking, was closely allied with the Nazis, and Nazi anti-Semitism, throughout WWII, and were then allied with the Soviets for the entirety of the Cold War.

This is a failed civilization. The West, however, under the crushing, decadent weight of "progressivism," is on its own trajectory of decline and fall.

[_Darth J]

Romney's advisors might want to remind him that the Israel/Palestine conflict is a difficult and controversial international issue.

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/ticket/romney-comments-fundraiser-irk-palestinians-144516604.html

GDANSK, Poland—Mitt Romney ended his trip to Israel on a controversial note, angering Palestinian officials by suggesting Israelis have been more economically successful because of their culture.

"As you come here and you see the GDP per capita, for instance, in Israel which is about $21,000 dollars, and compare that with the GDP per capita just across the areas managed by the Palestinian Authority, which is more like $10,000 per capita, you notice such a dramatically stark difference in economic vitality," Romney told a group of Jewish donors at a Jerusalem fundraiser that netted more than $1 million for his campaign.

The Republican candidate told supporters he began noting "enormous disparities" between neighboring countries during his time in the business world and cited a 1998 book, "The Wealth and Poverty of Nations" by David Landes, which studied why some countries did better than others.

"He says if you could learn anything from the economic history of the world it's this: Culture makes all the difference," Romney told supporters. "And as I come here, and I look out over this city and consider the accomplishments of the people of this nation, I recognize the power of at least culture and a few other things."

Romney's comments didn't sit well with key Palestinian leaders, including Saeb Erekat, a senior aide to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who told the Associated Press that Romney's comment was a "racist statement."

Qatar had the highest per captia GDP in the world in 2011. The United States was number 6 in the world. Therefore, Qatar's culture is superior to that of the United States.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_co ... y_GDP_(PPP)_per_capita

In 2011, for worldwide per capita GDP, Brunei was number 5, the UAE was number 7, and Kuwait was number 11. These Islamist states, which have failed to base themselves on a Western democratic model, surpassed a great many Western democracies in per captia GDP.

Israel came in at number 26.

Therefore, these non-democratic Islamist cultures must be superior to Western democratic cultures.

[_DarkHelmet]

We had better learn - and very soon - to name fundamentalist Islam as our enemy, and to call it out morally for what it really is. We had better learn to call, name, and label the Palestinian cult of death, blood libel, and genocidal fantasy for what it is.

This isn't what Romney was talking about. He was talking about the cultural superiority of Israel over the Palestinians as the reason for the economic disparity. He didn't get into the violent ideological and religious clashes. He was talking economics. In another article he was cited as also crediting "the hand of providence" for Israel's economic success in the region.

[_Droopy]

You could be intellectually serious, and enter the discussion, but no, no, this is the Trailerpark...

Hmm, and why exactly was it that you were recently banned (again) from MD&D Droopy?

No idea. I asked both bc and Wade privately, and all they could do was speculate. The mods gave no reason at all. Then again, they didn't give any reason the last time either, but I'm pretty sure I know the answer.

I'm just not part of that club, and you know what?

That's just fine.

[_Bob Loblaw]

No idea. I asked both bc and Wade privately, and all they could do was speculate. The mods gave no reason at all. Then again, they didn't give any reason the last time either, but I'm pretty sure I know the answer.

I'm just not part of that club, and you know what?

That's just fine.

Pretty sad that the trailer park is more welcoming than MDD.

[_Droopy]

This isn't what Romney was talking about. He was talking about the cultural superiority of Israel over the Palestinians as the reason for the economic disparity. He didn't get into the violent ideological and religious clashes. He was talking economics. In another article he was cited as also crediting "the hand of providence" for Israel's economic success in the region.

You are claiming then, that the generations of "violent ideological and religious clashes" have nothing to do with culture, and do not affect economic dynamics?

[_Equality]

Droopy Balls, what does all this have to do with John Dehlin and Gerald Bradford?

Nothing, so why did you bring it up?

I love how you answer to the name Droopy Balls. That makes me giggle. You said when you came back here that you would only post about the Dehlin/Bradford stuff. Should we not have taken you at your word?

[_Droopy]

Qatar had the highest per captia GDP in the world in 2011. The United States was number 6 in the world. Therefore, Qatar's culture is superior to that of the United States.

The Medellin Cartel has a much higer income than my household. Therefore, the Medellin Cartel is culturally superior to the culture of my own household.

An excellent example, yet again, of why the Socratic method and the specific kinds of argument used in the courtroom are not the same thing as philosophical reasoning and cannot be, and should not be deployed outside the courtroom without severe modification.

Also an excellent example of why, in most cases, lawyers should not become politicians.

[_Droopy]

I love how you answer to the name Droopy Balls. That makes me giggle.

How old are you again, Equality?