05-20-2015, 02:09 PM
(05-20-2015, 01:59 PM)bfine32 Wrote: No doubt reading an article would give you a greater understanding of the effects of western influence in the region over the last 100 years (prior to 2004) than actually being there and seeing that there was virtually no western influence in that country. Then you have the opportunity to see how much has changed in the last century when we truly have a presence and influence in that country.
If you think you can learn more about a country’s history by reading about it than you can living in its culture and talking to its elders for a decade, then I suggest you get out more.
Well, if you did all of that then based upon your responses in other parts of this thread I would say you can learn more from reading about it given that you seemed to ignore all of the things that western influence did to the region that has led to the events in recent history in earlier posts.
That being said, I am referring to the history itself. Also, not sure what area(s) you may have spent time in, but considering this is a very large region the effects of western influence in the region in current day are different depending on the particular area in the region. I spend a lot of time discussing things like this with some of the expatriated folks from the region that are here. History and anthropology are favorite topics of mine and having made friends with some fellow accountants in the area that immigrated from Pakistan I have been able to find a number of people that like to discuss it. Folks from Iraq, Syria, Iran, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Lebanon, Pakistan, and Palestine have been very welcoming and our discussions have led to open house events at the local mosque where they teach people about their culture, including a program for some of the grade school children here. It's been a lot of fun.
(05-20-2015, 01:59 PM)bfine32 Wrote: I am not sure why you took exception with the post unless you just want to debate the definition of the word “experienced”. If that is the case; then you have achieved the pinnacle of 95% of PR retorts and many here are no doubt proud of your tactic.
I never understood why people look down on a semantic argument. The definition of words is an important thing in communication. So why so dismissive of that?
And I am not proud of debates like this. It's not like it takes great effort of the mind or changes the world in any way.
"A great democracy has got to be progressive, or it will soon cease to be either great or a democracy..." - TR
"The test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much; it is whether we provide enough for those who have too little." - FDR
"The test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much; it is whether we provide enough for those who have too little." - FDR
