It's true that coming to know each other and breaking down the walls that separate us are a positive force for peace.

But I fear you may underestimate -- or worse -- even fail to consider the force of Greed.

The rise of terrorism -- or what you are calling terrorism -- comes from the U.S. support of Israel and invasions and occupations of Arab/Muslim lands.

These two reasons, specifically, were the reasons given by Osama bin Laden for the attack on the World Trade Center, U.S. Pentagon, etc.

The prime USA & Western Europe's interests in the Middle East is Oil. The War in Iraq is about Oil (and the protection and expansion of Israel).

The most recent confrontation between the USA and Ru...

It's true that coming to know each other and breaking down the walls that separate us are a positive force for peace.

But I fear you may underestimate -- or worse -- even fail to consider the force of Greed.

The rise of terrorism -- or what you are calling terrorism -- comes from the U.S. support of Israel and invasions and occupations of Arab/Muslim lands.

These two reasons, specifically, were the reasons given by Osama bin Laden for the attack on the World Trade Center, U.S. Pentagon, etc.

The prime USA & Western Europe's interests in the Middle East is Oil. The War in Iraq is about Oil (and the protection and expansion of Israel).

The most recent confrontation between the USA and Russia (besides putting missiles on the Russian border) is about Oil, specifically about the Oil in the Caspian Sea that was previously all under Russian control but which is now being sucked out through the 1,000 mile+ BTC pipeline.

Most wars I know of, if not all except truly defensive wars are about seizing of land and/or natural resources and all the flag waving, talk of 'liberating,' someone, talk of bringing 'freedom or civilization,' talk of God on our side or how we have a Better God we wish to share, etc. are all promoted charade and lies to inspire the populace.

As the resources of the planet shrink: less oil, less food, less drinking water, these facts point to greater and greater conflicts.

I question, BTW, the idea of a cultural continuum. Some cultures are drastically different that others. Jews, for example, are not Christians nor are they Muslims.

Muslims are not Christians or Jews, etc.

Even more drastic are tribes and cultures that live entirely outside even these frames of reference, like many of our Native American tribes here in the USA and elsewhere.


There are some significant commonalities, though, the basic needs and desires of life (food, drink, sex, pleasure), bonds of family, desire to avoid pain, wanting power, etc

Where do we go from here?