The Top 40

Egypt has been a civilization for about 5000 years. During that time it has almost always been ruled by autocrats. It has never been a place that had republics, democracies, or even lawful rule. From the 13th through the 18th centuries it was ruled by the Mameluks, a caste of "slave" soldiers recruited from the islamicized turkic peoples of the stans. For the last 60 years, it has been under military rule.

I am such a pollyanna when it comes to American ideals, so I like to believe "thinking people" of any culture are capable of tasting, chewing and digesting the staples of American liberty. The only Mexican-American state representative to vote for the AZ immigration law is a young man named Steve Montenegro. He inspired me to tears when I heard him say "America is a not a race. The United States of America is not the color of your skin, it is the way you think, the way you see life. When you finally reach that day, you understand that being an American is a responsibility, not just an entitlement."

Arab Enlightenment is possible and what an earth-shaking event that would be! It would be bloody, but the quest for Truth has a way of testing humanity to it's limits and has always proven worthy of every drop of blood.

Having said all that, my pragmatic side tells me it would require hundreds, maybe thousands of years and a complete reformation of Islam itself.

Currently, if anything, it seems an Islamic version of the lazy, lousy Black Liberation Theology is proving more tempting, even to the "Arab thinkers" - certainly easier when all you have to do is blame others for your lack of personal achievement. At best, the Muslim intellectuals will lean toward a moderatel Islamic version of European socialism, even as Europe is regretting it's downward spiral into lameness. I hate to boast, but our founders were fortunate flukes of humanity. They simply set the bar too high. We're struggling to hang on to the Republic ourselves. As Edmund Burke warned the Brits in 1775, "In other countries, the people, more simple, and of a less mercurial cast, judge of an ill principle in government only by an actual grievance; here they anticipate the evil, and judge of the pressure of the grievance by the badness of the principle. They augur misgovernment at a distance; and snuff the approach of tyranny in every tainted breeze." That's still true today, but the world is so small now. And we are outnumbered.

What you are looking for Red Carolina, and not finding in America, was and is still found in small parts of the world. The T'ao is something that anyone can follow, but it isn't easy.
Compare it to total Libertarian living.

No Government likes it; most will not tolerate it.

Our current Government is crushing individualism now.

T'ao, and Capitalism. haha.

every day in every way our enemies are trading on the certain knowledge that their enemies, that would be us, will underestimate them. We will work as hard as necessary so as to think our enemies are breaking everything, flip-flopping on principles, and acting in totalitarian ways by accident or because of the unique conditions of a unique situation.

If the commie-libs were taking ad-hoc positions without faithful adherence to some Leninist dogma wouldn't they SOMETIMES wind up making things better? Do you see them SOMETIMES making things better for the people they claim to support?

We will not survive as free men if we refuse to see what is visible. The TV watchers and the self-deluders first decide what is pleasing to "know" and then sift reality of sad facts to fill that pleasing mold. And we won't even call the commie-libs on actions.

Not as long as American Idol and The Bachelor is on, Scott. It comes down to who wants to be in control. You'd think people in general would WANT to be free enough to take responsibility for it. It seems freedom is always playing defense. But when American Idol, the Super Bowl ads or a beautiful non-white presidential candidate comes along - we are just a bunch of softies inside. As pollyanna as I can be, I know you are right, Scott. Because the moderate Muslims see no need to speak out against other Muslims. As others have tried to explain (and it's so hard to swallow).. the problem with Islam is Islam. But what has happened to Christianity? If there is one thing upon which all people should be able to agree, it's individual freedom. But I am convinced, the Muslims believe they are doing women a favor forcing them into genital mutilation and full burkas and forced marriages. (not to mention the injustice to men and boys - as a woman, I'm particulary horrified by their treatment of women and especially the girls). It took a civil war to implement emancipation for African slaves in the U.S. But if we can't even identify the cause, identify the enemy, how can we emancipate anyone, let alone ourselves? That is why I think the Tea Parties, a very loud and very visible, relentless conservative/libertarian "resistance" is a matter of life and death.

@ RedCarolina- I think you are confusing the T'ao with something else.