Re: RE: ProgressiveMuslims digest, Vol 1 #390 - 8 msgs

salaam yameen

the "are better off" argument actually has a tinge of racism to it (im not 
suggesting that you are racist; just saying that the argument - which 
I've heard many times before - does). Why do I say that? Because it 
suggests that were it not for oppressive white afrikaners, black people 
would not have been able to 'develop' South Africa. And that were it 
not for Jewish 'Israelis', palestinians would not have been able to 
'develop' Palestine. As if, inherently, these 2 groups are unable to be 
creative, innovative, industrious, etc. Do you see how this could be a 
racist argument?

I would like to recommend to people to read Walter Rodney's _How 
Europe Underdeveloped Africa_ to see how colonialism in africa 
actually did nothing good for its inhabitants.

na'eem

On 13 Feb 2004 at 15:57, y2 wrote:

> Slaams Itrath,
> 
> Obviously I don't think Gazans or those Palestinians in the West bank
> are living a better life, but those arabs under Israeli rule are.  But
> like I said, that is apart from morality.  Otherwise, we should just
> accept our rulers for the sake of living a better life.  As Bush says,
> are the Iraqis not better off?  The case of being 'better off
> materially' is jsut a case often made by the pro-Israel side.