Quote:
Originally posted by Taualumna
WHile yes, force was used to "open up" Japan, they did end up adapting western technology, which was why they were able to take over much of Asia during WWII. Japan (and much of Asia)is also more willing to accept western culture than the middle east though. It's normal in Asia for parents to send their kids to after school English on top of piano and soccer.
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Western technology does not equal Western culture. Japan adopts bits and peices of Western culture, but remains comparitively xenophobic, and definitely
not Western.
Arabian culture is Western, and Islam is a Western religoun. Afghanistan is at the crossroads of East and West.
I don't no how many people from sub-Saharan Africa you know, but I know quite a few, although none are from Rwanda, the culture there is more advanced then they are given credit for. Most of their problems can be solved by the people who live there. The end of the Cold War has done more good than bad in that region. All that they need is for the EU to adjust their trade policies so that Africa can compete on the global market. For example, The Economist reported that the average cow in France receives more in annual subsidies, than the average farmer in sub-Saharan Africa makes in a year.
If Africa is allowed to compete in a true global free market, they will do just fine.
And in those instances where war or genocide rears its ugly head, lets just hope that the US does not have a poll-driven president who is morally bankrupt, like we did in 1994.