It seems that the other threads about Trump's policies are veering off into endless ideological theories about how much better we are than Islam. Does anyone think there is a chance that Islam can be changed in the same manner that Christianity has over the centuries? With the inflow of ideas from Western countries into the Middle East, will people gradually want to move away from Sharia law to something less patriarchal and cruel?
God knows, Christianity is still not a paragon of virtue, but it is certainly more tolerant than it used to be, or at least its intolerance is held in check by our laws.
The Arab Spring seemed to signal a desire for change in the Middle East. Unfortunately, those in power usually have superior weapons and less scruples than those wanting change. Look at Assad in Syria.
We can take the moral high ground and point out how our ideals are superior to other's, but isn't it also true that our actions in the past helped to contribute to the unrest?
Is it really moral high ground to point to other's faults, and crow about how much better we are?
If we don't hold governments like Saudi Arabia's and Syria's and Russia's accountable for their actions with nothing more than words, then we have no moral high ground to stand on.
Sorry for the rant, but I just have to blow off a little steam.