Name:	MrHodja -	Reply
Subject:	An Interesting Perspective
Date:	1/4/2016 7:48:28 PM

I have been working in the DC area as a defense contractor supporting the Defense Health Agency since the middle of May.  One of the things that made the biggest impression is the number of non-native American workers we have, both Government employees and support contractors.  All are US citizens and all are cleared at least to the Secret level.  As I walk down the hallway at least half the names are unpronounceable (to me, at least).  In my group alone we have a Kenyan, an Ethiopian, a Nigerian, an East African (he won't say which country), an Egyptian, and two more from Africa.  It is very encouraging to see them working side by side, living their version of the American Dream.  Exposure to these many diverse individuals helps put some things into perspective.

As I mentioned, one is Egyptian, born in the US but spent a lot of his pre-teen and teen years in Egypt.  I had a chance to have a serious discussion with him about the current state of affairs vis a vis ISIS.  He readily states he is Muslim, but goes on to state that the Koran does not support any of what ISIS is doing.  He, like the rest of us civilized, God (or Allah) fearing people see the terrorists as an aberration and their deeds not at all endorsed by the Koran.  They are simply evil people doing evil things.

So as we rightfully describe these cretins as Islamic Terrorists keep in mind that they claim to do their heinous acts in the name of Islam, yet their version is not the Islam of the vast majority of Muslims.

Name:	Talullahhound -	Reply
Subject:	An Interesting Perspective
Date:	1/4/2016 9:10:09 PM

Like other religions, there are many interpretations about what the Ko'ran means.  Different Sects, different interpretations.  I think you make a good point that not everyone follows this radical interpretation that ISIS operates under, that they have manipulated to suit their purpose.  It's the same as saying all Iranians hate the U.S.  

BTW, when I attended the Government Executive School in Charlotteville around 2005, they forecast that whites would be the minority of government workers in the future.  They forecast at that time, the fastest growing group would been Hispanc Women. 

Name:	copperline -	Reply
Subject:	An Interesting Perspective
Date:	1/4/2016 9:41:26 PM

Good points, Hodja.   Best not to think that everyone who is different from us as an enemy.

Name:	MrHodja -	Reply
Subject:	An Interesting Perspective
Date:	1/4/2016 9:48:00 PM

In my limited candidate set of about 100 workers I can't recall a single Hispanic woman!  Most of the women are African or African American.

Name:	MrHodja -	Reply
Subject:	An Interesting Perspective
Date:	1/4/2016 9:54:46 PM

Based on two years living in Turkey, two living in Korea, a significant amount of time in Italy, and visits to other countries my observation is their way of thinking is not necessarily right or wrong, just different than ours.  In Asian culture, for instance, a tremendous amount of effort is put on not losing face, as humiliation is such a bad thing that sometimes it leads to suicide.

Also, just about every country has a history longer than ours, and memories of past occurrences last for centuries.  

Name:	MartiniMan -	Reply
Subject:	An Interesting Perspective
Date:	1/4/2016 9:59:47 PM

I just wish moderate Muslims were more vocal.  But I recognize they do so at risk of their lives.  Having said that, if you look at the polls of Muslims in the U.S. on issues like sharia and whether jihad is justified you would not be encouraged. Far too many believe in and support one or both.  And of course both are incompatible with western values or modernity. So I suspect you encountered the cream of the Muslim crop.  

Name:	Talullahhound -	Reply
Subject:	An Interesting Perspective
Date:	1/5/2016 8:13:30 AM

You hit the nail right on the head.  If you have ever dealt with Koreans and Japanese, their decision making structure is so complicated (to us), but is about being able to save face.  I remember a Thai once saying that "Americans, business first, then friends - maybe; Thais - friends first, then business".  So many countries, most notably in Asia and in South America, consider the way Americans just right into business discussions to be crude.  It's not wrong, it's just different. 

Name:	architect -	Reply
Subject:	The REAL Mr. Hodga!
Date:	1/5/2016 1:16:32 PM (updated 1/5/2016 1:25:08 PM)

Thank you thank you Mr H.  With this string of posts you are starting to sound a lot more like the reasonable, thoughtful and common sense self I believe you to be.

Name:	architect -	Reply
Subject:	speaking of polls
Date:	1/5/2016 1:20:55 PM (updated 1/5/2016 1:21:52 PM)

Typical MM...Total belief in polls that say what you think they should and ignore or damn those that don't.