View from the East

[ClubMed]

A speech by Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, it is biased, no doubt, but it shows how 'the West' is viewed from 'the East'.

http://iviews.com/articles/articles....V0306-2010&p=1

[Knothead]

Well, my feeling is that the way this guy makes his points is through inference

Fighting and the skills in killing are regarded as honorable by the Europeans. The champions among them are given the honorific title of "knights".

(Heh, like Sir Paul McCartney....) and wild generalizations:

Unfortunately they are also very greedy and like to take forcibly the territories and rights of other people.

Well, I just reject that altogether. Perhaps if it were said, "the political criminal class are also very greedy..etc...", then maybe I'd take him more seriously.

Sorry, had to get that out of the way, but yes, European history is riddled with conquest, and this way was passed on to American culture.

The reason being is the attitude that we are the butt-kickers of all time...and sorry, but we just ARE!

Dr Mohomad's country of Malaysia, which he is quick to praise for it's western-like modernization, got that way because of the influence of the WEST!

And I TOTALLY disagree with his paranoia that Malaysia (or any other Asian country) is in danger of being overrun by Western Visigoths, or whatever he thinks is coming. Just ain't gonna happen. You have to be a largely defenseless Middle-eastern country with a proveable maniac for a leader for that to happen, nowadays.

Although I would tend to caution the good Dr. about the scourge of western-type LAWYERS.

[cbuddha42]

i dont think the US even has a procedure to knight somebody and most people alive today who are knights where not knighted for military action

[Epidemic]

Knighthood. This guy needs to update his reading before speaking. There are knights but they are not all or even mostly warriors.

I think taking the most radical point of view for an example dillutes the point trying to be made.

[Knothead]

Originally posted by Epidemic
I think taking the most radical point of view for an example dillutes the point trying to be made.

Second that!

BTW: The Malaysians have a similar honorary title, just like the English "Knighthood"...the title is "Dato", and it means "Sir".

[ClubMed]

Good points, but the article mentions more than just knights.

[Knothead]

Originally posted by ClubMed
Good points, but the article mentions more than just knights.

Oh, we know, CM!

Ye olde threade is younge.

[ClubMed]

Just thought I'd remind you

[ben-the-slacker]

I think you guys are taking it too literally. Knighthood doesn't exactly mean what it meant during the dark ages.
Humans crave for decendentts to remember them after they're long gone. Only way to do that is to become an important and noteworthy part of history. The desire to seek heroism and glory is natural and strong in us. And what better way to do it than fight and die valiantly in battle. If ancient works like Beowulf talks of nothing but death, destruction, and glory, think how that would've affected future thinking.

[Epidemic]

But the same holds true in the muslim world only by a different name. You mention a human trait not Western.

martyres/terrorists/holy Warriors/Allahs sword the people who kill themselves in the name of their cause, whether it be country or religion all seek to die honorably (that is subjective) in battle for their cause.