I'm an anthropology student. Anthropology major, and anthropologist. we try to find out why things are happening and look at the culture. If we would study the Sunni and Shiite cultures, understand them both, then find a solution of peace, and include them, then I think there can be peace over in Iraq.
what do you think?
2006-11-21 08:11:51 · 14 answers · asked by dizzy_19832002 1 in Social Science ➔ Anthropology
it is worth a shot, i know it has something to do with their religions, and if thats the case i do not think there is much we can do about it, those people are as stubborn as you can get, i blame their lack of education but hey, what are you gonna do?
2006-11-21 08:15:44 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
I am pretty sure that, as many stated before me, there are religious differences, and I read in a book (I was doing a report on different types of government, looked into theocracy and tried finding more info on Islam) that the split comes from who would succeed the prophet Muhammad as leader after his death.
Sunnis believed that the successor should be chosen by essentially a vote of the populus. Shiites believed that the successor should be chosen by the one currently in power, who would be presumed as the best guy for the job.
There's prolly a lot more than that, such as saddam killing people and whatnot that just gives them more reasons to fight, but I'm pretty sure that the initial difference came from that.
In retrospect, the sunnis were prolly right, since that method was more democratic, and having the leader choose new leaders would just put in a system to keep the power in the hands of the few, but who am I to make guesses? I know nothing about Islam other than that. Some report I did, eh?
2006-11-25 12:37:28 · answer #2 · answered by Neil-Rob 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Not really. It is not likely that an outside nation will successfully determine a single or even a few underlying causes for a civil war much less have the solution that would please both sides and make for an eternally happy world. If that were the case, we wouldn't ever have situations that advance far enough to become a full blown war. Making it even less possible, they are fighting about issues steming from religious stand points and values. There will never be resolution in a religious difference if neither side will agree to disagree, b/c neither side will ever convince the other that they are correct because that requires a common faith. When two people (in its simplest form) or two peoples( most complex) disagree about something they feel so passionately about that can never be proven, the battle or argument has no possible avenue to settle itself. If you look at religion as one aspect of a culture, it is easy to understand why dicussions about religion or politics are useless when the goal is to change anothers way of thinking. What some people call "brainwashing" is really just the result of growing up with the same types of people who have established a belief and a set of stories to support those beliefs. So, in essence, it is like trying to argue that one group of people are wrong for putting up christmas lights...(not to reduce religion to such an inconsequential life detail, but for the purpose of illustrating a point). Im tired, i will revise my answer tomorrow with a rested mind if anyone cares...:)
2006-11-22 02:37:58 · answer #3 · answered by mandakathryn02 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Those folk over there. And the Jews. They been scrapping with each other since Jesus was a puppy. Even before then. I bet, you asked one of them why they're scrappin' with the other, they couldn't give you any other reason but religion and territory.
You ain't never gonna get peace between no one when it's them two issues they going at each other about.
Besides. Like I said. They been at each other for a couple thousand years. If they "ever" was gonna have peace. They would have had it by now.
Perhaps you should switch to history. If Bush and the Generals would have done that... they'd of known before getting over there how them people fight. Then we coulda been better prepared for it if they still decided they was going to stick their nose in over there what wasn't their business to begin with.. How about "anthropologizing" Prez Bushes head and see if you can "find out why" the US is "really" over there?
2006-11-21 16:17:55 · answer #4 · answered by BNS 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are all ready several reasons given for why they are fighting. For instance, there is a major conflict over who took over "leadership" of Islam after Muhammed's death. You can't exactly "fix" a differing of opinions/religions, and I also highly disagree with anyone who isn't Shiite or Sunni to get involved in *their* conflict. Outsiders trying to tell them what to do is not going to make them any happier, and in fact they may resent those who get involved and have no place in it.
Common Sense - The Sunni and Shiite conflict began way before Saddam was even born. That may have added to it, but it did not start it.
2006-11-21 16:31:46 · answer #5 · answered by xfate_and_faithx 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't know. It's been explained to me that the separation between Sunni and Shiite Muslims comes as a result of their theological differences and is MUCH older than either Saddam Hussein or G.W. Bush. If Jews and Christians haven't been able to get over theirs, can we assume that Sunnis and Shiites can?
I like to hope for the best, though, and hope you can find the answer. G-dspeed.
2006-11-25 12:35:34 · answer #6 · answered by anita.revolution 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't think that would necessarily work. We know why lots of groups fight, but that doesn't always help. Reason, unfortunately, holds little sway when dealing with violently angry people. Also, thanks to all the deaths and suffering that's happened due to this conflict, it's going to take more than figuring out who Mohammed wanted as his successor to heal the wounds. After all, people have had family die- they want revenge for their brother, or sister, or parent, not a solution to a religious question.
2006-11-21 21:46:29 · answer #7 · answered by random6x7 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You must not be much of a student..
The Sunni minority were Saddams gang and oppressed
the Shiite majority for many many years...
That is why they hate each other..
This is common knowledge...
Don't overthink the obvious..
2006-11-21 18:03:59 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Have you found any historical evidence through anthropological studies to support that hypothesis? NO, you haven't. So you can make any hypothesis seem viable IF you add enough IFs to the mix.
I think IF you take that approach, you will run out of people before you run out of the time you have left to save them via your proposal.
2006-11-21 16:19:01 · answer #9 · answered by Grist 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I can tell you why they're fighting. Because they hate each other and have for centuries. Saddam was the only one who could keep them in check. Just like when Tito left the Balkins all hell broke loose. The US doesn't understand the hatred between ethnicities within the same country. Just another reason why we shouldn't be in Iraq.
2006-11-21 16:17:28 · answer #10 · answered by jim 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
No I don't think so. I think knowledge of why they are fighting will just increase our understanding of how desperate the situation is.
They are fighting because their interpretation of their religion tells them it is the right thing to do. Neither will change their point of view or listen to anyone who tells them they should. This is what a fundamentalist is.
2006-11-21 20:26:07 · answer #11 · answered by ben w 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋