Robert Reich joins Dawkins and Sam Harris. A growing consensus?

Question

from former U.S. Secretary of Labor, Robert Reich which appeared in the New Prospect; Reich states that:

The great conflict of the 21st century may be between the West and terrorism but terrorism is a tactic and not a belief. The underlying battle will be between modern civilization and anti-modernist fanatics; between those who believe in the primacy of the individual and those who believe that beings owe blind allegiance to a higher authority; between those who give priority to life in this world and those who believe that human life is no more than preparation for an existence beyond life; between those who believe that truth is revealed solely through scripture and religious dogma, and those who rely primarily on science, reason, and logic.

Answer 1

Wow...that's pretty interesting. I will have to do some googling on him. thanks.

Answer 2

It's not quite that simple. You are correct when you point out that terrorism is a tactic, not a belief. But the conflict is between people who are being propagandized by both sides.

We are being told that the enemy is militant Islam, or Islamfacists. That they hate us because of our freedoms (which we are rapidly loosing, thanks to the "War on Terrorism").

The small percentage of radicalized Middle Easterners are being told that the West is trying to force its decadent values: homosexuality, abortion, pornography, easy divorce & c on them. Islamic countries vary from Iran (an intolerant Islamic Republic), to Saudi Arabia (who will tolerate Westerners if they are of use), to more moderate countries like Jordan, Morocco and present day Iraq.

The solution to our problem is this: we need to stay out of foreign entanglements, we need to reign in our politicians, who are making us the most hated nation on earth. We need to respect the cultures of other nations.

At the same time, we need to clean up our own act. How do you think we look as a nation, when our politicians march in the "Gay Pride parade"? When we kill over a million unborn babies every year?

When we do these things, we won't be subject to terrorism. But then, our politicians would need to find another reason to create a police state.

Answer 3

Consensus of what? That oversimplifications and false dichotomies are sufficient explanations for increased socio-political conflict?

Answer 4

You Athiests is smart....NOT

signed

The Atheistic Athiest

p.s you finally renewed your library card