Do Civilizations Truly Clash?

So right. The rise in 'identity politics' in various parts of the world is just another guise of tribalism eg. the far right in Europe, The Respect party in UK, Shia and Sunni parties in Iraq

Huntingdon talks about "Identity wars" - This is already happening ..

Words 'civil' and 'clash' are too far apart !

I don't think civilizations necessarily clash. IMO it is individuals who clash and they use religion, politics, ideology to justify their actions.

At their core belief systems, there is no reason for Christianity, Judaism and Islam to clash violently.

clash of civilisation? I dont think any normal human being would want to kill another human being. Mete out injustice and you have a perfect recipe. If not today then tomorrow.....

Brit: True said. it has been going on for years. Modern media has reached its all-time lowest point and needs some serious restructuring and rehabilitation.

Look back over the past ten or so years. Isn't "Disinformation" the order of the day ?

Although I'm not sure what you mean with the "pedophilia dilema and the posture of the priest." :S

Yes very thought provoking.

Brit:Well in my opinion Huntington's thesis could be proven valid only if the people of the various nations are fed a lot of bigoted and politically motivated racist propaganda and misinformation about other nations and cultures.Then the clash or war is imeneant.

It's happening right now on almost every news channel outthere you can click on.

fatimah:I can understand how a country can strive to power and wealth such as control of territory or resources. And for that propaganda and playing to fears is needed, because there is no real winner in an ideological war alone.

the real war or clash going on is between the have and the have not.

I must say to myself that if Fathima & Missteacher would not 'clash' today , then they would never do it on QL.

Specially when you take into account all the fear mongering we are bombarded with ever so often. That and of course the power hungry egoistical leaders, who whilst seeming to be convincing their subjects of their superiority, are all the while playing on their insecurities!

Missteacher

very powerfull; almost offenive! (the chandelier out of the gun, the pedophilia dilema and the posture of the priest...)

Fatimah

clashing civilisations have positive interactions, but IMO it is due mainly to FEAR. a civilisation feels threatened by another, and go to clashes to survive, with a dominant civilisation who in turn feels stronger and try to override the other.

Very powerful picture.

tomtud agree. but i like to add the world wide web too:

the clash is very felt on the web too, in the virtual world. u don't need to interact physically to clash. just look in QL religious/nations clashes!!

Clash we do...though we have it in us to compliment one another through mutual undestanding and respect, something all civilizations wish to posess,we humans chose instead to go head on and lock horns.

Who benefits? Certainly not the law abiding innocents! Though I would say we each may have at some time or another,knowingly and/or unknowingly, played into the hands of the degenerates posing as noble guardians of civil society, and contributed to the mayhem and clashes.

all over the world in fact Britexpat. just this mornin news about the "annihilation of ..." is just a sample.

darfour, and south sudan, lebanon, syria, toulouse serial killer, norway shooter, abusayyaf, han-ouigours and china-tibet, native/latino in bolivia / southand central america...

Well with the advent of trans continental flights and a global economy,we will all cross paths sooner or later.

The problem is not tolerant people it's the intolerant. Every culture and religion have those who are intolerant. Some more than others.

Civilizations do clash because they value different principles. They are not the same. Albeit, they may have common features, they are different for a reason. Does bloodshed need to happen, no. Education is the key. To understand your civilization and that of others, one must read books and critiques both positive and negative. For example if you want to know about the middle eastern civilization one should read books from scholars who are both Arab and non Arab. This is to get an unbiased view. Facts should be presented and you should be able to make a judgment. Same goes with any other.

Personally I am studying middle eastern civilization pre Islam. Fascinating time period. Read books and educate yourselves. The clash of civilizations doesn't have to be negative but a learning experience.

Huntington made some very valid points. This is indeed happening - see the forces at work in Egypt, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.

i believe yes we are living a clash of civilisation. but one must be sure of one thing: no one will win or loose; it's just the communication that enables remote people to interact.

O_O at the picture