# Debate Newsweek's 2010 World Predictions **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [December 29, 2009, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/debate-newsweeks-2010-world-predictions/522942 "2009-12-29T19:25:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2009, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/debate-newsweeks-2010-world-predictions/522942/41 "2009-12-30T18:52:47Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > Not that so much as Muslim immigrants have sought to impose their own religious law in the places they’re going, and seem to have a real problem with freedom of expression. The Irish and the Chinese didn’t do that as far as I know. Neither have or will the Muslim immigrants. This “They’re gonna destroy our culture!” nonsense is standard xenophobic hysteria. > [@LonesomePolecat](#): > > Loutish mockery is all you’ve got? Your opinion doesn’t deserve anything else but mockery. It’s just the standard paranoid xenophobic fantasy about how “they” are taking over. And it’ll be wrong, like such fantasies always are. ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2009, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/debate-newsweeks-2010-world-predictions/522942/42 "2009-12-30T18:58:03Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > ^ > Arm Afghan woman. Have you completely lost your sences? You want to make the place even worse. If they turn them against us, that’s the sign it’s high time to go. If not, at least they’ll have a slight fighting chance against the Afghan men who do want to keep them down. ---
**Author:** ![LonesomePolecat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a88e57/32.png) [@LonesomePolecat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LonesomePolecat)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2009, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/debate-newsweeks-2010-world-predictions/522942/43 "2009-12-30T19:02:09Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > Your opinion doesn’t deserve anything else but mockery. . Mockery is a lout’s substitute for intellect. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2009, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/debate-newsweeks-2010-world-predictions/522942/44 "2009-12-30T19:07:11Z")
> [@LonesomePolecat](#): > > Mockery is a lout’s substitute for intellect. I’m not the one refusing to defend my position. And xenophobic nativism is as loutish as it gets. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2009, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/debate-newsweeks-2010-world-predictions/522942/45 "2009-12-30T19:36:51Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > Neither have or will the Muslim immigrants. This “They’re gonna destroy our culture!” nonsense is standard xenophobic hysteria. Then why is Sharia Law now available in the UK? > **[Latest news & breaking headlines](https://www.thetimes.com/)** > > The latest breaking UK, US, world, business and sport news from The Times and The Sunday Times. Go beyond today's headlines with in-depth analysis and comment. Here’s another cite, with the disclaimer that it appears to be a blog, but does link to other sources: > **[Sharia law in the West](https://markhumphrys.com/sharia.west.html)** ---
**Author:** ![LonesomePolecat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a88e57/32.png) [@LonesomePolecat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LonesomePolecat)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2009, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/debate-newsweeks-2010-world-predictions/522942/46 "2009-12-30T19:53:26Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > I’m not the one refusing to defend my position. And xenophobic nativism is as loutish as it gets. Coming up with evil sounding names like “xenophobic nativism” for the perfectly normal and natural desire to see one’s own people survive and prosper is just shit slinging and hardly a rational defense. I swear, trying to talk to progressives about race and ethnicity is like trying to talk to a sexually repressed old maid about sex. ---
**Author:** ![lalenin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3da27b/32.png) [@lalenin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lalenin)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2009, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/debate-newsweeks-2010-world-predictions/522942/47 "2009-12-30T20:26:12Z")
> [@mswas](#): > > What do you base this on? I don’t see Raul being threatened, but admittedly I don’t pay that much attention. Who is threatening Raul Castro’s rule? Raul’s only real threat is from inside, and he knows it too. Shortly after taking power he made some noises about possible openings in Cuba’s internal controls, such as removing some of the restrictions on travel and on private farming. That was in 2006 and none of the changes discussed have been implemented. Instead there has been an internal hardening against dissidents. In addition Raul has replaced almost every top leader who was viewed as progressive with some from the old guard. The most notable of these changes was the removal of Carlos Lage, who was a civilian and by all appearances a loyal member of the Cuban government, but apparently not loyal or not old guard enough. In March of 2009 he was removed from power and replaced by General Jose Amado Guerra. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2009, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/debate-newsweeks-2010-world-predictions/522942/48 "2009-12-30T20:40:39Z")
> [@LonesomePolecat](#): > > Coming up with evil sounding names like “xenophobic nativism” for the perfectly normal and natural desire to see one’s own people survive and prosper is just shit slinging and hardly a rational defense. This has nothing to with people wanting to “survive and prosper”; it’s pure bigotry. And the names are ugly because your beliefs are ugly. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2009, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/debate-newsweeks-2010-world-predictions/522942/49 "2009-12-30T21:13:46Z")
> [@LonesomePolecat](#): > > Oh, please yourself. Anyone who believes the mass migrations fromthe Third World into Europe and North America taking place today are not creating serious dangers for Western nations is in a deep state of denial. Just what “serious dangers” are you talking about? That was said at various times about the Irish immigrants, the Germans, the Jews, the Italians, all Eastern and Southern Europeans – and all of them went on to enrich our society. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2009, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/debate-newsweeks-2010-world-predictions/522942/50 "2009-12-30T21:17:44Z")
> [@LonesomePolecat](#): > > Coming up with evil sounding names like “xenophobic nativism” for the perfectly normal and natural desire to see one’s own people survive and prosper is just shit slinging and hardly a rational defense. Not when, as now, the ability of “one’s own people” to “survive and prosper” is under no real threat. And “xenophobic nativism” is a perfectly apt name for an implied racial definition of “one’s own people.” > [@LonesomePolecat](#): > > I swear, trying to talk to progressives about race and ethnicity is like trying to talk to a sexually repressed old maid about sex. :rolleyes: No, **Lonesome,** actually, it’s like trying to talk to an astronomer about the four elephants holding up the Earth on a turtle’s back. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2009, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/debate-newsweeks-2010-world-predictions/522942/51 "2009-12-30T21:22:40Z")
> [@lalenin](#): > > Raul’s only real threat is from inside, and he knows it too. Shortly after taking power he made some noises about possible openings in Cuba’s internal controls, such as removing some of the restrictions on travel and on private farming. That was in 2006 and none of the changes discussed have been implemented. Instead there has been an internal hardening against dissidents. > > In addition Raul has replaced almost every top leader who was viewed as progressive with some from the old guard. The most notable of these changes was the removal of Carlos Lage, who was a civilian and by all appearances a loyal member of the Cuban government, but apparently not loyal or not old guard enough. In March of 2009 he was removed from power and replaced by General Jose Amado Guerra. Of course, by definition, every Cuban of “the old guard” is one who will not long survive Fidel. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2009, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/debate-newsweeks-2010-world-predictions/522942/52 "2009-12-30T22:41:54Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > Then why is Sharia Law now available in the UK? How is that “destroying our culture”? The Sharia courts, like the Sharia banks, are entirely opt-in. No one is required to submit to them unless they prefer to, and they add an extra layer on top of existing UK law, rather than altering or changing it. Honestly, this is like complaining how those damned Amish are going to force us all to give up our cars and ride in horse-drawn buggies. ---
**Author:** ![villa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/bc79bd/32.png) [@villa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/villa)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2009, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/debate-newsweeks-2010-world-predictions/522942/53 "2009-12-30T23:06:44Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > Then why is Sharia Law now available in the UK? > > [Latest news & breaking headlines | The Times and The Sunday Times](http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/faith/article4749183.ece) > > Here’s another cite, with the disclaimer that it appears to be a blog, but does link to other sources: > > [Sharia law in the West](http://markhumphrys.com/sharia.west.html) I am not sure what can be done about this - people voluntarily opting in to a system under the Arbitration Act. It may not be a system we like, but I have seen loads of arbitration agreements that suck. Should religious arbitration be specifically banned? ---
**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2009, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/debate-newsweeks-2010-world-predictions/522942/54 "2009-12-30T23:31:56Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Of course, by definition, every Cuban of “the old guard” is one who will not long survive Fidel. This is true of so many regimes these days. The revolutions of the Baby Boom generation are not long for this world. And yet people imagine them to go on forever. People seem to find the whole concept of ‘generations’ difficult to deal with. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2009, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/debate-newsweeks-2010-world-predictions/522942/55 "2009-12-31T02:29:09Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > How is that “destroying our culture”? The Sharia courts, like the Sharia banks, are entirely opt-in. No one is required to submit to them unless they prefer to, and they add an extra layer on top of existing UK law, rather than altering or changing it. I have never used the phrase “destroying our culture”. However, Islam is not, and never has been, a religion of tolerance. They believe their religion is the one true faith, and they have no respect for freedom of expression. Remember these lovely pictures: [Behead those that insult Islam](http://atlasshrugs2000.typepad.com/atlas_shrugs/images/danish_cartoon_protest.jpg) [Be Prepared for the Real Holocaust](http://mypetjawa.mu.nu/archives/muslims_threaten-holocaust-over-cartoon.jpg) There were similar protests all over the world after the Danish cartoon incident. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2009, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/debate-newsweeks-2010-world-predictions/522942/56 "2009-12-31T02:42:02Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > However, Islam is not, and never has been, a religion of tolerance. As opposed to the tolerance of Christians? The same Christians who, for example, keep passing anti-gay laws here in America? Change “Islam” for “Christianity” and your statement is just as true. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2009, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/debate-newsweeks-2010-world-predictions/522942/57 "2009-12-31T02:45:24Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > As opposed to the tolerance of Christians? The same Christians who, for example, keep passing anti-gay laws here in America? Change “Islam” for “Christianity” and your statement is just as true. Cite for anywhere I’ve ever defended anti-gay laws? Not that this thread has anything to do with that issue… ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2009, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/debate-newsweeks-2010-world-predictions/522942/58 "2009-12-31T02:48:56Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > I have never used the phrase “destroying our culture”. However, Islam is not, and never has been, a religion of tolerance. They believe their religion is the one true faith, and they have no respect for freedom of expression. > > Remember these lovely pictures: > > [Behead those that insult Islam](http://atlasshrugs2000.typepad.com/atlas_shrugs/images/danish_cartoon_protest.jpg) > > [Be Prepared for the Real Holocaust](http://mypetjawa.mu.nu/archives/muslims_threaten-holocaust-over-cartoon.jpg) > There were similar protests all over the world after the Danish cartoon incident. Because fundie Christianism loves and cherishes freedom of expression and is extremely tolerant of other religions and life styles ? Remember : God Hates Fags (and shoots abortion docs). Besides, there is no more “Islam” than there is “Christianity” - one can’t and shouldn’t lump any number of separate communities with wildly differing beliefs and morality systems together. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2009, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/debate-newsweeks-2010-world-predictions/522942/59 "2009-12-31T03:01:45Z")
> [@Kobal2](#): > > Besides, there is no more “Islam” than there is “Christianity” - one can’t and shouldn’t lump any number of separate communities with wildly differing beliefs and morality systems together. When those separate communities launch world wide protests calling for the punishment and/or death of cartoonists, I think some lumping together is warranted. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2009, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/debate-newsweeks-2010-world-predictions/522942/60 "2009-12-31T03:09:33Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > Cite for anywhere I’ve ever defended anti-gay laws? Not that this thread has anything to do with that issue… Of course it does. You are trying to portray Islam as especially intolerant; I’m pointing out the intolerance of Christians. > [@Oakminster](#): > > When those separate communities launch world wide protests calling for the punishment and/or death of cartoonists, I think some lumping together is warranted. So cartoonists count but gays don’t? If the only intolerance that counts is the particular brand that is popular among Islamic fanatics, naturally they will come off looking worse. That doesn’t make them actually worse. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/debate-newsweeks-2010-world-predictions/522942.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/debate-newsweeks-2010-world-predictions/522942.md?page=4)