Re: Economics of Islam

[Colin Danby <danbyc@xxxxxxx>]

Hi Barkley,

>   I think the Lewis article is pretty good.  He
> does not refer to "Islamic nations" as you imply
> below, but to "Muslim nations."

I did not imply that.  I was responding to the Mason Clark's post
(http://csf.Colorado.EDU/forums/pkt/2001III/msg00493.html), and in my response
(http://csf.Colorado.EDU/forums/pkt/2001III/msg00501.html) I carefully quoted
the use of  the phrase "Islamic nations" *by* Clark, with a little ">".  How
much clearer would you like me to be?

> The former are
> those that impose a shari'a form of Islamic
> law as for example in Iran.  Lewis is well aware
> of such distinctions.
>       He did not mention the reimposition of the Shah
> or the shelling of Lebanon.  But he did agree that
> the West had behaved in an imperialistic manner
> toward both the Muslim and Arab worlds.
>       Most of the discussion in the article you cited
> is directed at ignorami on talk radio, not Lewis, a
> great scholar of Islam, whatever Said might say.

Said's critique is directed at how issues are framed (among other things his
work questions the very stability and coherence of your category "the West").
Said's critique does not preclude the possibility that Lewis knows a lot of
things.  As I said in my last message this is not something that can be
discussed via soundbites, which is why I will not respond to your empty
"pretty good."

Best, Colin