> Why do we have to provide them with a better standard of living?
> Why is it up to us to support the whole world?


Well, we don't. But I feel sorry when I see children dying of starvation, and people without medical care, and other sad things. We don't HAVE to support the whole world, we are under no moral obligation to do this in my opinion. But I, personally, would like to help people if I can.


>  Why in the name of any particular diety
> should they need muultiple cars per family, cell phones,
> playstations and 3 tvs per family? Two of the main tenants of
> islam are simplicity and devotion.

Not sure that any post here has mentioned these items. Of course you'd agree that it would be nice for anyone in the world to be able to own these things if they want. But I know that I certainly have no idea what someone else wants. Not Afghanis, and not my next door neighbors, for that matter.


> If you were to ask the average
> Joe [Akim?] he would probably want clean water to, access to good
> public bathhouses, a flush toilet per every few houses [like
> Britain still has in some victorian neighborhoods] and access to
> reasonably inexpensive food. The local religous teacher for
> education, and doctor for the village complete the basic needs.


It seems a little arrogant for you to assume you know what Joe Akim wants. I'm sure every person there is as much an individual as every person in your part of the world. They're people, just like you and me. Some of them would like four Sony playstations, others want outhouses. Some want a violin and a CD player to study great classical works, others want a rustic hut on a peaceful mountaintop.

It would be nice for people to be able to choose their lifestyle, is my opinion. I wish they could have more freedom and liberty there, like we do here. Then they could decide for themselves whether they wanted coke and MTV or Walden Pond.


> Just because we happen to live in a consumer-product driven
> economy, don't make the stupid assumption that everybody else in
> the world wants one also.

Did a post on this forum suggest this? I'm thinking maybe you're upset with a post you read elsewhere, and have confused the two.


> margali
> who has 1 computer, 1 tv, and a phone only because I need to
> occasionally telecommute and the Navy requires my husbanto have
> one. I don't even have air conditioning, a play station or a car
> under 10 years old. I keep sheep, poultry and we garden. Think
> Walden - SIMPLIFY!


Maybe you like to "simplify."  Why should everyone else like what you like? That, perhaps, is a bit "ethnocentric" or "imperialistic" or "arrogant"  don't you think?   Did you think your "simple" way of living is superior to my hedonistic, materialistic, high-tech way of life?

Love Liza

~~~~~
> The Quote Starts Here:
> > I think we have a life here far better than they have there. There are
> > 1.3 billion Moslems in the world. I imagine that most of them are
> > apolitical, would like to have a better standard of living,
>