Ralph Peters makes some outstanding points in his comparison of how Muslims in Europe and Muslims in America differ in their approach towards Western society.  He points out that Europe faces a much greater threat from terror because of a large number of unhappy Muslims on that continent. They feel ostracized, oppressed, and have little optimism regarding their future.

This sense of hopelessness is one of the reasons so many of them generate a hatred for Western society.Their socioeconomic statistics are depressing: low educational levels, high unemployment, and poor health. There are few propsects in sight.  Contrasting this Euro state of affairs with that of Muslims in America is illuminating. Daniel Pipes has done so. In this column and in a previous column , Pipes shows that American Muslims have found American society a very congenial place to exercise their talents and fulfill their hopes. They boast among the highest rates of education of any group in the nation and have higher incomes than the average American. They are optimistic and for the most part happy to be in America. Might this have something to do with the benefits of free enterprise which can generate somuch hope and optimism in people?
 
The sclerotic European economies are ruled by government bureaucrats who believe that profit and free enterprise are vulgar Americanisms. They have not only depressed the economic future of their nations but have also been instrumental in creating the environments where anger and terrorism can flourish.

Ed Lasky   10 26 04