Why do muslim countries not have strong economy?

Kindly keep your snide remarks toward my religion out of this thread.  Just because you disagree with my comments gives you NO right to degrade my Catholic faith. 

Edited by Whisper - 10 November 2008 at 12:21pm

Whisper,

Its a proven fact that when a woman has an education, her children prosper better than women who do not have an education.  This goes directly towards her ability to raise them.

Also, women who have an education fare better when tragedy strikes the family.  I point out often about the time when my husband hurt his back and I became the only income in the home.  If I hadn't been educated, we would have been homeless and destitute.

In the uncertainty of war and famine, women with educations will fare better if something happens to her husband.  She will not be reduced to begging in the streets.

In a perfect world, a woman would have a husband, sons, brothers, father etc to support her.  But the world is imperfect.  A society where the women are educated will florish. 

A perfect example of this is the Golden Age of Islam.  Khadija was a merchant, Aisha memorized the Quran and more Hadith than any other.  It was the women who supported Muhammed (pbuh) and it was they who carried it forward. 

If the Middle East and Central Asia want to rise from poverty, education needs to be provided to all children.  Women doctors need to be trained so that infant mortality and women's health issues are addressed in the confines of the modest lifestyles.  Women teachers need to be trained for schools and women need to participate in government to protect their sisters from the ever present corruption.

Its not about trotting women out and making them slaves of a two income household.  Its preparing them for disasters and helping them to strengthen their community. 

Sasha, you are so quick to jump in and enjoy when Duende, Mariyah and myself are online.  But, I come from a poor family...  I would not be able to be here had I been born in some areas of Africa or Asia.  My mother would not have had a high school education and she would not have been able to make sure that her two daughters got a college education.

The prosperous nations do not ignore the contributions from half their populations.  Malaysia is a prime example.  You look at pictures from around Kuala Lampur and you see women in Hijab walking around the business centers with briefcases. 

I want to see the Muslim world succeed in pulling itself out of poverty.  I told my husband I have a dream of taking the "$100 Laptops" and going to Afghanistan and teaching young girls how to utilize this glory of technology to prosper.  Maybe if God grants me the resources, someday I can do that.  How wonderful would it be for a young woman to provide the education and resources so that her sons and daughters can go to college.  Or how a young farm wife would be able to help her husband by researching modern farming techniques and finding international buyers over the internet? 

Poverty leads to instability, war and corruption.  Education is a tool to get out of poverty.  It shouldn't be denied to anyone.

Nice try though.

Edited by Whisper - 11 November 2008 at 11:42am

Whisper wrote: Nice try though.   What makes you think that am going to try something just for frying some browny points with you?   Plastic Temples and Tin Gods have nada to do with ANY faith at all. This is my pet reference for the great Cap It All itis and CONSUMERISM. Do you understand?   Give me just one good reason why I should run anything Catholic down?