Polls Apart This much we know for certain about globalization: Whenever the World Bank or International Monetary Fund convenes, someone will show up to protest it. Otherwise, it's a fairly slippery concept. More evidence comes in the form of dueling polls. First, Gallup disclosed that most respondents in nine Muslim countries neither like nor trust America. Now the same organization reports that most of those polled in America neither like nor trust the Islamic world. For many centuries, Islam made a determined effort to know nothing of Western culture, considered inferior and unworthy of notice. The effects of that attitude linger. In the U.S., 56 percent of those polled said they know nothing or little of Islam. Another 41 percent claimed moderate knowledge. In this age of globalization, an American can flip on CNN and watch events unfold in the Middle East. In much of the Islamic world, media access is more restricted, but growing. Anyone with access to the World Wide Web can study in some depth either Christianity or Islam. And yet in this age of globalization, respect, trust and understanding one for another are advancing not at all. Ed Fowler ============================================================== (c) 2002 Millennium Relief & Development Services, vol. 2 no. 13 'Insight' is a publication of MRDS to interpret current events in light of the experience of members of our international network. 'Insight' archives and other information can be found on our website. 'Insight' may be freely copied with this citation. If you wish to be removed from this mailing list, simply reply and request to be removed. Millennium RDS, 5116 Bissonnet #358, Bellaire, TX 77401-4007 Tel: (713)961-5645 Fax: (713)961-5735 www.mrds.org insight@mrds.org. ==============================================================