69 million page views

Inquiry of Contradiction: How is Occidental Cultural Environment Targeted for Migration of Oriental Culture

Reader comment on item: Middle East Migrants: Stay in Your Culture Zone

Submitted by M Tovey (United States), Oct 6, 2021 at 12:15

Here and elsewhere we are now being bombarded with ancient questions in this modern context as to why mass populations are seeking to relocate in droves, even to the extent of leaving behind ancient tribal and familial homelands; of potentially leaving behind traditional connections of extreme historical significance while searching in response to dreams of a better life, yet in doing so, potentially rejecting the influences of lifestyles of inherited values and pursuits of familial traditions in heritage and religious observations.
Humanity, in ancient tales of cultural roots, apparently began in a diverse mode of development in that some people (usually in familial connectivity), coalesced into communities (cities) while others remained in migratory pursuits (nomadic); in example here, the Sumerian/Mesopotamian cities being overrun by raiders and nomadic hordes, sometimes the raiders replacing the indigent populations and cultures (Islamic invasions being a more relatively recent variation); thus the propensity for such migratory motives can be seen here.
In a focused setting here, what is most obvious distinction between 'Western' (occidental) culture and the opposing 'Eastern' (oriental) culture: religion; whose god is superior? Originally, while the Deity of Abraham was seen as focused on developing HIs relationship with the father of Isaac and Jacob, the rest of the world wandered religiously with deities of lesser sorts as empires were forced to concede homage to a leader that almost always claimed some form of deity him/herself.
The same is occurring today. The 'West is presumed to be 'Christian' based (even as secularism is driving a wedge to the point of rejection) while the 'East' (with certain exceptions) have allegiances to the ancient deities to which their ancestors gave homage. Which culture provides a better way of life and this is now seen as potentially at least one of many reasons to 'be on the move.' Therein lays the inquiry: what is the real motivation of migration and truly, is a better life that is being sought; or is dragging the old life into a new situation just as easily the real motivation?

Submitting....

Note: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the authors alone and not necessarily those of Daniel Pipes. Original writing only, please. Comments are screened and in some cases edited before posting. Reasoned disagreement is welcome but not comments that are scurrilous, off-topic, commercial, disparaging religions, or otherwise inappropriate. For complete regulations, see the "Guidelines for Reader Comments".

Follow Daniel Pipes

Facebook   Twitter   RSS   Join Mailing List

All materials by Daniel Pipes on this site: © 1968-2023 Daniel Pipes. daniel.pipes@gmail.com and @DanielPipes

Support Daniel Pipes' work with a tax-deductible donation to the Middle East Forum.Daniel J. Pipes

(The MEF is a publicly supported, nonprofit organization under section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code.

Contributions are tax deductible to the full extent allowed by law. Tax-ID 23-774-9796, approved Apr. 27, 1998.

For more information, view our IRS letter of determination.)