Culture Does Hurt People’s Progress

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney was criticized for his recent comment about Palestinians’ culture, when he said their economic development was hindered by their culture. In today’s world of political correctness, Romney’s comment drew immediate attacks from liberals.

However, the facts show that Palestinian culture is the problem. Unfortunately, the same can said about minorities in America.

Palestinian economic growth is hurt by a culture that keeps women poor and uneducated. Also, tribalism rather than the rule of law dominates the individual. Furthermore, their political and economic future is guided by zealots who use religion to control people. Finally, there is the support provided by outside organizations like the United Nations that enables Palestinian dictators and bosses who in turn control and prey on their own people.

These factors have combined to retard the economic growth of Palestinians, and most of the Muslim world. Israel, a nation founded in 1948, has far outpaced most, if not all, of the Muslim nations…because of their culture.

Likewise, many minorities in America have been trapped in their communities because of similar factors.

Minorities in America have lost their sense of “family”. Illegitimate child birth and single female households are common. Teens with children have much greater chance of falling into and remaining in poverty. Unfortunately, government assistance has only made the situation worse.

In America, liberals and militants have undermined the trust toward law enforcement and the legal system for minorities. Minority youth are more prone to dress and act like “gangsta” than to trust and obey authority figures. Violence has become acceptable and expected behavior.

While religious militants control Palestinian politics, race is used as the basis for political control in American minority communities. Rather than integrating minorities politically, socially, and economically, American minority leaders segregate their people under the guise of maintaining community identity or preserving their culture.

Just like the U.N supports Arab dictators including Palestinians, minority political bosses in America receive government funding for programs that keep them in power, but keep minorities dependent. Outside funding which is meant to help, only exacerbates the poverty.

Finally, tribalism or a communal approach versus individual self-initiative have slowed or prevent economic growth for minorities. It is sad that the socialist message of “it takes a village” has been so widely accepted by most people in the minority community. Some refuse to understand that under that concept, the individual can only progress as fast as the slowest (or laziest) member of the community.

The War on Poverty has been waged in America since 1965, and poverty has only gotten worse. As with the Palestinians, it’s time for minorities in America to change their culture and to focus on integration and individual success.

George Rodriguez