re: #339 000G

It’s social positions (mostly in the form of jobs). A way up. Recognition. Acknowledgement. Self-respect.

I can buy that. As I wrote, I do think the social/political unrest is in the mix in these restive areas. I’ve often gotten the impression that in some of these countries, such as Egypt, which have a decent enough communication system that people have continuous contact with the outside, that there is a great deal of unhappiness about social status (a kind of caste system without an explicit religious explanation for such) that keeps young people either on the dole or doing menial jobs, that encourages discrimination against groups, etc.

There is a lot at play in Tunisia, Algeria, Egypt, Sudan, Yemen, etc. It’s not just about Islam. Islam obviously plays a big role in these nations, but it is not the only thing influencing the current state.