[afro-nets] American fundamentalism

American fundamentalism
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The Netzkraft Movement

Invitation to a network of persons and groups who commit them-
selves socially, politically, ecologically or spiritually

Dear people of the African Networks for Health Research & Devel-
opment (AFRO-NETS),

the American fundamentalism has become dangerous:

- The United States are striving for the world domination and
therefore developed the doctrine to wage "preemptive" wars.

- They violate the human rights and break their own and interna-
tional laws (Guant�namo, Abu Ghraib, phosphorus gas attack on
Fallujah).

- They ignore international agreements on the protection of the
environment, law and peace (agreement on climatic protection,
International Court of Justice, arms control agreements, Geneva
Convention).

There is only one way to defeat fundamentalist ideologies: in
the heads and hearts of the people. Where is the liberal Amer-
ica? The Islamist terror is a perversion of Islam, the American
fundamentalism a chauvinist perversion of democracy, law and
freedom.

This is why your work is so important, even if sometimes it
seems to have only little effect: your commitment also serves as
a good example and moves the heads and the hearts of those who
hear about your work. As a result, you are multipliers and your
activity is a contribution to fight against fundamentalist ide-
ologies and to keep the belief in justice alive. Please carry on
with it! We wish you strength and a long staying power for this
purpose.

Organizations like yours have joined together in the Netzkraft
Movement: a network of socially, politically, ecologically and
spiritually active people and groups who support each other, who
pursue global goals together and who appear together in the
internet. We would be very happy if you joined us! You will find
us here: http://www.netzkraft.net

Best wishes for you and your work -

Yours,
Jo and Gertrud
mailto:info@netzkraft.net

(Dr. Jo Becker and Gertrud Sivalingam)
Editors of the net directory in the Institute of Systemic Re-
search in Xanten (Germany)

American fundamentalism (2)
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I was disappointed to see the invitation headed "American Funda-
mentalism" posted on AFRO-NETS. American society has many short-
comings but its people, especially the so-called Christian fun-
damentalists, are extremely generous both on an individual and
collective basis.

The United States is an enormous country of nearly 300 million
people and the vast majority have never travelled beyond its
borders. Nevertheless, despite their lack of appreciation of
many cross-cultural issues which Europeans with their colonial
histories understand more instinctively, they give more money to
worthy causes overseas, send more people abroad to work in de-
veloping countries and have shared more technology to help im-
prove daily living than any other country in the world.

I wouldn't want to join the Netzkraft movement if all it aims to
do is take broad swipes at American culture instead of trying to
understand the motivation of a complex and diverse people who
give much and have much more to give. Let's work with them not
against them.

Howard Lyons
Christians in Health Care
mailto:howardlyons@msn.com

American fundamentalism (3)
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I completely agree with Howard on many aspects of what he says
about America and American society. Many of my friends are
Americans and some are closer than friends.

I can say that I have an adopted American father... who is inci-
dentally a Christian Missionary in Africa and has done a great
job for the past ten years in healing people both spiritually
and physically.

I however only have one problem with Howard's approach, I be-
lieve we should let all such groups as Netzkraft say their piece
and then ignore them as they so rightly deserve... they also
have a right to speak their mind however far from the truth it
is.

You can bet, Howard, that the majority of people here do not
agree with what Netzkraft are saying and I believe they sound a
lot like the "real fundamentalist" instead!

No one who has heard fundamentalists speak can mistake them for
anything else and no one will take great heed of what they have
to say, it seems they just need something to rave and rail at
and they have chosen Christianity... which I have a feeling is
their real target, not America.

Happy Christmas to everyone of you and God bless the world, and
America too.

--
Isaac Kigozi
mailto:kigoziisaac76@yahoo.co.uk

American fundamentalism (4)
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Are you Netzcraft people against fundamentalism in general or
only against American fundamentalism, as you have stated?

If it is fundamentalism in general, why don't you list out all
fundamentalisms you are against and attract global attention and
support?

Are you also against religious fundamentalism in general or
against any particular religions in specific?

These would clarify the doubts of many of us members.

Kris Dev
mailto:krisdev@gmail.com

American fundamentalism (5)
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There are many different kinds of fundamentalism, including some
that are not related to organized religion, such as market fun-
damentalism. (I discuss this in "Market Fundamentalism", Peace &
Policy, Vol. 5, No. 1 (Summer 2000), p. 36. PDF file.) Perhaps
the way out of the debate here is to get beyond name-calling,
and instead saying exactly what sorts of behaviors are objec-
tionable.

Aloha, George

--
George Kent
mailto:kent@hawaii.edu

American fundamentalism (6)
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Dear Fellow Subscribers,

I am happy to see that we can all agree on one thing that these
Netzkraft people bring nothing to the table of ideas. Unfortu-
nately the world is full of people who dispise not only America
but capitalism and capitalistic countries in general.

I will spare us generalities of these destructive mindsets and
wish all of you out there a Merry Christmas and a productive New
Year in which all of us can help our fellow citizens on planet
Earth.

Sincerely,

Craig Audiss
mailto:cybrcollectinc@yahoo.com