Public Debate: Hindu vs Christian faith

I haven't learned much from watching this, but it's an interesting public discourse nevertheless.

We just want to be able to live like human beings

"Let me be clear, the change that is taking place across the region is being driven by the people of the region. This change does not represent the work of the United States, or any foreign power. It represents the aspiration of people who are seeking a better life. As one Libyan said, 'We just want to be able to live like human beings.' It is the most basic of aspirations that is driving this change." 

President Obama on the revolutions in the Middle East and North Africa (video)

Watch the video below of an experiment to find out how monkeys - who are also primates, like us - react to apparent injustice (would they notice it at all?). While the first monkey (Vulcan) gets a dry biscuit if he returns a token, the second monkey (Virgil) gets a  juicy grape when he returns the same token. Notice how Vulcan reacts to this blatant injustice. [start at 2:06]

It's fairly obvious then, why Tunisians, Egyptians, and now Libyans get so angry and frustrated at their leaders. They only want to live like the people in other countries: from the busy commuters of New York, London, Shanghai and Singapore; to the suburban dwellers of other cities; and the farmers and fishermen in smaller towns. Even monkeys get riled up if they are treated unequally!

We just want to be able to live like human beings - that is, like the better ones among us.


...

It's more infectious than fanaticism, thank goodness!

...
"The freedom of thought and action that is necessary for discovering the truth is a precursor...to the more expansive ideal of political and civil freedom, a meme that spreads easily, apparently. It is much more infectious than fanaticism, thank goodness. The cat is out of the bag. There is no way that enforced ignorance can win in the long run. You can't readily uneducate people.  

As communications technology makes it harder and harder for leaders to shield their people from outside information.... the floodgates will open all over the world with tumultuous effects." 

[pg 303-304]

Daniel C. Dennett: Freedom Evolves (2003)

London Tune: Dubstep