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California State University, Dominguez Hills
University of Wisconsin, Parkside
Soka University Japan - Transcend Art and Peace
Created: July 28, 2002
Latest Update: July 28, 2002
jeannecurran@habermas.org
takata@uwp.edu

"Welcome to Kurdistan!"

Teaching Essay Copyright: Jeanne Curran and Susan R. Takata and Individaul Authors, July 2002.
"Fair use" encouraged.

This essay was prompted by a New York Times article on Sunday, July 28, 2002. Kurds Savor a New, and Endangered, Golden Age, by John F. Burns. At p. A 1.

Backup 1 Backup 2 Backup 3.

This article helps to illustrate the "human condition." Most of us tend to more alike than different. And yet everywhere we seem to have split ourselves off in some kind of groups that can be differentiated by fairly visible status characteristics. And if there aren't really any characteristics that differentiate us effectively upon sight, then we identify ourselves as group members. Think of gangs. Think of Protestants anad Catholics in Ireland in Europe. Think of soldiers in armies with identifying uniforms. Think of sports teams and their colors.

The theory is status differential characteristic theory. The concept to which we want to relate the theory on this site is nation-state building and preservation. The article speaks of the Kurds comparing themselves to Israelis, and at the same time to Palestinians. And what about the roles of globalization, peacekeeping policemen of the world, and human rights. More soon. jeanne

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