They mostly do, Q. There are idiot Catholics, in Northern Ireland, in the Vatican, in South America, in Africa, everywhere. And there are idiot Protestants, in Northern Ireland, in Kansas, in the White House, and everywhere. But in all those places mentioned, and in all of the rest of the world, I suspect there's few of either group (or for that matter neither group) who could give a flying f...fish about another person's religion, or absence thereof, as long as it's not thrust in their face.

It's when extremists make the running, as in Northern Ireland, America, Iraq, and Liberia, that decent people feel forced into a sectional, defensive attitude, and communities become polarised.

I don't believe Africa's problems are caused by Africa any more than you do; but I also think that even if America, Europe etc. pulled out and promised to look the other way now, there are enough local demagogues like Taylor to create the polarisation necessary to give them a handle on power. In reality, decent African people have far more in common with decent American, European and Asian people than they have with African wealth- grabbers and power- seekers. And that's true for the others as well.