. . . Essentiaslly the idea was to self-portray a disadvantaged nation or a group of people as the "messiah of nations" that is, a nation whose suffering significantly contributes to the 'salvation' i.e. prosperity of other nations. This way, disadvantaged groups could vicariously overcome their marginalization and see themselves as the 'pivot of the world.' Kind of biblical eschatology ("the wretched of the earth inherit the kingdom of heaven") without the other-worldly mumbo-jumbo. wojtek >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Some kind of funky zionism, sounds like. Theodore Herzl meets George Clinton. mbs, from the Mother Ship