[kato13]

I know Turkey is "Secular" but it is 99.8% Muslim.

I fully understand the importance of Islams historical push for advancement of technology. Islam saved an incredible amount of information and was responsible for most of technological innovation that occurred during Europe's dark ages. What I am speaking of is my perception of stagnation now.

I know many can consider the patent argument flawed (for socio economic reasons), but the numbers are so jarring in comparison that I do see it as being indicative of a stagnation.

Do I know Muslims who are incredibly innovative, yes absolutely. For the most part that is why they or their parents came to America, and America is better off for having them. That could be another factor is the Patent disparity is that those who might be motivated to innovate or change things either leave or are chased out. I do not judge an individual by any single trait, but I do accept that perhaps a dominant culture can effect how a population may be motivated and what they, as a population, ultimately might accomplish.

Edit:
An hour later that "Muslims aren't slowing down America" line is still bugging me.

I presented facts and my opinion about the effects of a dominant culture and it is assumed that I feel every extended member of that culture (even outside the realm of dominance) is somehow a drain. That was a real stretch in my opinion.

To say that German culture strives for more engineering innovation than lets say the Polynesians, is in my mind is the truth. Yes I am taking two cultures and ranking them on a particular factor. Do I feel the greatest engineer the world has ever seen could come out of Polynesia, yes, but the German system is much more likely to recognize and develop talents so in general they will produce more engineers. The best of anything can come from any culture, but the averages will be different depending on what is the focus of the culture.