Thomas Friedman in The New York Times on how we infantilize the Muslim world instead of compelling them to take responsibility for the poison in their midst.
How many fatwas — religious edicts — have been issued by the leading bodies of Islam against Osama bin Laden and Al Qaeda? Very few. Where was the outrage last week when, on the very day that Iraq’s Parliament agreed on a formula to hold free and fair multiparty elections — unprecedented in Iraq’s modern history — five explosions set off by suicide bombers hit ministries, a university and Baghdad’s Institute of Fine Arts, killing at least 127 people and wounding more than 400, many of them kids?
Not only was there no meaningful condemnation emerging from the Muslim world — which was primarily focused on resisting Switzerland’s ban on new mosque minarets — there was barely a peep coming out of Washington. President Obama expressed no public outrage. It is time he did.
“What Muslims were talking about last week were the minarets of Switzerland, not the killings of people in Iraq or Pakistan,” noted Mamoun Fandy, a Middle East expert at the International Institute of Strategic Studies in London. “People look for red herrings when they don’t want to look inward, when they don’t want to summon the moral courage to produce the counter-fatwa that would say: stabilizing Iraq is an Islamic duty and bringing peace to Afghanistan is part of the survival of the Islamic umma,” or community.
So please tell me, how are we supposed to help build something decent and self-sustaining in Afghanistan and Pakistan when jihadists murder other Muslims by the dozens and no one really calls them out?
A corrosive mind-set has taken hold since 9/11. It says that Arabs and Muslims are only objects, never responsible for anything in their world, and we are the only subjects, responsible for everything that happens in their world. We infantilize them.
Arab and Muslims are not just objects. They are subjects. They aspire to, are able to and must be challenged to take responsibility for their world. If we want a peaceful, tolerant region more than they do, they will hold our coats while we fight, and they will hold their tongues against their worst extremists. They will lose, and we will lose — here and there, in the real Afghanistan and in the Virtual Afghanistan.
1 comment:
The problem, as I see it, has at least these two components:
1) too many of us fail to *really* read anymore - to take the time to understand things (especially things beyond our comfort zones / self interest) before we spout views that, when really scrutinized, aren't even remotely in alignment with the truth or the taking of any responsibility. In essence, many of us participate in a process by which we...infantilize our own selves, while permitting so much to continue to run wildly wrong in the world.
For example, recently, I've debated the question of religion in schools with those of the Jewish faith who are...not so conservative in their views. At this time of year, this question seems to grow more intense (particularly this year?!). Anyway - I've found it quite interesting...and frustrating. Ultimately, as the question of Muslim prayer rooms (currently being debated in America...) came up, I couldn't help but suggest these individuals read or listen to The Complete Infidel's Guide to the Koran by Robert Spencer (all the while having serious doubts as to whether they'll do so, based on all evidence of my experience so far and the fact that people generally seem to want to read only that with which they agree these days...). If people were to read / listen to this book, it may be this "corrosive mind-set" could be derailed?
2) the concept of taking responsibility is on the table and all the good doctors are on vacation (somebody, bring the paddles, quick!).
Take these two items together and, it seems to me, hope for a more tolerant / peaceful world might only grow more dim.
Perhaps it is just my current, personal perspective (which can change...), but it seems that, rather than take responsibility, again, many of us prefer to engage in a process of infantilizing our own selves... digging in heels, pointing fingers, parroting "right" or "left" messages rather than engaging in deeper consideration and original thought.
It begs the question: in order to hold Arabs and Muslims accountable, must we not hold our own selves accountable, first? Must we not demand more - that we read and understand the Koran (which may explain why there is and will not likely be any "meaningful condemnation emerging from the Muslim world" nor any "counter-fatwa"), for instance, and engage in educated debate, instead of parroting what is politically correct or, worse, remaining silently "checked out" and standing in the sidelines?
Thanks for sharing this excellent point Mr. friedman makes. Something's gotta give - people need to be shaken out of their complacency and comfort. Hearts and minds need to be inspired to their fullest potential. Of all the things we're now told are a "crisis" and need our attention "NOW," I'd say, learning and openly debating - taking responsibility, each and every one of us - should take priority #1... to breed future tolerance an peace not only in this region, but in the world, as a whole.
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