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February 10, 2006
The "Turn Us Into Them" Strategy - Cartoons 2
Make no mistake, we are involved in a war, sometimes it manifests itself in terrorist violence and sometimes it manifests itself in cultural confrontation. On the one side is a messy, unfocused, moving in a million different direction democratic society that purports to respect people's opinions to the point where one can do and say just about anything. That anything includes making slanderous statements, making fun of racial groups, ethnic groups and religions. That is what makes us who we are.
On the other side is a culture that is theocratic, dictatorial, sexist, uncompromising, racist and in its more extreme manifestations more than willing to kill those it disagrees with. That culture is currently on the war path. It is attacking us in every way it can, using our own diversity and openness against us whenever it has an opportunity. If a person or newspaper publishes something contorversial, no matter how small or insignificant, Muslim fundamentalists use it to inflame the passions of their team. It is a simple tactic solidifying an "us versus them" mentality. They want the people of the region to see themselves under attack. In addition, the extremists are trying to get Western cultures to submit to their value systems.
It is hypocritical for Westerners to apologize for the very thing that makes our culture what it is, with all its warts. We value diversity, and as hard as it is, we also value the right of people to say and do outrageous and insulting things. For us to condemn it and/or begin to morally restrict it begins a process of turning us into that which we truly do not respect, which is that fundamentalist attitude.
We are certainly aware of the physical threat that Muslim fundamentalists pose to the West. I am not so sure that we are aware of how they intend to expand the playing field to include a cultural assult as well. I certainly hope that we are more prepared for that one than the other. As fundamentalist political movements in Muslim countries gain strength, e.g. Iran, Palestine, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Indonesia, Egypt, we should be aware that they will use their influence and power to move beyond their own borders and into the west. The growing immigrant communities throughout Western Europe provide a fertile breeding ground. As more Muslims move into Europe it will be even easier for clerics to push disgrunted immigrants to pressure their governments into making concessions to Islamic mores, including the restriction of freedoms of the press and speech. In such a scenario they definitely win.
Posted by Chip Spear at February 10, 2006 9:50 AM
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