Tim's asks a few more questions in the comments thread, in response to the Islamic Jihad article.
Very insightful, Mike. I am still at a loss as to why we just can't seem to get along with the Muslim world. Could you explain the "Code of honor" thing a little more?
Nothing I'm about to say negates the fact that all people are created equal and can embody the highest human ideals. The issue at hand is the particular cultural characteristics forged through several millennia of a collective focus on certain aspects of a cultural identity and behavior.
Western culture is known, for better and for worse, to focus more strongly on outward beauty and material comfort - at least in comparison to the Arab culture - a characteristic that has its roots in the ancient Greek civilization. The Arab culture has become accustomed to settling for minimal lifestyle conditions while putting an emphasis on particular ceremonial behavioral ethics. A good example for this is the host and guest tradition which will often over-emphasize the extending of hospitality and also demand a proper response or expression from the guest. I've seen countless recurring incidents where American visitors of Arab homes fall short of sensing the need to extend the proper attention to the host's efforts to be hospitable. In general, Westerners are considered lacking of this sensitivity by the Arab cultures. The religious Islamic circles are the most extreme in their criticism of such issues and perceive the western culture as practically satanic in what they consider to be callous pursuits and insensitive lifestyle.
Such cultural differences are at the crux of the conflict. It takes a long time for a collective mentality to become more tolerant of a culture which is strange to it. I've often heard an American say something such as "Well, I paid him, why did he seem so ungrateful." The answer is that it's not enough to pay someone for goods or services. The transaction needs to be conducted with a certain measure of grace... Within the Arab world, this measure of grace is critical and even needs to be over-emphasized in order gain their trust.
When we add such particular differences between the two cultures to the historical baggage they've both carried through the generations, the result is the standoff we have today. You may not feel it with Arab immigrants in America but in the Arab world, it's not such a very big privilege to be a Westerner, as most Americans believe it to be.
I think that as Americans, we resent that our economic security and energy needs are held hostage to the Saudi royal family (who say "My friend!" to our face and then whip up hatred of us in their population).
Resent it or not, the situation is as you say, and will not change by virtue of this resent. If we try to understand why the collective Arab world chooses to hold the West's energy needs hostage, then perhaps we can compel them to change their behavior by gaining their trust through showing a behavioral sensitivity to their culture. The only other option is a complete military takeover and subjugation of the entire Arab world. I don't believe this to be a reasonable option.
I really don't think Americans in general want to oppress anybody, but we must concur that IJ's statement:"Nor can the world remain hostage to the never-ending and regenerated fear that the American people suffer from in general." This fear they speak of is real.
It is real and it's also what the Islamic Jihad feeds on, in its barbarism. So, how do we begin to overcome this fear and cease to feed the killers with what motivates their terrorism? Knowledge and understanding are the way to overcome fear. The more we're willing to understand our adversary, the less we'll fear them.
Some of their other points like "put an end to Zionism, before it ends the world" are totally ridiculous and betray their true agenda.I think it is time for the Arabs to stop throwing up Israel (and the US support of it) as the root of every problem.
They will continue to hold onto any excuse for their behavior. Their list of complaints are endless but Israel is the most comfortable and evident one they resort to. When serious amends begin to become manifest with the Arab world, the Israeli problem will melt away as if it never was.
Americans are frustrated with the war in Iraq, but how do we get out of this corner that we have painted ourselves into? Statements like "Bring it on" made by Bush do not help.
That's because George Bush is doing the bidding of economic manipulators in their pursuit of the Arab markets. America needs a new leadership that will defy the capitalist giants who are manipulating our leaders. The only way for such a leadership to rise in America is on an economic basis. Most leaders today who oppose the economic oppressors in the West refuse to dirty their hands with capital gain. Only a benevolent leadership which is prepared to take away the world's wealth and use it to fix the world, can change the tides. The Comic Book Creator's Party offers this solution by turning the comic book industry into the focus which will attract all the world's wealth into it. I realize I'm a one trick pony on this issue but it's the only answer I have for this question.
I'll only add that the seemingly ludicrous notion embodied in such an idea is the same thing which will help it succeed in America. America's pop culture is a very strong force. In the same way that a movie actor eventually became President, so will the Comic Book Creators gain the trust of the American people and be given the reins of leadership.
And finally, why did we not put our energy into finding Bin Laden, instead of occupying Iraq?
It's really quite unfathomable that we couldn't lay our hands on Bin Laden. Perhaps the Administration didn't really want to. Perhaps they need him out there for future issues. It's peculiar that Saddam Hussein, who had a greater ability to escape, was captured when the opposition in America voiced its accusations of being misled by the administration regarding Saddam's WMD's.
