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Here is a follow-up to something that I was raving mad about this
weekend. As usual, Zakaria makes
the point much better than I. In
other parts of the world, religious teachers/leaders carry much greater
authority than here. When ours
speak this way, theologically callous and culturally bigoted, it is perceived
that all of us think the same. Let
the moderates speak up and keep extremists on the fringe, wherever they
reside. – KWC For an interview with Salmon Rushdie about Islamic terrorism go PBS RealAudio @ http://www.pbs.org/newshour/newshour_index.html
and click on Crossing Boundaries. Time to Take On America’s Haters: Islamic
fundamentalists are having a field day with the rants of American preachers,
which have been replayed throughout the Muslim world By Fareed Zakaria NEWSWEEK Oct.
21 issue — One of the most troubling
realities of the Muslim world today is the cowardice
of moderates. Mainstream Muslim leaders—political and religious—do not
condemn religious extremism often enough and vigorously enough. As a result, fundamentalists gain
courage and their poisonous views go unchallenged. Unfortunately, the same phenomenon appears to be at work now with
America’s own homegrown fundamentalists.
Last week Jerry Falwell announced on CBS’s “60 Minutes” that Muhammad
was “a terrorist.” His comments
are part of a trend. At various
points Pat Roberston has called Muhammad “a robber and a brigand” and described
Islam as “a monumental scam.”
Billy Graham’s son Franklin has chimed in as well, frequently calling
Islam “a very evil and wicked religion.” While there have been scattered condemnations from editorials here and
there, there has been silence from the White House and most mainstream
political and religious leaders.
Commentators who froth at the mouth when they read of one crackpot
mullah in Egypt saying noxious things about Christians or Jews are now
silent. Forget about Islamic
moderates for a moment; where are America’s moderates? And in this case, the “extremists” are not obscure characters but
rather three of the best-known religious leaders in America, with tens of
millions of followers and huge political influence. Franklin Graham was invited by President George W. Bush to
deliver the prayer at his Inauguration last year. Islamic fundamentalists are having a field day with these comments,
which have been played and replayed throughout the Muslim world. Al-Jazeera has broadcast fiery call-in
shows on the controversy. There
have been protests in India, Malaysia and Iran, and fundamentalists from London
to Indonesia are saying, in effect, “We told you that America hates
Islam.” Iran’s theocrats have used
Falwell’s comments to rally the country behind their otherwise unpopular
regime. Throughout the Muslim
world, America’s friends—the reformers, the moderates—are embarrassed, while
its foes are celebrating. As it confronts a war with Iraq, the United States is trying to
convince the Arab world that it is not at war with its people. The White House and the State
Department have devised major new programs to tell Muslims that America is
concerned about their welfare. Yet
our case becomes much harder to make—and genteel efforts at cultural exchange
will count for nothing—against the backdrop of bigoted ranting by preachers. For the next decade or so at least, the single
biggest issue for American foreign policy will be its relationship with the 1.2
billion Muslims around the world. Getting that
relationship right will have a greater effect on protecting American
interests—including the lives of American citizens—than any other. And Falwell, Robertson and Graham’s
hate-filled campaign is lighting fires that could grow into a terrible
conflagration. For the fundamentalists, September 11 solved an urgent problem. Over the past decade they have been searching for
enemies. Their old
ones—abortion-rights advocates and homosexuals—have not proved as useful as they
had been, because Americans have become more tolerant on social issues. Immediately after September 11, Falwell and Robertson decided to use
the tragedy to fire up their flock.
In a joint appearance on national television, Falwell blamed the attacks
on “the pagans and the abortionists and the feminists, and the gays and the
lesbians who are actively trying to make that an alternative lifestyle, the
ACLU, People for the American Way, all of them who have tried to secularize
America, I point the finger in their face and say, ‘You helped this
happen’.” Robertson concurred. Other fundamentalists joined in.
Billy Graham’s daughter Anne Graham Lotz told CBS’s Jane Clayson on
Sept. 13, 2001, that the tragedy took place because “Americans ... have shaken
their fists at God and said, ‘God, we want you out of our government ... our
business ... our marketplace’.”
All this backfired. In the
next few weeks the preachers were roundly condemned by hundreds of
organizations, newspapers, magazines and politicians—including President
Bush. Falwell and Robertson backed down, issuing apologies and claiming
disingenuously to have been quoted out of context. Since then, they have stopped peddling that particular brand
of intolerance. In Muslims, they
have found an easier target.
http://www.msnbc.com/news/820736.asp?0dm=L12SO Outgoing mail scanned by NAV 2002 |
