Case in Point-Islamic Fundmentalism Revisited

[Rex Brooks <rexb@starbourne.com>]

I was somewhat pleased with the responses to my first post on this 
thread. The path into dynamic schemas that includes a better 
understanding of viewpoint is a development I applaud. I suspect that 
in the days ahead, it will yield fruit.

The example concerning the Sikh culture from the xml-dev list was 
very germane to the point I was trying to make.

However, there is still no specific response from someone of or from 
the Islamic Fundamentalist  culture itself who has stepped forward to 
communicate about their concerns directly. Of course, that is 
entirely understandable, since betraying any personal information, 
including a fictitious email address, would make anyone so 
self-identified a target of suspicion at the very least. However, I 
was hoping that we might hear from someone with first hand knowledge 
of the culture, if only as an observer.

This makes my point, nevertheless. We are dealing with a vacuum of 
accurate information. Now I am going to say something very disturbing 
and repugnant, but true. If we don't get communication going with 
these people in language channels, in as close to an anonymous forum 
as this, the only kind of communication we are going to receive is 
the kind we received last Tuesday, and, like it or not, THAT was 
communication.

Unfortunately, the only information we are gleaning from that 
communication is the rubble at ground zero as the site of the 
catastrophe has come to be called, and the information being turned 
up by the FBI, CIA and NSA, and, of course, the media, whose 
information is often both more accurate and timely.

There is the problem. Our leaders are attempting to formulate a plan 
of action in a new kind of war, called such because that is all we 
can make of this very tragic communication which does make one thing 
clear. Bin Laden has said so himself in so many words, if we can 
believe media reports. They want and mean to kill every American, 
despite what the cleric from Afghanistan on poor quality videotape is 
quoted as saying their desire to just kill Bush and Congress.

It seems foolish for me to characterize Islamic Fundamentalist 
culture, but lacking direct information, all I can do is that, and 
couch my observations in exactly that kind of admittedly incomplete 
and biased characterization. Yet, I think I have discovered a couple 
of gems of information in the dross we have been inundated with in 
these last few days. I can't take credit for these observations, I 
heard them in PBS coverage today. It struck me as very likely. And it 
stands after Occam's Razor has sliced up most other explanations.

Concept: Islamic Fundamentalism doesn't really hate what America and 
all of modern Western Technological Culture DOES in terms of national 
politics, despite what a lot of people say about this or that policy. 
I do not think it is our support of Israel, or the oppression of the 
Palestinians that they hate. A full blown Palestinian State could be 
declared with huge amounts of American aid and support tomorrow, and 
Islamic Fundamentalists, I believe, would still hate us and still try 
to kill us all. I don't think lifting the sanctions on Iraq would 
make any difference. I don't believe anything we could do would 
change their incredibly stupid agenda, because they don't hate what 
we do, but what WE ARE--a modern, pluralistic, technological society 
that will never adopt a medieval culture such as they desire.

Worse yet, they simply don't understand that nothing can bring about 
the kind of world they think they want. It didn't happen in Iran, and 
it won't happen in Afghanistan. And worst of all, I don't think even 
Osama Bin Laden and the Taliban even understand what they think they 
want. They just look around them and everywhere they see Western 
culture, in the form materialistic products, dress and imitative 
behaviors and all they know how to do is hate THAT.

I would love to be wrong. Nothing would make me happier, because no 
war on terrorism is going to do anything but make this worse. And no 
amount of killing will deter one new terrorist martyr.

However, if we can get them to talk, maybe they could prove me wrong, 
or maybe it won't make any difference. Maybe nothing short of a 
religious transformation among their leaders will make a difference.

  I wish I knew.

Rex
-- 
Rex Brooks
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