To An American Emperor
by OSWALD LEWINTER
Since U.S. President George W. Bush seems determined to transform America into a full-fledged empire, he should start familiarising himself with the history of the world's greatest empires. Bush would be well served to look at the lessons of the rise and evolution of great empires such as the Greek, Roman, Persian and Muslim.
More than 2000 years ago, both the Roman and Persian empires experienced their golden age. Each stood high as a symbol of achievements reached by humankind in the fields of science, arts, law and literature as well as in military power. As decay, corruption and arrogance began to penetrate their fabric, both empires lost their superiority, dwindled, and passed their leading positions to the emerging Islamic empire.
At its zenith, the Muslims produced a civilisation that was the equal of any. While Europe was living in the "Dark Ages", the Muslim world was at the height of its achievements and excellence. Muslims of that time rallied around Islam not only as a religion but also as a way of life and source of inspiration.
Later - almost ten centuries ago - the crusades came. The Crusaders' invasion completely shook the Muslim world from one spectrum to another. Muslims found themselves vulnerable in the face of a single-minded religious fanaticism and the cruelty of the crusaders. In response to the attacks, Muslims and especially the Arabs, withdrew inwardly, isolating and cutting themselves off from any European influence.
One matter that should not be overlooked is the fact that Muslims felt confident in the strength and superiority of their culture. But because of this overconfidence, they soon lost their grasp on the very ideals that given their civilization its power and allowed the great advances inmathematics and philosophy.
Furthermore, conservative religious forces advocated shutting the doors to personal interpretation of religious texts, or what is known as Ijtihad. This principle produced a fundamentalism thatchoked off variation and openness in how religious matters are interpreted. This contributed to the emergence of an inward -looking policy and cultural and religious intolerance.
The costs of this inward looking policy became evident several centuries later when the European invaders overtook the Muslim world as the dominant civilisation. Even though the Islamic empire retained its power well after the Middle Ages, it was clear that it was slowly losing much of its dynamism, vitality, and strength.
It was clear that what made the Islamic Empire so successful is its ability to make room under its umbrella for intellectual diversity, tolerance for dissenting opinions, and the ability of incorporating a wide variety of cultures. As a result of becoming distant from their acceptance of intellectual diversity, Muslims began to suffer.
Why is this lesson so important at this critical moment of history? It is because on September 11, 2001, the Americans were attacked by a group of single-minded fanatics. All Americans had felt a sense of collective grief, shock, fear and vulnerability. The American shock was understandable, but to some extent, it was disturbing as well.
Indeed, what is really more disturbing after 9/11 is what followed after that fatal day when Americans adopted a different attitude. Instead of looking outwards and seeking to understand the causes behind what had happened to them, Americans have withdrawn into a delusionary world of self-righteousness and arrogance.
The worst aspect of this state, which manifested itself as 'patriotism' and being exceptional, prevented Americans from carrying out much needed soul-searching and fact-finding. Instead of trying to understand the root causes of 9/11, most Americans accepted the naive conclusion that America was attacked because it was "good, free, economically prosperous, and democratic".
And instead of reaching out to the Muslim world to try to understand the causes of the strong dissent and the anti-American sentiment that caused the attacks, America alienated Muslims worldwide. Rather than encouraging more cultural exchanges and dialogue between America and the Muslim world, Americans opted for xenophobic paranoia. It is clear that the tragedy of Dark September brought out the worst in America. What happened next is just a consequence.
The Bush administration was quick to exploit the memory of this tragedy to push forward its hidden agenda not only in the Middle East but also in many parts of the Muslim world. Despite America's constant denial of having a hidden agenda or plan to re-map the region, its actions reveal the opposite. Bush's neo-conservative expansionist agenda includes Syria, the Islamic Republic of Iran, and Sudan. According to Bush's logic, America has to invade all these countries.
So far, we have seen how the current American administration seems adamant in its efforts towards making America into an empire. If this is so, it is a serious indication that this administration has lost sight of the ideals that have made America a great nation in the eyes of many. Principles that have defined American culture such as equal justice, intellectual diversity, religious freedom and openmindedness, are now in jeopardy as a result of the fear and hysteria of the war that followed 9/11. People have begun to see America differently, for it is no longer considered the "land of freedom".
Diverse groups are now facing discrimination and interrogation. Muslims in America are labeled terrorists. Muslim women no longer feel safe to wear their headscarves as they have done before. Incidents of people being harassed publicly have become a daily fuel for media consumption. Fear has become a deeply rooted element of American culture.
In fact, this culture of fear has become dominant even in high-ranking policymaking circles such as the Congress. In an open and clear warning to anti-war groups and protestors, the House Majority leader recently said that there is ample time for a vigorous debate but now is the time for America to unite in one voice. This was a clear message to the anti-war camps within the U.S. that their position is not considered patriotic.
This trend is dangerous, and perhaps we should not be surprised when Bush makes the statement: "You are either with us or against us." This is just another way of silencing debate and portraying any dissent as unpatriotic. With this statement, Bush made it clear that he sees the world in black and white. There is no compromise, no debate, and no dialogue.
Al Qaida, in its narrow thinking, had also divided the world into two divisions: Dar-al-Islam (realm of peace) and Dar-al-harab (realm of war). Bush's outlook is no different. In his narrowmindedness, he is the equal of Al Qaida. He has divided the world into two distinctive camps: the axis of war and axis of peace.
Both Al Qaida and the American administration see the world in the same manner and both bring into play God's name as a justification for their extreme policies.
Both believe in out-of-place religious interpretations, and each believes that God is on their side.
In such an atmosphere of anger and hatred, vengeance and darkness, tolerance could no longer survive. But America should know one thing: it is not hatred that drives people of the Arab and Muslim world to stand against it. Rather it is its arrogant attitude and its unjust and double standards that make people hate America.
To ease the tension and alleviate the anti-American sentiment, America should stop acting like the bully that cuts into the supermarket line simply because of size and strength. And President Bush should stop acting like the cowboy seeking vengeance.
Many commentators believe that because Bush was losing the war against Al Qaida, he had to turn to Iraq. Hence, it is the policy of vengeance and intolerance that still dictates American foreign policy.
It is time for America as well as the Muslim world, we believe, to put aside their differences and work together so that they are able to reclaim the greatness of their respective cultures. If the level of tolerance and debate in both cultures continues to deteriorate and if both continue with their inward withdrawal, both will certainly lose everything that they may have stood for: principles and ideals that turned both of them into great civilisations.
I hope that history is not doomed to repeat itself, for we should always remember that great empires are not destroyed by outside forces, but rather by forces within. We only hope that history's lessons are fully understood by those who guide America's destiny and that of the world.
www.ctrl.org DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are unwelcomed. Substance—not soap-boxing—please! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'—with its many half-truths, mis- directions and outright frauds—is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRLgives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply.
Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at:
http://www.mail-archive.com/[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ <A HREF="">ctrl</A> ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Om
