A More Personal View
Every now and then I click on the "Next Blog" button that's on the upper right corner to see what other bloggers are writing about. It's amazing how many of these things are from Malaysia. And here I thought the most popular language on the Web was French.
Below is an excerpt from a rather interesting blog find. It features a personal view of the recent bombings in London. I added emphasis to the section that struck me as most interesting.
London saw the worst terrorist attacks in its history, and the first suicide bombings in Europe. A horrible tragedy, no doubt. What was reassuring was the way most British leaders - political and religious - responded. There was no mention of a 'crusade' or denigration of Islam. Prime Minister Blair was especially commendable for the mature way he handled news of the attacks, while hosting the G8 summit meeting in Gleneagles at the same time. What was also helpful was that Muslim leaders of all sects came together in England to unequivocally condemn the attacks and declare suicide bombing against civilians un-Islamic. Finally a fatwa that I can agree on! What is ironic is that these same religious leaders did not bat any eyelid when declaring suicide bombers in Iraq, Afghanistan and Israel martyrs. Even in Finsbury Park, where residents argued in favor of suicide attacks earlier, no one was visible who supported the London bombings. Everyone condemned the terrorist attacks. May be the fact that this time the genie attacked home had made these religious leaders sit up and talk sense. Is it too late though? I hope not!This points up several things. First, all this isn't really about religion. Second, this is proof that Tip O'Neill was right, all politics is local.
The media keeps emphasizing that terrorists of late have religious affiliations. This is a sham. Having read the Old Testament, the New Testament, the Koran, and having made more than the usually cursory study of religion that most people make, I don't see how anyone justifies mass murder of civilians -- particularly children -- as god's will. The war being waged isn't wholly holy. Overthrowing a government (say a democracy to form a theocracy) is purely political. If you don't recognize this then you might want to brush up on the Crusades.
Further evidence that the conflict isn't religious is the local political reaction mentioned above. It's the Politics 101 concept NIMBY - Not In My Back Yard. People don't usually mind letting others take the hit, make the sacrifice, or deal with the problem as long as they don't have to do so. The true meaning of the war finally struck those who previously had but a superficial view, just as most Americans didn't really care about the atrocities in Iraq or Afghanistan before 9-11.
Now if the terrorists would take a look at life the way others do they might understand the full impact of their actions. It's a matter of people, not ideologies. If only there was a "Next Perspective" button that we could press.
