Links to other sites on the Web
In one his articles, recently, Thomas L. Friedman (NY Times) said that, to end Muslim hostility to the Jewish state (and to America by inference), we need to get the war off the TV. (See full article at the link, below)
Being more free, myself, to indulge in a more wistful idealism than Mr. Friedman can afford to serve up to the clientelle and readership of the New York Times, I would like to offer a sharper focus towards some lasting solution. While I appreciate Mr. Friedman's cosmetic approaches, there will need to be some fundamental internal, philosophical, and cultural transformations--in the direction of a more inclusive sense of identity and a more inclusive sense of responsibility--within the experience of each individual in America, in Israel-Palestine, and beyond.
In his article Mr. Friedman laments that the spread of democracy in Islamic states is not going to happen anytime soon. But with a glance at the current state of our own American democratic union, are we sufficiently out of the woods, ourselves, with regards to this "Great Experiment"?
We need not be quick to spread a democracy which is high on licentiousness and self-centered privilege, and short on a sense of duty and responsibility. We need to prioritize these moral constucts, ourselves, before stretching out our hands to claim moral superiority.
Much more important that getting this war off TV is the need of getting the war out of our hearts--and eradicating the sentiments that block us from seeing 'the face of God' in my estranged brother. The rest will follow suit.
Friedman writes: "At the same time, America needs to make a much bigger investment in public diplomacy in the Muslim world, and vigorously challenge what is published there. In an era when blind rage can become a weapon of mass destruction, this is as important as any missile shield. We can make a difference with young people. Their views are easily acquired and easily shed. The one time Wisam's eyes lit up was when she talked about studying in America."
Again, we need to be wary of 'investments in public diplomacy' which deal only with cosmetics (and with how we are perceived); yet which refuse to deal substantively with the internal attitudes and the self-centered motives behind the foreign policy which create the very images we would like to cosmetically alter.
As we become pure and true in our life-styles and motives, the people of the world--whatever their faith and political philosophy--will have nothing to fear.
Isaiah 49 [22] -- Thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I will lift up mine hand to the Gentiles, and set up my standard to the people: and they shall bring thy sons in their arms, and thy daughters shall be carried upon their shoulders.
Chistians, Muslims, and several new dispensational communities of faith would claim with Jews the call to be a separate and chosen people. But, this glorious day Isaiah envision (be it a victory for the 1st, 2nd, and/or 3rd Israel) has been delayed by our own excesses.
May we hasten to establish the internal standard that God so desparately wants to see, here.
Friedman continues, "A U.S. diplomat in Jakarta told me she had just visited the town of Malang, in East Java, and had seen an Indonesian boy there wearing an Osama bin Laden T-shirt and a New York Yankees cap. So all isn't lost. But we must make sure that he grows into the hat, not the T-shirt."
We 'made' Osama bin Laden for our own, American self-interest. Then it is our responsibility to 'unmake' him--to restore him--not anihilate him.
But, in order to accomplish such a transformation in him (and in the Muslim youth around the world), we will have to accomplish a transformation in our own Yankee-mindset that would: allow us to use a bin Laden for our own self-interest, only; and then allow us to throw him away, or demolish him, when his usefulness to "America's interest" is over.
People are generally not so stupid. They can see right through us.
Links to other sites on the Web
House on a Hill
Friedman: "Listening to the Future"
This page prepared by Carlton L. Johnson
© 2002 carltonj@hotmail.com