Posted 5/29/2002 11:31:00 AM by Ocean Guy
Today I thought I'd weigh in with my Clash of Civilizations theme by talking a little about the "American Jihad" commencement address at Harvard. Matthew Yglesias and Glenn Kinen are Harvard students whose commentary deserves attention. An article from Zev Chafets is more background.
This whole issue seems to boil down to a conflict between realists and idealists. The idealists who support this speech seem to want us to believe that if we are educated about the virtues of Islam as presented by Mr Yasin, then we will be more tolerant; and that maybe that tolerance will lead us to peace among mankind. At the very least they would have us believe that we can coexist with Islam. I don't believe that any amount of education of Western Society will bring that closer to reality.

Islam itself must determine if it wants to coexist with the rest of the world. Can Islam be tolerant? Can Islam recognize the authority of secular governments and secular courts?

As it is practiced now, I have little hope of peaceful coexistance with Islam in my lifetime. The hate and intolerance preached in most of the Middle East against the non-muslim world will take at least a generation to change by "peaceful" means. But before that process can even begin, Islam must decide to be receptive to change. The struggle inside Islam to modernize is of interest to everyone on this planet. Will the voice of Islam that would have them return to the pure state of the religion from 1400 years ago prevail? Or will Islam be able to maintain its identity while modernizing and accepting coexistance with other cultures? Is the Islam that is practiced in the USA a beacon of tolerance and modernity that can show the Old World Islam how to thrive? The choice is not 'ours', the choice can only be made by Muslims.

While attention to the debates and activities within the Islamic world is essential, the presentation of idealistic viewpoints without balancing them with the reality of the situation, can only harm the process.
I have no doubt of the good intentions of the decision makers in choosing to publicize Mr Yasin's ideas of Jihad. But I shudder to think of the unintended consequences of supporting such a distasteful issue.... more to come.