The year 2002 has come to a close. It was a year full of news. A great deal of it was of global importance and many of the stories were related to Islam and the Muslim world.
There is no longer any serious doubt anywhere that the events of Sept. 11 created a new world order. And in that new order there is no doubt at all that there is now only one superpower: The United States. At present the superpower is behaving like the proverbial bull in a china shop. It is not yet breaking but it is certainly threatening, accusing and blackmailing. It is committing acts that would cause America’s legendary Founding Fathers to turn in their graves if they knew.
Far too much American anger, wrath and simple belligerence has been directed against the Muslim world. America, it seems, has to have an enemy and in the absence of “godless communism,” their war on terror is viewed by many as a “war on Islam.” The evil done by a few Muslims has been expanded in the American media to include all Muslims. Nobody denies that America — or any other country — has the right to defend itself against terror. Nobody denies that America — or any other country — has the right and the obligation to safeguard the lives and property of its citizens. At the same time, America — and every other country — should realize that we Muslims too oppose terror. We too have suffered because of terror. America is not the exclusive victim of terror though it likes to think it is and to use that to justify many of its actions. The demonization of Muslims and the deliberate attacks on Islam by no less a person than US Attorney General John Ashcroft leave us sadly shocked and disappointed.
The cartoons ridiculing our Holy Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, are justified by officials and the media who say — predictably — the press is free. Well, the press should be free but if it is, where are the cartoons, articles and TV shows presenting Arab or Palestinian opinions and views?
The ineffective and virtually impotent Arab PR programs have themselves become objects of ridicule and serve to do no more than increase the existing sense of helplessness. The self-appointed public-relations gurus spouting the usual platitudes about the success of those PR programs have failed to realize something very important. The anti-Islamic hysteria and the defamation of Muslims and their leaders has been a well-planned, well-orchestrated effort. It has been carried out with consummate skill and finesse. The hysteria and defamation cannot be countered or contained by the infantile puerility of the all too conventional Arab approach. The gurus serving Islam and the Arabs might just as well have not bothered to get out of bed.
As we look back at the year, we see that the attacks upon us have taken on a new and sinister dimension. Libelous and poisonous, the attacks have been both created and circulated by a powerful Zionist-backed lobby and its close allies. Against the background of sustained malicious attacks and allegations that distort, deal in half-truths, play to prejudices and simply lie, what can we do? What should we do? That may be a matter of debate but one thing is sure: We cannot, indeed we must not remain idle.
The time has come for us to look more closely at ourselves, to look honestly and analytically and to admit whatever we see — which will in many cases be painful to us. Once we have seen and admitted what is wrong, then comes the time for action. No self-indulgent pity, no claims that we are misunderstood and victimized, no turning away from the truth. A vital part of the success of this process depends upon our boldness in speaking out and challenging those who present and advocate ideas dressed in traditional language but which in fact too often run contrary to the best Islamic ideals of justice, fair play and tolerance. And a part of this tolerance will have to be — in the 21st century where we find ourselves — global cooperation. We are not an island, marooned and isolated; we are a part of the world and we must play our part in it. In order to do so, our children must be given a world-class education designed to produce caring, responsible and mature citizens, capable of making judgments, expressing logical opinions and demanding good governance.
As a society we have to learn something which is presently in short supply here: We must learn not only how to discipline ourselves but also the value of discipline in whatever we want to do. A part of the kind of discipline that is so necessary must be the conscious decision never to resort to violence as a way of solving our problems. We are, after all, the people of the Middle Path.
Indeed as has been said, whatever our options, a strong response must be made to those who speak and propagandize against us. We have no choice. We have no option. We must not fail ourselves or the world. At the same time, we must also pray that God Almighty preserve and protect our lands, our religion and our way of life, bring peace and prosperity to all humanity and strengthen men of goodwill whatever their religion. May God Almighty give honor to us all. Ameen.
Arab News Opinion 1 January 2003
