9/11 and the Ideological Crisis

Submitted by Christopher J Colna (United States), Sep 28, 2007 at 04:01

9/11 and the Ideological Crisis

by Christopher J. Colna

We have two strong and opposing ideologies here: Christianity and Islam.

Both are at war with each other.

The motive for the 9/11/2001 attacks were the illegal occupation of US troops in Middle Eastern Territories.
This comes as a shock too many. WMD's and our freedoms are not at issue. They had no bearing on the attacks.

When questioned about the current events, I mentioned this clash between these two belief systems to a well known tenured professor of philosophy and was met with the response, "That seems to be what is going on here."

This ideological crisis is evident by the illegal war in Iraq. We have an attempt to force a democracy on a foreign nation and, a despicable act. Moreover, we want to force Christian notions on Muslim people in their own home land because of notions like "the evil other". This is ethnocentrism. The US uses the law of force and not the force of LAW with regard to the illegal war in Iraq, to paraphase the Pope.

The "evil other" theme has been present throughout history and is recurrent. We have seen it emerge with ideas such as the 'evil' communists, the evil 'terrorists' and it parallels the notion or idea of the savage as in the 'savage' Irish and the 'savage' Native American who had to be 'tamed' and 'educated' and 'converted' before having his land taken and eventually his life taken at gunpoint.

Notions of 'barbaric' muslims, has resurfaced. A famous world leader says 'These people are barbaric."

So, we have two main belief systems diametrically opposing one another.

Coexistence and tolerance seem to be the solution.

The Judeo-Christian and Muslim traditions have been at war with one another since the time of Abram, each one claiming their own as the promised child. Was the promised child Isaac or Ismael? These brothers and their tribes have been at war with one another.

Again, peaceful coexistence and tolerance will help.

Like two mutually competing scientific theories, these ideologies clash and compete with one another, causing death and torture...

Perhaps they will defeat each other or a compromise will be made and ideological beliefs will fundamentally change.

Like two children these religious ideologies fight, each one having their book and beliefs, and each on claiming to be right, and each one claiming to be the choses people (God's select). These ideologies use violence to accomplish there aims, from flying planes into buildings to Tomahawk cruise missiles.

Which side is right?

There is an error in the question 'Which side is right' and the use of this question is a rhetorical device.

This question presupposes a dichotomy of choice and a dichotomy of morality (right and wrong). Most things are gray.

The use of such literary devices and cognitive distortions like 'black and white thinking' are inherent in this question, much in the same way they are inherent in statements such as 'You are EITHER for us OR against us."

A compromise must be made. Peace is more important than being right or preserving an interpretation of an ideological tradition.

Coexistence and peace may be the answer to the warring brothers.

Christopher J. Colna

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