Tuesday, July 12, 2005

Inevitable Collision Course?

Ronald Bailey suggests that a conflict between the liberal democracies and Islamic radicalism is inevitable irregardless of the direction of our current foreign policy. As of late, I am prone to agree. At times, the humanitarian individualist in me awakens to insist, human nature being what it is, if we walk away, surely they'll walk away. Don't get me wrong, I am not of the Chomskyist-mindset that we (the American people and our government) are completely at fault for inviting terrorism to our shores. Still, our politico-interventionist policies in the Middle East have not exactly endeared us to the Islamo-wack-jobs who are predisposed to strapping shrapnel and powder to their chests either. So, my libertarian-isolationist sense says, leave them alone. Let them run their respective countries into the sand. Why should we care? It might be a good thing to have a few more backward, anti-capitalist, totalitarian/monarchic, sexist, theocracies around - if for no other reason than to remind ourselves that liberal institutions are in fact superior to all else.

But, for the reasons that Bailey suggests, I don't think it is realistic nor wise to simply live and let live. Think about it. We have quasi-religious zealots within our own borders that are not content to confine their beliefs and related practices to themselves and their family, but rather feel strangely compelled to petition the power of the state to coercively insure that we all pray in schools; to censor what we all watch on television or in the movies; to prevent us all from controlling our own bodies in life and when death comes knocking -- should I go on? Similar to our home-grown theocrats, the "Islamo-Fascists" (borrowing the term from Neal Boortz) believe that we are an immoral people that must repent - if not voluntarily then at the point of a sword. As a side note, why is it that so many "believers" of faith insist that the non-believers be either converted or silenced? Whatever the reason, it does not seem like peaceful coexistence is a possibility as religious fanaticism and tolerance are apparently incompatible. According to Bailey, Osama bin Laden has written:

The United States [must] "reject the immoral acts of fornication, homosexuality, intoxicants, gambling, and trading with interest.... It is saddening to tell you that you are the worst civilization witnessed by the history of mankind.

Creepy. Sounds like a phrase that could have come from 700 Club.
UPDATE: Related story about Van Gogh Murderer here.

2 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

The difference, of course, is that you never hear Pat Robertson urging his followers to go out and murder innocent people who happen to disagree with him and his philosophies.

Shooter

8:36 AM  
Blogger thebokononist said...

I agree with Shooter. PR and the like do not resort to violence (save the actions of some anti-abortion activists). But, using the state to forcefully implement your policies is simply violence for hire (or vote...)

8:51 AM  

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