Is the Cause of Terrorism Islam, or Foreign Policy? :: September 11 Terrorism Essays

Was the Cause of September 11 Islam or Foreign Policy?   George W. chaparral has taken a stand on the true nature of Islam, avocation it, for instance, a religion of peace. As strange as this is to hear from the chair of the United States, Bushs declarations have given rise to a good view of useful public discussion about Islam. Unfortunately, this discussion has too frequently accepted the confused terms of the presidents rhetoric Is there, or is there non, nighthing awry(p) in the nature of Islam? Salman Rushdie (Yes, This is About Islam, New York Times 11/2/01) and Jonathan Ebel (Territory is Not Mind, Sightings 11/15/01) both make some useful points in the process of taking up the question, but somehow leave standing the presidents fundamental misconception that a religion has an essence.   Surely it is not fair to say that September 11 is about Islam. Violent wickedness and intolerance can be adduced in too many corners of the sacred world to imagine that it comes, simply, from the doctrines of one holy book or another. At the same time, it is difficult for me to blame Salman Rushdie, especially, for perceiving something within Islam today that is prone to violence. His non-violent, literary attack on Islam was, after all, taken by some Muslims to confirm very real curses to his life. And, he marshals some reasonable assure that many Muslims do believe that Islam is on board with the September 11 terrorists.   Still, we ought not to declargon that September 11 is about Islam, especially if this heart that we ignore foreign policy, humanity, global society, and the just ordering thereof-- which Ebel says are obviously what September 11 is also about. Ebels list implies that a larger, broader causative story needs to be told, rather than simply to say that Islam gave us the horrors of September 11. I agree wholeheartedly. Believing too simplistic a causal story carries both moral and practical flaws. If Islam itself -- or somethi ng in its nature -- was the cause of the attacks, we could only prevent advance attacks by preventing further Islam. In this way, such a simplistic belief would tend to uphold persecution if not genocide against Muslims. From a practical standpoint, we will have to image the details of the real, long-term causal story if we wish to minimize the threat of repeated terrorism in America.