06/21/10
When Arab and Muslim countries point out the unjust effects
of Western colonialism, imperialism and nationalism, particularly of the US and
Israel, these arguments are based on truth and high moral ground. It is true
that colonialism and western hegemony have not been one great ride of freedom,
liberty and justice for all; in fact, much has been unjust, particularly the
gross exploitation of peoples and resources. The enrichment of the West
corresponds exactly with the impoverishment of the Third World. This
interpretation is not radical and is taught in many history courses right here
in the USA.
I cannot therefore blindly defend Israel and the US with
unwavering patriotic absolutism. Yet when I look at the brutality of the Muslim
government of Sudan in Darfur and see a massive Muslim denial of any
wrongdoing, this is hypocrisy. When I
see Iranian oppression of any plural views what I see is an authoritarian
dictatorship and theocracy; who would want to live there? Turkey fights Kurds
who are exactly analogous to Palestinians, why stand up for one group of
oppressed and deny another? These
examples show a fundamental hypocrisy: those who call for justice on one hand
deny it on the other.
What I see is a struggle for hegemony, not truth and justice
for people in the world. Third World and other countries have legitimate gripes
and these are reasonable; this angle should be the basis of attack on the West.
What the leaders of Turkey and Iran are showing is that ultimately they are the
same type of oppressors and power mongers they accuse the West of being.
When informed world citizens see these kinds of
inconsistencies it is hard to get on any Turkish or Iranian bandwagon. Two
wrongs just don’t make a right. Justice cannot mean simply the imposition of
the winner’s policy; justice must have a universal application and this means
that some leaders must rise above, to be seen as true peacemakers, true
idealists and not simply politicians and governments trying to win and prevail.
Fred Allebach
No comments:
Post a Comment