I was reading headlines of the different national and international media outlets this morning and came across one on MSNBC "Taliban sees little need for foreign fighters" and it got me thinking about the recent defections of Western persons to Taliban and Al-Qaeda camps in the Middle East. Over the past six to eight months the Star Tribune has been reporting on the mysteries behind several Somali-American men that have left Minnesota only to be later to be discovered to have a hand in bombings in the Middle East. Just this past week, a story circulated that four Americans, turned in by their parents, left for the Middle East, namely Pakistan, to train with Al-Qaeda. The reason of my focus on these events is I wonder if the escalation of Americans going to the Middle East to join Al-Qaeda or the Taliban is similar to the tensions that existed in the United States during the late 60's.
During that time we had the Weatherman Underground, many protests in the United States over the Vietnam War, and the march for civil rights by Malcolm X, Martin Luther King, Jr, and others. Are we experiencing a similar movement in regards to the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq? Or is this a bigger war being waged on Western ideals? I will admit that I was not born until 1971 so I did not experience the 60's as my elders and have to revert to their recollection of history and what can be gleaned from history books. So I pose this analogy to my elder readers: Are the events we see with the migration of Americans to the Middle East to gain terrorist training creating the ground swell of anti-establishment sentiment that engulfed the late 60's and early 70's in the United States?
Or is it possible that for every movement...there is a fringe who is louder and more boisterous?
ReplyDeleteHow many members did the Weathermen claim? Those who followed Malcom X, Black Panthers, etc...?
It probably wasn't very many, but they were loud, and the media loved the story.
Western ideals are fine. A majority of Muslims enjoy a peaceful happy life.
When you have establishment, you have anti-establishment. Remind me of a time in history when the world lived in peaceful harmony.
Besides, I think its funny that we as a society see hatred and disgust for the Taliban and radical islam, but the religous crazies who want to kill abortion doctors and that guy who says "God kills fags dead" gets way less press. Oh and the skin-head hate groups among us they must be OK too.
The question which is used as the title for this post severely overstates what is going on with "Westerners" being "attracted" to the "Taliban philosophy".
ReplyDeleteTo even consider that the few (yes, few) instances of Americans (citizens or not) going overseas to be trained as fighters is analogous to the civil rights movement or the anti-war protests against Vietnam does a disservice to all of those who sacrificed to effect change in this country. Your desire to "promote conceptual ideals" is really lost on me when you ask such ridiculous questions.
I agree that right now the migration is being done by a few. Yet, how am I doing a disservice by asking the question to those who protested against Vietnam or pushed for civil rights? Is it because we are talking about happenings inside the United States? I am not marginalizing the efforts made by those who opposed the Vietnam War and pushed for civil rights.
ReplyDeleteAs the world becomes more global and President Obama heads off to Copenhagen today, we must either acknowledge global migiration or hunker down to protect our turf.
Anon that commented first makes an interesting point that we are demonizing the Taliban and radical Islam while accepting the religious right that blows up abortion clinics. Then again, a byproduct of the freedoms we all enjoy demands that we allow those on the fringe to exists and practice their beliefs no matter how offensive we may view them. That is the true test to every freedom we have.
And as for a time when the world live in harmony: How about the time before the apple was eaten in Eden?
Practicing ones beliefs and blowing up buildings and killing innocent people who are conducting a legal business and providing a service deemed valuable to others are not one in the same. No one has the freedom to kill another and accepting that behavior is not a test of my freedom. It's an assualt against it.
ReplyDeleteI did not mean for my words to inferred that damaging property is a byproduct of our freedom; rather the mere existance of ones to voice and peacefully demonstrate ones voice. I apologize for the confusion. The fact that American's have, relatively, security in property is what allows us to leave our homes each day to work, exercise our rights, and have our voices heard.
ReplyDeleteYou do disservice to all of those who sacrificed to effect change, very positive change in this country, by asking your readers to compare them to a few individuals that seek to wage war, kill innocent people and create or further the sense of terror in Somalia or Pakistan. Do you truly believe that the "Taliban Philosophy" is on par with the goals of the civil rights movement? In most instances I would view this as a rhetorical question; however, given some of your comments, I'm not so sure it is in your case.
ReplyDeleteThe idea that we must "acknowledge global migration" is just as ludicrous. From what I recall, this "radical" concept of "global migration" is really nothing new (see Christopher Columbus or the Pilgrims).
Finally, to say that you "did not mean for your words to inferred damaging property is a byproduct of our freedom" is at best insincere and at worst an outright lie. Look at what you wrote: "a byproduct of the freedoms we all enjoy demands that we allow those on the fringe to exist and practice their beliefs no matter how offensive we may view them." There is no inference necessary. If you believe bombing abortion clinics or killing doctors that perform abortions is something that we have to "allow" as "a byproduct of our freedoms", then perhaps it's time to throw in the towel and move far, far away.
I do not subscribe that "a byproduct of the freedoms we all enjoy demands that we allow those on the fringe to exist and practice their beliefs no matter how offensive we may view them", my reference is not to their actions rather to their beliefs. That being said, I am not being insincere or stating an outright lie.
ReplyDeleteHow is the changes fought for in the United States during the 60's and 70's not similar to the Taliban or Radical Islam pushing for change for thier beliefs? I am not saying I agree with their beliefs nor condone the suicide bombing arm of their actions. The Somali population in Minnesota is taking the migiration of their youth toward the "Taliban Philosophy" serious. In the aftermath of the shootings at Fort Hood, the military is taking a fresh look at it as well. So, why is it so far off to contemplate the similarities?
Let's hear it from the author. How are the changes fought for in the U.S. during the 60's and 70's similar to the Taliban or Radical Islam pushing for change for their beliefs?
ReplyDeletePlease, do tell. I'd love to get your explanation of how the civil rights movement in the U.S. (the reform movements aimed at outlawing racial discrimination against African Americans) is similar to the Taliban or Radical Islam pushing for change for their beliefs.
Actually, there are limits in place on beliefs. You do realize that the rights and protections of the Constitution aren't absolute? That there are limits to hate speech and threats against the public or our leaders. That there are restrictions on what you can use your property for. And that some want to limit the speech of those not on the fringe such as in flag burning.
ReplyDeleteI do acknowledge that restrictions have been placed since the Bill of Rights establishment and yes making threats or doing physical harm does not translate to freedom of speech. A civil discourse does need decorum otherwise its anarchy. My thought on freedom of speech is that anyone ought to be able to say what they want no matter what they are saying in so far as they are not outright threatening the person or property of another.
ReplyDeleteAs for how changes during the 60's and 70's parallel the migration of some toward the "Taliban philosophy" is this: First I am thinking globally while framing it within the confines of American history. From what I have gleaned from history books and talking with those that participated in the 60's and 70's, I can see parallels between the struggles that took place here in the United States with those that feel the United States are pushing an Imperial agenda on the Middle East. An Imperial agenda that wants to eradicate a specific sect of Islam prompt up by Christian and Jewish ideology. Am I stretching the similarities, I don’t know which is why I posed the question to those that read my blog.
Thoughts….
What are the specific parallels? I don't see one specific similarity listed.
ReplyDeleteI just don't see how pushing for the equal right to vote is the same as not allowing women to vote. How racial equality is the same as suppression. How the right for all to speak freely is the same as supressing all speech of those who disagree. How peacefully marching and protesting, and yes nearly all of it was peaceful, is the same as bombing innocent people, taking hostages, murder women, children, foreign journalist, etc.
No one in the 60s wanted to eradicate anyone. It was about inclusion, not exclusion. Are you saying the US is trying to eliminate Islams and is forcing Christianity on people?
Specific parallels are difficult to make as they are relative parallels. As equities were righted by the marches, protests, and peaceful demonstrations (for the most part) in the United States during the 60's and 70's parrallel the equities that the "Taliban Philosophy" is attempting to secure from the Imperial West and Christain and Jewish ideology. I do not contend to agree with their methods nor agree with their message, yet that does not prevent me from drawing parallels.
ReplyDeleteAsk yourself this: If NATO did not have a presence in the Middle East as it does would the "Taliban Philosophy" be as much a threat to the West as it is being protrayed? In the end it is relative parallels.
If you want to make a comparision to the civil rights movement, I think you are using the wrong spectrum of the movement. I think the more accurate comparision, in both ideology and methodology, would be to the KKK.
ReplyDelete