I don’t know about you, but I can’t seem to stop watching the news lately. The storming of the embassies in Egypt, Yemen, and Libya have me worried about the very real threat of war. I wonder if this could be that tipping point moment, much like the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand was for World War I or the bombing of Pearl Harbor was for World War II. Will our grandchildren look back and say, “That was it. That was the moment when everything changed?” And all because of some offensive, amateur video?
It would be funny, if it wasn’t so frightening.
I tried to explain it to my children and the only way I could come up with was to talk about playground bullies. When Florida-based evangelical Christian pastor, Terry Jones decided to create a video that was deeply insulting to Islam, it was like he had his thumbs against his cheeks with his fingers waving and his tongue out. You could almost hear him saying, “Nah-nah.”
Who’s The Bully?
And the bedraggled, embittered Muslims who view themselves as the victims of constant teasing have finally had enough. They are fighting back the only way they know how: kicking and screaming.
Just like playground dynamics everywhere, it is the kid who lashes out in violence that will be condemned. The taunter? Somehow he’ll get away with it.
If only we mothers could come together and sternly, but lovingly, say, “Enough!”
And of course, timing is everything. The trailer for the video was supposedly released earlier this summer. At the time, it had a a few thousand views. Then someone in the Muslim world decided to translate it right around 9-11 and page views are now over a million. All of it is stoking anti-American/anti-Muslim sentiment – a match to tinder that it is on its way to becoming a firestorm.
We managed to “dodge a bullet” by not erupting into a full-blown World War after the horrific events eleven years ago. Can we do that this time? Our baser instincts might call us to respond, hit back, show them “who’s who.” But, is that really the answer?
If we really are the example of Exceptionalism we so ardently want to believe, then shouldn’t we show the world how to behave when a bully is taunting you. You don’t taunt them and you don’t hit back. You seek to understand and then you calmly walk away.
So far restraint seems to be response by the current administration. I have my fingers crossed President Obama will listen to the words of Norwegian Prime Minister, Jens Stoltenberg, who, after the attack by Anders Behring Breivik, said,
“We are still horrified over what happened. But we will never give up our values. Our answer is more democracy, more openness, and more humanity.”
We can only hope.
Just as Reverand Jones cannot be said to be a genuine representative of Christ, should we be so quick to believe those who are indulging in violence are genuine representatives of their faith? We do not see much of it in OUR media coverage, but go online, go to the BBC, and you will find many disavowels of the violence by devout Muslims who decry the violence and apologize for the behavior of others. Let’s not be quite so quick to believe the terrorists who represent themselves as speaking for Islam and their “brothers”, just as we reject the notion that Mr. Jones speaks for Christianity.
You make such great points, Kat.We need to be careful that “pious” and “devout” do not become code words for violent fundamentalist. Thanks for joining the dialogue.
Amen!
After several hundred years of senseless rage, as much as I would like to believe that practicing this form of exceptionalism would actually work, I think I’m too jaded for that. Still, it’s the last best choice left. Eventually, they’ll get tired of it, too, right? You see, I am capable of naive hope, too!
Yes! This is the part we keep missing: “seek to understand.” We take the easy way and say, “they’re just jealous of us,” in the same way a mean clique would say.
Love that quote by Jens Stoltenberg.
Lisen, first let me say again how honored I am to be writing with you. Right out of the gate, on this very first post, the need and opportunity for civil discourse is apparent. It’s fascinating to me really. We both see the issue as bullying, but we identify the bullies differently.
To me, the bullies here are the terrorists. Not the whole of the Muslim community worldwide. Not even the people like Terry Jones who insult Islam. You don’t see the entire Muslim world rise up against Jones, just like you don’t see the entire Christian world rise up against the many commentators, film makers, and entertainers in America who make a sport of deeply insulting Christianity. Reasonable people exercise self-control and as you suggest walk away.
No, the people who lash out in violence are the terrorists. When they attack and kill our citizens, they’ve chosen to elevate the situation from an insult to a crime. I wish we could walk away, but the terrorists have shown us repeatedly that doesn’t work with them. When we walk away, they pursue us. They will continue to attack us unless and until the consequence for such actions deters them.
Lisen, I so wish we could as mothers say to the terrorists, “Enough!” But they’re not children. And they’re not listening to us or the voices of peace and moderation in their own communities.
I am more in agreement with your position. I don’t understand how a film, cartoon or verbal insult can rally a people to global action , but, the killing of women and children and other innocent Muslims all over the Region doesn’t bring the same unity of purpose! And, I don’t believe walking away from bullies in elementary school or in life is the best way. Finally, the people who initially started Arab Spring were not rallied by insults but by food shortages, lack of jobs, lack of freedom, etc. Those were the original Tahir Square demonstrators. Who are these people today? Soccer fanatics, thugs, unemployed, angry people who need an outlet, any outlet to release their rage. And I’m not naive. People don’t like Americans and for good reasons. Our representatives do not always represent us, the American people, in a good way, based upon our best values but, often our worse values,ie. greed, win at all cost, patronization, ignorance of other cultures and no desire to learn, etc
This sounds like fun – the blog I mean. Let’s start with something simple. The “Florida-based evangelical Christian pastor, Terry Jones” should not be thought of as a representative of Christ. There are a great many examples of people who proudly wear the label of Christian who will be hearing “I never knew you.”
(I promise, that is the only scripture I will intone in your general direction today.)
I apologize for the actual Christians who do not stand up and disavow evil done in the name of Christ, so long as you understand I hold no official position in the church, with the possible exception of running the sound board this week (yeah – cool).
Much of your reasoning I agree with, but one thing at a time. And time is one thing we apparently have. I took mine to type, and as you read this you spared for me some of yours.
Roy,
I am so glad you clarified that Terry Jones is not, in your view, a representative of Christ. He isn’t in mine either.
Lisen
Ditto.