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” color: black; font-family: Times New Roman;”>After years of
slumber, the “holy wars” have wakened.
” color: black; font-family: Times New Roman;”>
” color: black; font-family: Times New Roman;”>Man’s longtime
obsession with the search for meaning is making headlines
again. The race for the White House was steeped in Christian
values. Islamic fundamentalists call out for war on the West.
The murky morality of the ‘90s has disappeared, replaced by
the opposite poles of good and evil. The sharp delineation is
unsettling.
Is this the
future of our planet? Can it be avoided? Globalization is
quite a buzzword lately. It has been on the lips of political
scientists, sociologists and pundits of news magazines. The future
is now, and the future means a greater degree of interconnectedness
between nations and cultures. The continents of Europe and
Africa have organized unions among their countries to protect the
interests of their people and promote
cooperation. Multinational corporations are no longer a
rarity, and businesses are strongly encouraged to seek out
international markets. They need more consumers, which other
nations happily provide.
” color: black; font-family: Times New Roman;”>
” color: black; font-family: Times New Roman;”>Western popular
culture has seeped into the traditions of Eastern peoples like a
persistent stain. For better or for worse, this is an era of unity
and intercourse.
” color: black; font-family: Times New Roman;”>The “holy
wars” are an antagonist to this unification, a rationale for
separation.
” color: black; font-family: Times New Roman;”>
” color: black; font-family: Times New Roman;”>In truth, religion
is inextricable from politics. There are examples of this murky
distinction everywhere, from the legal Easter holiday in the
” color: black; font-family: Times New Roman;”>United
States
” color: black; font-family: Times New Roman;”> to the socially
legitimized Hindu caste system. However, it is reprehensible and
condemnable to unleash religion as a political weapon or a
rationale for military action.
” color: black; font-family: Times New Roman;”>
” color: black; font-family: Times New Roman;”>Religion taps into
the deepest part of human consciousness. As mobilized Muslims chant
“Allah Akbar” or the president proclaims a personal
mission given to him by God, they are abusing and desecrating one
of the most sacred features of all cultures. They also encourage
the fragmentation of our modern global society.
” color: black; font-family: Times New Roman;”>
” color: black; font-family: Times New Roman;”>With these
“holy wars,” the wars of Christianity and the West
versus Islam and the East, with Judaism caught somewhere in the
middle, the differences between our hemispheres are accentuated and
cultivated.
” color: black; font-family: Times New Roman;”>
” color: black; font-family: Times New Roman;”>How can we expect
our people to support diversity and interchange when they hear
their peers referring to our opponents as “insurgents”
and “camel jockeys”?
” color: black; font-family: Times New Roman;”>We can’t
possibly have a realistic expectation of understanding when members
of the Islamic faith know that their actions have been utterly
demonized by much of the Western world. Communication between
nations is discouraged. Trade is stifled. Economic progress of
developing nations is stunted thanks to sanctions. New alliances
are formed; old ones are dismantled. It’s all a response to
these modern “holy wars.” No matter what countries are
involved,
” color: black; font-family: Times New Roman;”>America
” color: black; font-family: Times New Roman;”>England
” color: black; font-family: Times New Roman;”>Iran
” color: black; font-family: Times New Roman;”>Iraq
” color: black; font-family: Times New Roman;”>Afghanistan
boundaries are clear.
” color: black; font-family: Times New Roman;”>
” color: black; font-family: Times New Roman;”>Inherently, these
are wars of metaphysics, and you can choose the white chessmen or
the black ones. True global unity is a nice dream. We may not be
able to join hands across the planet to form a giant peace sign,
but someday we may be able to respect our neighbors as ourselves
and interact with them in a respectful manner.
” color: black; font-family: Times New Roman;”>
” color: black; font-family: Times New Roman;”>The “holy
wars,” terrorist efforts and this week’s attack on
Fallujah are all things that are a barricade to this future. As
long as people feel their most elemental values are being
threatened, a global society is an impossibility. A utopia and the
mere prospect of peace will remain equally improbable.
” color: black; font-family: Times New Roman;”>
Kat Stromquist is the assistant views editor
and a Newcomb College junior majoring in political science and
international relations. She can be reached for comment at
kstromqu@tulane.edu.The Holy vs. the holy
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