The 10th Anniversary of 9/11

On September 11, 2001, we were still living in California. The Fall quarter had not yet started at Cal State San Bernardino, so I had no classes that day. I got up in the morning and switched on the radio to the local NPR station, KVCR, as was my habit. Immediately, I realized that it was NOT the usual Morning Edition. I turned on the TV to see the shocking pictures of the twin towers burning and then, a little later, collapsing. I felt numb the whole day, even though I've never even been in New York and didn't have any friends living there. This was clearly a terrorist attack on the entire country, and, in reality, on modern civilization.

It wasn't long before it became very clear who had carried out the attack. More perplexing, to Americans at least, was "Why?" Americans are good-hearted people, and so they naturally have been trying to figure out what horrible thing they must have done to deserve such a terrible attack. This tendency to blame themselves has only grown as we prepare to mark the 10th anniversary of these attacks.

But what if the premise is wrong? Perhaps it wasn't a reaction to ANYTHING America had done at all. Or, perhaps it was a reaction to something GOOD that America stood for.

The first stop in searching for the reasons should be the writings of Al-Qaida and other radical Islamicist organizations. If you do this, the reasons become clear almost immediately.

Their entire philosophy and mode of operation is based on their interpretation of Islam (which, unfortunately, is quite orthodox and mainstream). Here are some of the key points:

According to them, Islam is the only true religion (something several other religions, though not all, also claim to be), and it is to be carried to all the world. Non-believers must first be told of the religion and given the opportunity to accept it. But, if they do not, believers are instructed to impose Islam by force (this is quite UNLIKE other religions). Islamic law, known as sharia, is to be imposed on everyone. At least two other religions (Judaism and Christianity) are tolerated, to some extent, under sharia law, but their adherents are to be strictly limited in many ways, including special clothing, lower places of worship, special taxes, and other clear symbols of their second-class status.

Most of America's most cherished ideals are basically anathema to sharia law, including nearly all freedoms: freedom of religion, freedom of speech (especially freedom to criticize religions and their prophets, including Mohammed), equality of men and women, etc. etc. In other words, by their own views, the radical Islamicists attack America precisely because of its ideals.

This means that there are really only two possible responses. The first is to capitulate to Islam and give up on American ideals and freedoms. Freedom of speech must be limited, especially speech critical of Islam or not sufficiently respectful of its Prophet. Other religions can, and perhaps even MUST, be criticized, but Islam must NEVER be criticized (no "Islamophobia" allowed!).

The second possible response is to defend America's values. This would require courage, long-term commitment, clarity about the enemy, and a willingness to fight, even when it means war.

So far, I'm sorry to say, America seems to be gradually but steadily choosing the first option more than the second. If this continues, the terrorists of 9/11 will have won.