There are two events within my generation that everyone is aware of where they were at the time. The death of Diana Princess of Wales and the devastation in New York on September 11th 2001. The 9/11 attacks created fear, loathing and also questions of why? America perceived itself as the global good guy, why would someone want to attack the heart of something so benevolent and fruitful?
Approaching the ninth anniversary of the attacks and the occasion seems to have generated another portrait of America within itself and not particularly flattering. Terry Jones, (not of Monty Python fame) an evangelical preacher from Florida, has decided that on September 11th he will burn a copy of the Koran in his front garden. Mr Jones, who leads a congregation of around 50, will create a bonfire burning t-shirts with the slogan ‘Islam is the Devil’. Rightly, it has been condemned by senior figures including General David Petraeus; but ultimately it highlights America’s insularity and fringes. America has its own history of burning crosses, most notably the Ku Klux Klan. The Klan’s motives were through the literal interpretation of Genesis and that black people were born with the mark of Cain. It is not black and white; but it seems so easy to compare these literal interpretations to that of say, Islamic fundamentalism.
If the burnings go ahead, then there will be a backlash and we will see comparisons to the cartoon drawings of the prophet Mohammed. It could also create casualties in current American war zones or add further tinder to an already huge fire. America has a tough relationship with the Muslim world and the Islamic religion, look at the hype around a proposed Islamic centre near Ground Zero. The difference with this building is that it is not looking for publicity and its purpose seems to be creating greater harmony. America’s image was tarnished in the aftermath of 9/11 and its belligerent wars did little to win it further friends abroad. The one thing that I hope people remember was that in the following weeks after 9/11 was the surge on Amazon in American’s buying copies of the Koran to try and understand what type of people could have caused the attacks. Unfortunately, it appears the unextinguished fires of hate appear prevalent of both sides of the argument and these hot heads will grab the headlines.
Approaching the ninth anniversary of the attacks and the occasion seems to have generated another portrait of America within itself and not particularly flattering. Terry Jones, (not of Monty Python fame) an evangelical preacher from Florida, has decided that on September 11th he will burn a copy of the Koran in his front garden. Mr Jones, who leads a congregation of around 50, will create a bonfire burning t-shirts with the slogan ‘Islam is the Devil’. Rightly, it has been condemned by senior figures including General David Petraeus; but ultimately it highlights America’s insularity and fringes. America has its own history of burning crosses, most notably the Ku Klux Klan. The Klan’s motives were through the literal interpretation of Genesis and that black people were born with the mark of Cain. It is not black and white; but it seems so easy to compare these literal interpretations to that of say, Islamic fundamentalism.
If the burnings go ahead, then there will be a backlash and we will see comparisons to the cartoon drawings of the prophet Mohammed. It could also create casualties in current American war zones or add further tinder to an already huge fire. America has a tough relationship with the Muslim world and the Islamic religion, look at the hype around a proposed Islamic centre near Ground Zero. The difference with this building is that it is not looking for publicity and its purpose seems to be creating greater harmony. America’s image was tarnished in the aftermath of 9/11 and its belligerent wars did little to win it further friends abroad. The one thing that I hope people remember was that in the following weeks after 9/11 was the surge on Amazon in American’s buying copies of the Koran to try and understand what type of people could have caused the attacks. Unfortunately, it appears the unextinguished fires of hate appear prevalent of both sides of the argument and these hot heads will grab the headlines.
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