INTERESTING INSIGHT INTO THE WAR ON TERROR

Interesting insight into the War on Terror

Paul Shelby Lewis

On April 24^th, Dinesh D'Souza, former Reagan Administration policy analyst and author of What's so Great about America, What's so great about Christianity, and Illiberal Education, was the featured lecturer at the 2008 Veritas Lecture Series held at Southern Evangelical Seminary.  In the course of his lecture and the Q&A session he discussed the "War on Terror" and the "Culture War" in America, and how the two relate to one another.

Now, I must say from the outset that his position probably shocked a few in the audience; a group that was likely expecting an impassioned defense of the need to reach Muslims for Christ and the need of the government to continue its fight against radical Islam.  But, while these points were given a brief defense, D'Souza argued that an entirely new approach is needed in order to begin making significant inroads in the "War on Terror."  The goal, he said, should not be simply the killing of radical Muslims, but rather driving a wedge between traditional Islam and its radicals. 

Why should we seek to drive a wedge between these two groups?  After all, aren't radical Muslims simply the product of traditional Islam being carried to its logical conclusions?  The answer to the second question is both yes and no, D'Souza argued.  Certainly, verses can be taken from the Koran to encourage killing in the name of Allah, and this is exactly the tactic used by radical Muslims to appeal to traditional Muslims.  But we also have to deal with the fact that "sword" verses can be found in the Old Testament.  Why, then, has Islam become a religion most known for its adherents strapping bombs to their chests, while Christianity and Judaism have not?  D'Souza's answer:  Religious differences are not necessarily the justification (or at least the only justification) used by radical Muslims for attacking western societies.  Why?

First of all, specifically with regard to the United States, D'Souza argued that it is simply not the case that Muslims look west and see a Christian nation.  If you listen carefully to their sermons, you will see that quite the contrary is the case; Islam sees the United States as a pagan, godless society that is a threat to their traditional values.  When Muslims across the globe are given a picture of America, it is usually an America that supports gay marriage as an equal right, pornography as a form of free speech, prostitution as a right to work, and education that gives contraceptives to teenagers.  When such "values" are brought into their own culture, Muslims quite predictably put up their defenses.  In a blog that addresses this point, he stated, "[Muslims abhor] the tenets of modern liberalism.  And by equating America with such things as blasphemy, pornography, prostitution and homosexuality, the radical Muslims appeal to ordinary Muslims to join their cause in a battle against the Great Satan" (http://news.aol.com/newsbloggers/bloggers/dinesh-dsouza)

Another reason often given by conservatives for Islamic resistance to western influence is that Islamic nations are resistant to modernity.  But this is just not true, D'Souza argued.  Consider that most leaders of radical Islam are extremely well educated (doctors, scientists, sociologists, and PhD's).  Further, Muslims appreciate the comforts of modernity just as non-Muslims do.  They like cars, televisions, modern medicine, air conditioning, airplanes, and cell phones.  Muslims and Muslim nations, D'Souza pointed out, embrace modernity; it is how they see Western modernity that is the source of tension.  To paraphrase his lecture, Muslims love technology; but they don't want Brittany Spears, Paris Hilton, or Hugh Hefner.

With those ideas in mind, how should our government adapt in order to help fight the War on Terror?  Fundamentally, D'Souza argued, we need to show the world that American culture is not one in the same with Hollywood and radical left-wing liberalism; as a whole American culture is quite the opposite.  Most Americans outside of Los Angeles and San Francisco have an appreciation for spiritual things, for strong family values, and for high school education that is not rated X.  But the Muslim world only sees and hears a culture that promotes promiscuity, infidelity, the homosexual agenda, the loss of childhood innocence, and the worship of wealth.  Maybe it is time for the War on Terror to invest in a media campaign that shows the true identity of the people of the United States. 

This is but a short review of the lecture given by D'Souza.  His new theory will probably go unwelcome in conservative and Christian circles (at least for the time being), since we tend to view every proposal as an either/or proposition, rather than a both/and solution.  But he may turn out to be right on the money; it certainly wouldn't be the first time.  Time will tell, but in the meantime we ought to give the man that which he has earned; the right to be heard without being castigated as he was on his AOL blog.

By John Paul Brannon Click here for bio and archived articles

It isn't either/or... Posted On: 06/06/08 03:17:36 PM Age 29, MD "It is not Christianity that Islam preaches against; but it is the non Christian views that have become so prominent in our entertainment culture that they preach against and fear." It is both. This article is wrong on many points. Posted On: 05/07/08 12:42:36 PM Age 27, CANADA It is entirely untrue to say that when Islam looks at the west they "don't see a Christian nation" but rather a liberal nation that supports homosexuality, prostitution and the like. Ask a Muslim. Get a friend in Saudi Arabia. I have. The Muslims, along with their Qu'ranic mandate to obliterate the "people of the book", believe everyone in America is Christian (the same way ignorant people here assume everyone in the middle east is a Muslim). They see homosexuality and pornography as proof of the evils of Christianity. Also, the argument that their are "Sword verses in the Old Testament" as well is rediculous. This comes from a total misunderstanding of Christianity and Islam. The Bible NEVER EVER even ONCE commands believers that they should go out into the world and kill any muslim they find. There are places where God commanded Israel to go up against perverted nations and wipe them out. God spews out the inhabitants of any land that becomes too corrupt. He did it with Israel too. But the Qu'ran mandates that good Muslims must kill the infidel and the people of the book. And there is no moral law (i.e., Ten Commandments, etc.) in the 'Koran' either. The only code a Muslim is the follow is the example of Muhammed, who himself slaughtered thousands of Jews and Christians. THE IMMORALLITY OF OUR NATION IS TAKING OVER THE WORLD Posted On: 05/03/08 07:03:10 PM Age 64, OH D'Souza is not saying that Islam never persecuted Christians or Jews before. He is saying that the immorality of our nation has fueled the fire and gave ammo to the ones who want violence. They fear our way of life which is taking over the whole earth. Don't you fear this same thing. There has been periods that Islam has been fairly peaceful toward the Jews and Christians and other times when they have not. Lou not buying Posted On: 05/03/08 03:21:29 PM Age 47, IL This has not to do with morals--the most moral male non-Muslim still is going to be dhimmi-taxed and offered the "opportunity" to convert or die (well, the moderate may only shun you) Don't even ask what happened to the female! 'Happened throughout history. Have a gander at some pics of "The Slave," an antibellum period marble lifesize sculpture. It depicted a white Christian woman and her cross rosary, enduring the worst of humiliation at the hands of you-guessed-it, her chin held up. They'll defile a schoolmarm. This sculpture woke up the popular culture back in early American history. Read up on what Thomas Jefferson was against. It has nothing to do with our morals and more to do with their lack thereof. Sorry...not buying. Slave traders were considered moderates too, because they were not particular whom they enslaved. If you're not one of them and you're female, you're a ...they have a word for it-and it translates "whore" Chivalrous men need a wake-up call instead of whining about those few loose womnen of the population that happen to have the media's attention. Sounds good but doesn't seem convincing Posted On: 04/29/08 11:07:36 PM Age 53, AK Read about Brigitte Gabriel's experience in Lebanon and you will see that this won't work. There has been no change in the way Islam deals with Christians and Jews since the Seventh Century, and they are very frank about it. Right On Posted On: 04/29/08 05:33:14 PM Age 60, MS I have worked in the Muslim world of the Middle East for about 30 years I would have to say that Mr. D'Souza's comments are probably spot on and more true than any of us realize! I would love to see or read his whole lecture. D'SOUZA IS CORRECT Posted On: 04/29/08 05:13:33 PM Age 64, OH It is not Christianity that Islam preaches against; but it is the non Christian views that have become so prominent in our entertainment culture that they preach against and fear. D'Souza is correct. It is the immoral views that many of our young soldiers have that makes it almost impossible for them to be successful in Iraq and Afghanistan. When are nation was Christian there was no clash of our cultures. It was when our nation became liberal and fell from Christian values that the clash came. Lou Interesting Insight into the War on Terror Posted On: 04/29/08 03:21:48 PM Age 49, SC D'Souza is correct as far as it goes. Unfortunately, many Americans outside Los Angeles and San Francisco have sex outside of marriage, drink alcohol, have abortions, take the name of the Lord in vain, and a thousand other things that are offensive to Muslims. Even if Hollywood dropped into the ocean, the U.S. would still be the Great Satan. Not just "Those Liberals" Posted On: 04/29/08 02:11:38 PM Age 48, CA No matter who conducts the study, the divorce rate, abortion rate, teen pregnancy rate, and just about every other ones of the vices of the world are no different within our Churches as they are for the heathens on the outside. We pay a lot of lip service to God's way but go on and do what the world does. And now, we advocate imposing this upon the rest of the world in the name of freedom. Peter warned about this when he wrote "Promising freedom while they themselves are slaves to deparavity" The Enemy at Home Posted On: 04/29/08 12:01:16 PM Age 49, MI D'Souza's point that liberal America is seen a main threat to Islam is discussed extensively in his book: The Enemy at Home.