Our cultural insensitivity

Here's an article that painstakingly tries to explain to Americans why the desecration of the Quran is such a big deal. The article is by M. A. Muqtedar Khan and is entitled, "Quran Desecration: Far Worse than Abu Ghraib". Here's a substantial excerpt:

The reports in the media that Americans at Guantanamo facility allegedly desecrated the Quran to torture prisoners has unleashed an intense wave of anti-Americanism in the Muslim World, which has already caused 16 deaths. This is worse than Abu Ghraib; Abu Ghraib represents the physical and psychological torture of a few Muslims, Quran desecration represents a spiritual, emotional and psychological torture of all Muslims. Even if it turns out that the Newsweek report was false, most people will see it as a cover up and another American attempt to eschew accountability.

For Muslims the Quran is the literal word of God, it is the living and eternal miracle of Prophet Muhammad, it is their direct link to the divine, it is the source of their faith, their values, their identity and it is without doubt the most important symbol of their religion. Americans, who have a rather cavalier attitude towards things religious, may not understand this, but for Muslims things that are sacred are indeed sacred.

The US government has allocated hundreds of millions of dollars to improve US image in the Islamic World, commissioning initiatives that include radio programs, Satellite TV, youth magazines and civil society empowerment programs. But all the gains from these expensive initiatives are dramatically undermined by a periodic display of civilizational insensitivity that reeks of acute disregard for Muslim sentiments.

The use of the word 'Crusades' by President Bush to describe his war on terror, the continuous revelations about the torture and abuse of Muslim prisoners in Abu Ghraib, Iraq and Guantanamo, Cuba, the reluctance to punish General Boykin for his Islamophobic bigotry are examples of how periodically the US government seeks to remind Muslims of its callous attitudes towards their rights and their religion.

The thing that hurts the most is that while there is verbal recognition of these problems there is no accountability. In a testimony to the Senate and House Armed Services Committee on May 7, 2004, Secretary Rumsfeld said that he took 'full responsibility' for what happened in Abu Ghraib. One would have thought that a resignation letter would follow. Nothing happened. It is still a mystery as to what Secretary Rumsfeld meant by 'full responsibility'. I have since met several leaders from the Muslim World and media persons who have remarked that Rumsfeld's words are just indicative of how empty and meaningless are the current administrations respect for religion, law and human rights.

You know, the our national narcissism really depresses me sometimes. We seem to have the idea that we Americans are the measure of all things and that the world revolves around us. The arrogance is truly appalling. How about a little collective humility for once?