Viewing 9/11 From Abroad: A Personal Perspective - Page 2

Transiting from Dubrovnik to Greece and Turkey was also edifying. Less than 15 kilometers south of Dubrovnik there are still signs of the siege and shelling of the area in 1991-92. That an army would shell and pillage historic sites dating back to medieval times in the name of nationalism indicates the dangers of a desire to attack the "others" on a claim of patriotism and defending the homeland. And even though democracy in the city-state of Athens lasted longer than any modern democracy, it serves as evidence that mouthing democratic principles does not ensure it survives. That is particularly so when our foreign and domestic policies undercut the rights we avow.

To finish in Turkey, a nation that is 98+ percent Muslim, and be greeted as graciously as anywhere else was insightful. Granted, Turkey may have more "western influences" and we did not see radical Islamists in either of the regions we visited. Still there was an easy mix of what I would term the more secular and the more devout. We saw only one woman clad in a burqa but many wearing a hijab and abaya while carrying briefcases. The majority wore clothing that would attract no attention on a city street in the U.S. One tour guide, in fact, discussed at length (whether at government instruction or otherwise) the importance of the shared commonality of humankind, regardless of religion, ethnicity or culture.

All in all, we Americans seem to lack historical perspective. It is as if our 230 years as a democracy makes us the sole exemplar for the world and, thus, our government believes it is entitled to export our views and policies regardless of the history and culture of other countries. We rush to "commemorate" an event five years ago but far too many refuse to learn about or understand its historical background and context. We seek short-term political gratification rather than using history to evaluate long-term ramifications and develop perceptive policies. We prefer to mandate to other countries and cultures rather than learn about them.

Article Author: Tim Gebhart

Tim Gebhart lives in Sioux Falls, SD, where he practices law in order to provide shelter for his family, his dogs, and his books. He is a member of the National Book Critics Circle and his blog de guerre is A Progressive on the Prairie.

Visit Tim Gebhart's author page — Tim Gebhart's Blog