I had the privilege of living in the Middle East and traveling there extensively.  My family still has many friends there and two of my children have or are currently studying languages and Arabic/Islamic culture there.  In the wake of the tragic 9/11 events and its links to Muslim fundamentalists, many Americans are utterly dumbfounded as to why individuals "in the name of God" would carry out such atrocious acts.  This short piece may give some background, although it will still not satisfy the deeper questions we all have.  My reflections are gleaned from innumerable conversations from Muslim Arabs and witnessing Islam at work. 

As a Reformed Christian I start with certain assumptions. I believe

• that people are bound by the moral principles of the Ten Commandments (e.g., you shall not murder)
• that people are personally responsible for their behavior,
• that the means do not justify the ends,
• that the Golden Rule ("Do unto others as you would have others do unto you") is a overall principle in all our dealings with our fellow man.

For Americans to understand, even in a cursory manner, the events of 9/11, we must take ourselves "over there and back in time." Islam as a religion has much to do with "subservience and obedience to Allah;" the very word Islam means to submit. But submit to whom and what? The revealed will of Allah is the Qoran and the traditions (the Sharia/Hadtith interpretations) that flow from it.

Mohammed arrived in Mecca leading a conquering army that wrestled the control of the city from the "infidels" and started a tradition and centuries of conquest that nearly encompassed the entire Arabian peninsula, the southern Mediterranean regions and well into Europe by the early 8th century. The Shia division of Islam is full of martyrdom. It has been a religion of militancy, conquest and of struggle from the beginning. This does not mean that all Muslims love conquest and war, but the traditions of the struggle between "good and evil" (or Allah and the infidel) are in firmly in place.

Muslim nations have been eclipsed by the West in technology, science, power and new ideas since the demise of the Ottoman Empire (Turkish) after World War I. This is evident throughout the Middle East. Where the Islamic nations once led the world in culture, there is now a feeling of great betrayal. Yet who is to blame?

The basic beliefs of Islam are largely in conflict to the hedonistic West. The role of men and women in marriage, respect of elders, consumption of alcohol, the prevalence of pornography, the role of a true believer to God (the five pillars of Islam) and daily attitudes of decorum, modesty and family life are greatly at odds with the "sexual freedoms" of the West. In other words, the West (personified mostly by the United States) is the "Great Satan" and corrupter to many. Many Muslims see America as the biggest corrupting influence to their conservative culture as they witness their children lusting after the values of Hollywood and Wall Street, and showing disrespect to all they consider culturally important.

Many American Christians (especially in our Reformed churches) would stop here and say they, too, are repulsed by the loose attitudes of Hollywood, the culture of divorce, unbridled capitalism and the lack of respect in our culture for family, modesty and sobriety. But this revulsion would never lead them to participate in such a dastardly attack as on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. However, if we add a few other factors, maybe we can begin to understand why Muslim extremists, in the name of Allah, would lead to a 9/11-type event.

ISRAEL
Since the establishment of a Jewish state in 1947 in Palestine and the inability of the neighboring Arab states to rid themselves of it, the Muslim world has been constantly reminded of its inadequacies. They see Israel as a creation of America and sustained entirely by our military and economy. This is the only way Muslims can accommodate the idea that such a small nation (Israel) can win so many wars and hold off the entire Arab world. The current "intifada" over the establishment of a Palestinian state reminds Muslims of the injustices and continuing misery of the Palestinian people. Most Arabs, in their heart of hearts, look upon Israel as "occupied Palestine" and it is an "open wound" of disgrace and shame to Muslims everywhere. You can be sure that Osama bin Ladin will continue to invoke Palestine as a just cause to fight America just like Saddam Hussein did during the Gulf War 10 years ago.

SECULAR ARAB GOVERNMENTS
Many Muslim states such as Pakistan, Iran, Sudan, Egypt, Algeria, Morocco, Syria, Iraq, Jordan, Indonesia and Malaysia have majority segments of the population that are under/unemployed and desperately poor. They have not transitioned to the Industrial Revolution, let alone the Computer Age. They have been left behind, by the world. They are confused by what they see on television and the modern gadgets of the day, all-emanating from the West. The only thing they can take pride in is their religion.

They listen easily and quickly to "Islamic Fundamentalists" who tell them that the reason they are poor with little hope is that the leaders of their countries are "corrupted" by the West. For instance, the royal family in Saudi Arabia and other leaders (e.g., Egypt, Tunisia, Jordan, Morocco) are well known for their alcoholism, gambling and womanizing. The masses believe that if these secular governments (all backed by the U.S.) were overthrown, then Allah would smile on the people and some measure of wealth would be given to them.

When people have nothing and no access to balanced media reporting, they will believe anything. In some instances, this has led to a type of double personality or reaction to America and the West by the man on the street in the Middle East. On the one hand America is seen as the land of hope and freedom to live out dreams (this is one reason there are long lines around Western consulates almost everyday as people desire to get a visa to travel and work in the West). Yet, on the other hand, the costs and consequences of unbridled freedom, especially in morality and family values, make the West at odds with Islam and a culture to hate.

THE ISLAMIC HOLY PLACES BEING CORRUPTED
Since the Gulf War in 1991, American troops have been stationed in Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia is the location of the holy cities of Mecca and Medina. It is to Mecca where the faithful are charged to make a pilgrimage at least once during their lifetime (Hajj) to fulfill one of the five pillars of the faith. Because the Saudi government is considered to have been corrupted by the West and has allowed infidel, American soldiers to be stationed on their soil, the extremists have found willing ears to rid Saudi Arabia of American influence.

THE SEARCH FOR AN AUTHENTIC HERO
When I was living in Middle East I often shopped in the souk (old market place). Many shops would sport a picture of Saddam Hussein in the backroom just out of sight of the shoppers. I would often ask why they would consider such a man to be a hero. Many of the people knew that Saddam was a tyrant, but they respected him because he had stood up to the West, he had fought (even though he lost the Gulf War) the entire Western world, and that he was willing to fight Israel. Also, each family of a PLO demonstrator killed during the intifada receives a cash gift of over $10,000 from Iraq. Muslim countries have sensed a century of shame from the Western world and have embraced leaders such as Nasser, Saddam and Bin Ladin, hoping to find a person they can be proud of and remove this shame.

A few years ago I had lunch with a Georgia Tech graduate from the Middle East named Hattem. He had spent over eight years in America working on double degrees in engineering and business. He was a gracious, friendly and hospitable man (as are most Middle Easterners). He laughed easily and would give you the shirt off his back if you asked for it (another common Middle Eastern trait). Hattem spoke without an accent and had many "American mannerisms." He would probably be indistinguishable from any "educated" businessman one might meet in Atlanta.

He was preparing to return to the Middle East and work in his father's business. I asked him why he wouldn't stay in the U.S. because of his credentials and obvious potential. His answers were enlightening--- this from a person very acquainted with America. He desired to have a wife, who was a true Muslim, and not like the abrasive, immodest women he saw in this society; he was convinced that Jews dominated all media in America; and he was certain that American society did not have the conservative values that he desired for his future family. Hattem is an example of the brightest and best of the Middle East and you can see what his "informed" perceptions of America are. Osama bin Ladin is not an ignorant man from a remote dusty village; he is highly educated with great wealth, yet he has as his life’s purpose to "destroy" America.

Perhaps we will never really be able to understand why the Bin Ladins of this world detest us so much and seem to find willing accomplices to carry out their designs. But I trust this short sketch will shine some light on why he and others perpetrated the events of 9/11.
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Brad Winsted is the Director of Children's Ministry International

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