Differences that Lead to Disaster

What a claim to make: “The cultural left in this country is responsible for causing 9/11” (D’Souza 1). I was shocked, and slightly offended when I read this statement, partially due to my patriotism and dislike of people picking at various aspects of American culture, but partially because I find that I fall under the “cultural left” D’Souza speaks of. (This is the World Trade Center of September 11th after being crashed into by airplanes.) Although I am not extremely political, I feel that I would identify more with the liberal Democrats than the conservative Republicans.

D’Souza discusses a conversation he heard on TV between an interviewer and a sheikh. The sheikh, after being questioned about his distaste for America despite the relatives he has living in America, make the outrageous claim that “’What America appeals to is everything that is low and disgusting in human nature’” (D’Souza 16). Wow. How is it possible for there to be such a great cultural divide that someone could think so poorly of America, the country that has been built up from the ground, started from nothing, and continued to flourish?

Traditions. Tradition is defined by the Oxford American Dictionary (1) as the transmission of customs or beliefs from generation to generation, or the fact of being passed on in this way. It is a powerful world and extremely important in many cultures, including Islamic and American. The differences in our traditions seem to be a majority of the cause for the wars we face today. America’s tradition, if you will, of prosperity and rapid progression and a continual bettering of our society clashes with the Islamic tradition of living with what is necessary, not over indulging, a slower, steadier progression. Islamic people do not hate America for the sole reason that we are more indulgent at times than they are; Islamic people hate America because it is different than what we are used to.

Yes, we tend to overindulge. (Cartoon demonstrates the overindulgence that occurs at Christmas time and on a regular basis.) Yes, we idolize those who have more money than some would ever dream of. Yes, we spend countless hours reading and watching programs about celebrity drama, things no one really should care too much about. But that is not all that makes up America. We are a county of freedom, of determination, of love and passion, and of power. We are ever changing and will continue to advance in the face of opposition.

D’Souza raises the question, “Does Western culture promote immoral values that corrupt people, especially the young?” (D’Souza 119). To this I would answer that America is like a sampler dish. It has a little bit of everything. Some of it is good. Some of it is not. Some people choose to eat the stuff that isn’t so tasty while others remain steadfast for the delicious treats. Each person must make a choice. (Picture is an Islamic city.) America is the same. Everyone must choose what path to follow, and the beauty of it all is the choice itself.

(1)The Oxford American Dictionary on my MacBook