| July
9, 2002
Contact: Stephen M. Apatow
Director of Research
& Development
Humanitarian Resource
Institute International Peace Center
Eastern USA: (203) 668-0282
Western USA: (775) 884-4680
International Peace Center:
http://www.humanitarian.net/peace
Email: s.m.apatow@humanitarian.net
INTERFAITH & PEACE
GROUPS URGED TO EMBRACE SOLUTION ORIENTED INITIATIVES
Marc
Gopin, Visiting Associate Professor of International Diplomacy and
Senior Researcher at The Fletcher School, Tufts University, and Visiting
Scholar at the Program on Negotiation, Harvard University, summarized the
new War Against Terrorism in the following excerpt from the paper "This
War is About Religion, and Cannot be Won Without it:"
"The sooner we face facts,
the more powerful our chances to succeed in making religious terrorism
a temporary phenomenon of human culture. But we cannot do this if we hide
our heads in the sand. Politically incorrect or not, this war is about
religion. In case anyone thinks that it is not about religion then they
should take a good hard look at the document written by the terrorist mastermind
of the World Trade Center bombing, Mohammed Ata, in order to help his soldiers
prepare for their sanctified deaths. It is one of the most profound religious
documents I have ever seen, and its preparation for a beautiful death and
afterlife is so compelling that I almost forgot, as I read it transfixed,
that it was really about mass murder. I felt tempted to join the journey
myself. If I felt tempted as a non-Muslim, how much more tempting to tens
of millions of alienated young Muslim men in search of significant lives
and meaningful deaths. This death wish is a careful weaving of purification
rituals to be accepted into Paradise, including asking God for forgiveness
of sins! Mass murder is, of course, not one of the sins in this unique
reading of Islam. It is, on the contrary, a supreme religious act of struggle
with the forces of evil. But the atrocity is not even mentioned by name.
It is simply the struggle with evil. In fact, it is overshadowed in the
letter by the holy rituals of death preparations, as if a meditative concentration
on Paradise is at the core of every act leading to the end, rather than
revenge or murder."
Silence, in regards to the
causative factors of aggression, combined with threats and counter aggression
only perpetuate the cycle of violence. Temporary fixes overlook the
solution oriented initiatives needed for democracy, religious tolerance,
human rights, women's rights and the pursuit of peace and social justice.
As Gopin emphasized, "Technology
and intolerant religious power create a chemistry that human civilization
cannot survive." Therefore we call all faith groups, non governmental,
intergovernmental and diplomatic representatives in every United Nations
member country to embrace a solution oriented strategic focus during this
time of relative calm, a scenario that will rapidly change in a crisis
responsive environment following a nuclear, biological or chemical attack
on the United States or international community.
In the context of this appeal,
we continue to request the review and support of the International Interfaith
Peace Declaration. On the web: http://www.humanitarian.net/peace/declaration.html
The Humanitarian Resource
Institute International Peace Center is a collaborative initiative to share
information and enhance academic discussion of issues related to Crisis
Management/Intervention and the prevention and settlement of conflicts
between and within states, with emphasis on policy research and development.
On the web: http://www.humanitarian.net/peace
.
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