Historian's Take on Islam Steers U.S. Policy

Wall St Journal ^ | 2-02-04 | PETER WALDMAN

[SJackson]

A Princeton historian's diagnosis of the Muslim world's malaise, and his call for a U.S. military invasion to seed democracy in the Mideast, have helped define the boldest shift in U.S. foreign policy in 50 years.

Bernard Lewis often tells audiences about an encounter he once had in Jordan. The Princeton University historian, author of more than 20 books on Islam and the Middle East, says he was chatting with Arab friends in Amman when one of them trotted out an argument familiar in that part of the world.

[Tolik]

The pleasure is all mine. I enjoyed our conversation and am saving it.

It is very logical and it's not really a paradox, just sound like it: that our worldview that includes judging and is intolerant to evil otherwise is more tolerant to other worldviews than their "all tolerant" worshiping of Otherness that in effect is intolerant completely to our point of view.

His joke that was not really a joke about smashing all who is not as tolerant as they are is very telling. There is more truth in it that they would want to admit.

Brin himself being a very good writer feels that not all is good in his kingdom, he just can't understand why. (I think it happens often enough that truly talented writer forced by the nature of his talent to express the truth even when it goes against his inclinations).

[JasonC]

"Brin... feels that not all is good in his kingdom, he just can't understand why. (I think it happens often enough that truly talented writer forced by the nature of his talent to express the truth even when it goes against his inclinations)."

Yes, that does happen. I've actually had a similar experience with Brin on a different point, where he commented on a debate I was involved with, with other people on line. The subject was nutty ecological extremists. He commented as a proponent of the original Gaia hypothesis, against its later distortion by nutters. He hadn't heard of the particular crowd of them I pointed out, and was a bit surprised. I consider it similar because he readily acknowledged error on what many would see as "his side" of a debate - or, he was acknowledging the possible misuse of ideas he agrees with. I think he is a reasonably fair minded guy.