Death by Urban Myth
WARNING: POLITICS HEREIN!
So over the past few days there have been violent protests in Islamic nations (most notably the usually-quiet Afganistan) in response to a report that American soldiers put copies of the Koran on toilets and in at least one case, flushed one down. So far, at least 12 people have died in these demonstrations.
Now it's beginning to look like it was bullshit. The US Government, who for some inexplicable reason has a habit lately of saying "Oh yeah. We totally did that really bad thing" instead of covering things up, says they can find no record of anything like that happening. Furthermore, nobody seems to know where the story came from.
In other words, it's looking like at least 12 people died because of an urban myth.
My god. What the hell is wrong with these people!? Actually, I can answer that. They are an extremely backward culture that has been thrust into the modern world. It's ok and even comfy to be a backward culture. Nothing wrong with it. But when your backward culture is hurled into the modern world by, say, having the most powerful nation on Earth invade you and democratize you, then you can have some problems. Like, aparrently, Afgan culture hasn't learned to be cynical and suspicious of propoganda and rumor, nor do they have the thick skin other cultures have against people who don't like them. Do I blame the US? No. I blame old-world Afgan culture, and, of course, the nascent pro-extreemism social norms developing in mainstream Islamic societies. But hey, that's just me.
Meanwhile, those same rabblerousers (I'm a grumpy curmudgeon, so I get to use words like that) will happily burn an American flag and don't see any parallel. Do I think Americans should riot when we see a flag burn? No. I'm saying the opposite. I'm saying Afgans need to get a thick skin against hate or they'll never survive. I guarantee you, it's only a matter of time before at least 20 websites featuring people shitting on Korans spring up in response to this. What happens then?
-ATW
So over the past few days there have been violent protests in Islamic nations (most notably the usually-quiet Afganistan) in response to a report that American soldiers put copies of the Koran on toilets and in at least one case, flushed one down. So far, at least 12 people have died in these demonstrations.
Now it's beginning to look like it was bullshit. The US Government, who for some inexplicable reason has a habit lately of saying "Oh yeah. We totally did that really bad thing" instead of covering things up, says they can find no record of anything like that happening. Furthermore, nobody seems to know where the story came from.
In other words, it's looking like at least 12 people died because of an urban myth.
My god. What the hell is wrong with these people!? Actually, I can answer that. They are an extremely backward culture that has been thrust into the modern world. It's ok and even comfy to be a backward culture. Nothing wrong with it. But when your backward culture is hurled into the modern world by, say, having the most powerful nation on Earth invade you and democratize you, then you can have some problems. Like, aparrently, Afgan culture hasn't learned to be cynical and suspicious of propoganda and rumor, nor do they have the thick skin other cultures have against people who don't like them. Do I blame the US? No. I blame old-world Afgan culture, and, of course, the nascent pro-extreemism social norms developing in mainstream Islamic societies. But hey, that's just me.
Meanwhile, those same rabblerousers (I'm a grumpy curmudgeon, so I get to use words like that) will happily burn an American flag and don't see any parallel. Do I think Americans should riot when we see a flag burn? No. I'm saying the opposite. I'm saying Afgans need to get a thick skin against hate or they'll never survive. I guarantee you, it's only a matter of time before at least 20 websites featuring people shitting on Korans spring up in response to this. What happens then?
-ATW