It is easy to separate ourselves mentally from the evils we perceive in the world by herding people with particular traits under an imprisoning title - 'Muslims', 'the West', 'Jews', 'Americans'. Understanding requires care and effort.
“Kill the Americans… everywhere you find them.”
When this threat darkened global headlines not so long ago, what images did it paint in your mind? What does “American” mean? Is it synonymous with Caucasian, Christian, and a fervent support for Bush?
A colleague of mine from Norway has come to the US for three months to discover the answer to that question. He hopes to find ways to reconcile the growing divide that appears to have grown between Europe and the US. What he is finding has surprised him. After literally travelling north to south, east to west, he told me that America is not the monochrome force he found described in the European media. Instead, he has discovered a wide range of opinions on Bush, Iraq, the UN, and “french” fries.
Perhaps more remarkable than this discovery is that my colleague is no youthful idealist nor curious academic, but a wizened veteran of 80 years. What possessed him to trek thousands of miles in a tedious search for understanding? Perhaps it was an earlier realization—after being released from a Nazi prison camp—that he could not entirely absolve himself of the evils committed by members of the failed Third Reich. Despite his efforts in the Resistance, he told me that “we all were part of that evil.” Another former prisoner, Alexander Solzhenitsyn came to a similar conclusion after his time in the Soviet gulag. He wrote that the line between good and evil can be drawn right through the heart of each woman and man.
It is easy to separate ourselves mentally from the evils we perceive in the world by herding people with particular traits under an imprisoning title—Muslims, the West, Jews, Africa, China. I call this “careless demonizing,” because it grows from a lack of care for the other, and it separates and condemns. These titles are uglier than common stereotypes; they are used by politicians and the media to gain popular attention, which translates into more votes or more viewers.
But here I am carelessly demonizing politicians and the media. It is an easy slope to slide down. I have attended a number of conferences lately decrying the evils of the “media,” as if this word can contain all actors, producers, musicians, journalists and writers in some dark conspiracy. As a former journalist, actor and TV producer, I know that such talk will never inspire any individual involved in the media to create positive change.
We must put this careless demonizing, these divisive mental shortcuts, to rest. Not only do they mock the precious diversity of humanity, they cripple our efforts to resolve our differences and to vanquish the real problems that are destroying our world. We just don’t understand. This has been demonstrated by the US’s failure to appreciate the complexity and vibrance of the communities of Islam, as well as the ineffectiveness of the War on Terror in getting at causes rather than effects. I speak for my own country (the US); others can speak for theirs.
But understanding requires care and effort—like that of my 80-year-old colleague, or like an unusual band of people from around the world whose remarkable ranks I have joined for a few weeks near Pune, India. Called Action for Life, they represent 20 countries, most major faiths, and ages 20 to 72. For nine months, they are journeying together—to learn about each other’s experiences and cultures as well as to participate in the work of humanitarian organizations throughout Asia. They are committed to move beyond names to understanding.
While you and I may not be able to give nine months at once, we can take similar, if smaller, steps:
1.Recognizing when we use names, like Western, Arab or Big Business, to carelessly demonize
2.Noticing when the press and politicians do the same and mentally rejecting their assumptions
3.When we hear someone carelessly demonize others, asking them why they did so and if they really believe it
4.Taking a risk and reaching out to someone of a different nationality, religion or occupation and sharing personal stories to encourage mutual understanding (for more ideas visit www.openhomeslisteninghearts.org)
Not only should Americans (and all other peoples) NOT be killed, we should reject the very mindset that equates American solely with one kind of person. Tolerance alone is not enough to sustain our global society. We must care enough to understand.
NOTE: Individuals of many cultures, nationalities, religions, and beliefs are actively involved with Initiatives of Change. These commentaries represent the views of the writer and not necessarily those of Initiatives of Change as a whole.
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