KashifAsrar
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A quite balanced editorial from TOI dated 12 th Sep 2006
Kashif
The Day After
Emotional hangover of 9/11 and other traumas
The world has had its fill of September 11 memorials. We have ourselves reflected on the meaning of September 11 in ââ¬ËCalendar of Terrorââ¬â¢, an editorial published yesterday in these columns. But it may also be time to think about the political purpose that is served by observing such memorials, or more generally the historiographical reflex thatââ¬â¢s an ingrained western habit. September 11 served a particular purpose for the American establishment, in that it became the occasion for launching campaigns that had nothing to do with its proximate causes and everything to do with prior strategic obsessions. In those terms the world learned nothing from September 11, but the fear and dread it gave rise to could be utilised for political purposes. India, of course, has been subjected to terror attacks for a long time, which it linked to 9/11. As a political strategy this is reasonable enough, but it should be seen as what it is ââ¬â a political strategy. History too can be political, in the sense that it doesnââ¬â¢t necessarily probe deeper fault lines that lead to conflict, but simply memorialises events when ââ¬Åweââ¬Â were attacked by ââ¬Åthemââ¬Â, leading to attacks on ââ¬Åthemââ¬Â by us, and so on in a self-fulfilling, solipsistic spiral. In that sense history is the bugle that nations play when they send their youth off to war. That is precisely what is happening with 9/11, and we need to be wary of it.
The western history habit can be juxtaposed against an eastern tendency thatââ¬â¢s very different ââ¬â which is to let go of things and move on. Eastern traditions donââ¬â¢t dwell on the unpleasant and discordant, and itââ¬â¢s seen as a negative trait to continually harp on them. In case of terror, for example, itââ¬â¢s been said that publicity is the oxygen on which it thrives. It is interesting to speculate on what would have happened if, say, global media organisations were to get together and decide to deny them this publicity, by not covering terror attacks as they take place anywhere in the world. In real life our chances of being struck down by a speeding bus in a busy street are far higher than being the victim of a terrorist attack, and this would restore a sense of balance. Moreover it would also deny to terrorists their principal weapon ââ¬â the ability to create fear. Terror might fall into disuse as a political tactic if it could not achieve its principal objective. This is a perspective worth keeping in mind as we go about our daily business, instead of succumbing to the fear and paranoia that the so-called war on terror has created.
Kashif
The Day After
Emotional hangover of 9/11 and other traumas
The world has had its fill of September 11 memorials. We have ourselves reflected on the meaning of September 11 in ââ¬ËCalendar of Terrorââ¬â¢, an editorial published yesterday in these columns. But it may also be time to think about the political purpose that is served by observing such memorials, or more generally the historiographical reflex thatââ¬â¢s an ingrained western habit. September 11 served a particular purpose for the American establishment, in that it became the occasion for launching campaigns that had nothing to do with its proximate causes and everything to do with prior strategic obsessions. In those terms the world learned nothing from September 11, but the fear and dread it gave rise to could be utilised for political purposes. India, of course, has been subjected to terror attacks for a long time, which it linked to 9/11. As a political strategy this is reasonable enough, but it should be seen as what it is ââ¬â a political strategy. History too can be political, in the sense that it doesnââ¬â¢t necessarily probe deeper fault lines that lead to conflict, but simply memorialises events when ââ¬Åweââ¬Â were attacked by ââ¬Åthemââ¬Â, leading to attacks on ââ¬Åthemââ¬Â by us, and so on in a self-fulfilling, solipsistic spiral. In that sense history is the bugle that nations play when they send their youth off to war. That is precisely what is happening with 9/11, and we need to be wary of it.
The western history habit can be juxtaposed against an eastern tendency thatââ¬â¢s very different ââ¬â which is to let go of things and move on. Eastern traditions donââ¬â¢t dwell on the unpleasant and discordant, and itââ¬â¢s seen as a negative trait to continually harp on them. In case of terror, for example, itââ¬â¢s been said that publicity is the oxygen on which it thrives. It is interesting to speculate on what would have happened if, say, global media organisations were to get together and decide to deny them this publicity, by not covering terror attacks as they take place anywhere in the world. In real life our chances of being struck down by a speeding bus in a busy street are far higher than being the victim of a terrorist attack, and this would restore a sense of balance. Moreover it would also deny to terrorists their principal weapon ââ¬â the ability to create fear. Terror might fall into disuse as a political tactic if it could not achieve its principal objective. This is a perspective worth keeping in mind as we go about our daily business, instead of succumbing to the fear and paranoia that the so-called war on terror has created.
