Conservatism may be the first refuge of change.
But before I get there, let me wave the American flag around a bit.
It goes like this: I think that the American "melting pot" experiment to be one of the most significant social experiments of all time. Where else in the history of the world, on such a grand scale, have you thrown together so may disparate cultures and religions together. And it turned out without much strife. (Lets just ignore the Civil War). These days Jews marry Christians. Irish remember their origins only on St. Patrick's day. You get the idea.
That's why it feels me with sadness when I hear stories about how 9/11 caused a retrenchment of cultural identity. Of how there was such a stink about opening a Muslim center near the site of the former twin towers and how "Christians" protested it. Of how writers like the Canadian Shereen El Feki, can say that before 9/11 she never really identified herself as a Muslim, where after 9/11 she started researching her heritage and wearing a hajaba. Rather than looking to the past for answers, why not change the present? Do you seriously believe for a second that looking backward gives better answers for how to live a life?
Of course, in the grand scheme of things, hopefully this is nothing more than a speed bump along the way. With the internet, maybe the entire world will be the melting pot:-)
Boston Marathon
No comments:
Post a Comment