A propos the Islamic State and other terrorist organizations:
“These are not an organizations that can destroy the United States. But they can hurt us and they can hurt our people and our families. And so I can understand why people are worried. The most damage they can do, though, is if they start changing how we live and what our values are.” (President Obama, NPR on Dec. 21, 2015).
What worries me is that in combating the Islamists and throwing out large numbers of Latinos, the new American Administration will undermine the social trust of the country and the very freedoms and liberties enshrined in the Constitution. Already, the entry ban on moslems from certain countries sends a bad message around the world, as does the “wall” and the big increase in deportations. Will the US remain a moderate and tolerant country, or go into a selfish funk? Obama was calm and rational in tumultuous and troubling times; now we have something very different that appeals to our more unpleasant, selfish and suspicious instincts, and calls into question whether we still retain the old values nationally.
I cannot help returning in my mind to the days of the 1960s, when America was generous, trusting, and Americans themselves actually wanted to get to know you, hear your views and listen to opposing points of view. Of course, it’s not hard to look back with rose-coloured spectacles on your nose and ignore the vitriol spewed forth on the rightwing press. Conspiracy theories were just as common then (one couple told me in all seriousness that the UN was contrlling the water supply and starting to poison it. The UN attracted particular venom). It is also true that racism was shocking at that time. But most people still ardently believed in freedom, the Constitution and plain, honest dealing. Society was more equal than today, and middle class people were earning good money. All this has changed; intolerance and hostility towards the opposing political party can be felt at all levels. How do you set the clock back?
What can be said about America can be said about Britain, the object of the ideological murders of harmless teenagers in Manchester. Unexpectedly, there is the same shock and horror, but more resignation and less hysteria than expected. No spontaneous assaults in the street, no revenge murders etc. There are moslem women on the street in our neighbourhood, their heads covered, but as afar as I know, no vitriol directed at them. That, at least, is a blessing.
I completely agree with Obama, I think the US is already missing his cool head. The best thing we can do after a terrorist attack is hold our nerve. If we fundamentally change our values in the name of counterterrorism, in a way the terrorists would have won.
That’s why I’m very glad the UK election campaign was resumed shortly after the Manchester killings. It’s important we demonstrate that terrorism will not alter our way of life. We showed that life goes on, and that radical extremists- however powerful they may sometimes seem- will never undermine the basic democratic principles that govern any civilised society.