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Self criticism after the Cartoons |
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Wednesday, 15 February 2006(Nermin Aydemir-JTW/Netherlands) We are all experiencing quite uneasy days after the inconsiderate cartoons of "Jyllands-Posten". Nonetheless, an intellectual debate made me feel a sense of relief in all this turmoil. Last week I went to an academic discussion; which dealt with the autocratic regimes, reasons behind such formations, their place in the interlinked world and whether the possibility of democratic transitions existed or not. It was a fruitful meeting and really nice to take place. The subject was mostly related to the ex-communist regimes and the US invasion to Iraq. Emphasis was put on the economic and cultural aspects of the issue. Islam, cartoons, or such things were only handled in their relation to the central theme. However, they became central in the evening as well, especially when people began asking questions.
I was really impressed when one of the speakers said that not Islam itself, but its interpretations hindered the flourish of democracy in Muslim societies. He continued his words by telling that we could not put that kind of burden on the Islamic thought since none of the religious beliefs were handled in such a way. All the other participants and most of the people in the room agreed with him. Of course, this is a comment and there can be critics or supports to it. But the attitude of the participants of the debate influenced me since I felt a sense of being understood by "the other" and treated equally. This led to an emergence of an inevitable self criticism in my mind.
It is really difficult to define who the west and the rest is and even more difficult to determine to which part I belong. Nevertheless, Muslim people constantly complain about being labeled as "the other" by the Western. In fact, non-Western people really have been encountering problems of being discriminated and even exploited for hundred of years. But how much effort do these people put to protect their own interests? Even in the case they attempt doing something, does a well-built mentality and a supplementary power really exist behind such endeavors; or are these rather weak discourses with modest influences in most of the time? What can we expect in the name of just and fair if the interests of the East are discussed in the Western platforms by Western people? Does someone really have the right to object if he/she, willingly or unwillingly, gives the right of taking decisions to the hands of the others. Namely, can we really expect fair solutions in case we tie ourselves to the mercy of someone else? Is it not too much credulity to expect to get fair conclusions in such conditions, particularly in a world which is completely build up on a harsh clash of interests? If this is the case, the Western is still fair in many aspects. No matter to what degree a good will exists, do people, who expect that their interest will be supported by someone else, have the right to complain? Does someone who does not take place in platforms, where decisions are taken have the right to reject the outcomes?
The West defines the whole world as the rest, as the otherÔÇÐ This is by no means acceptable. Europeans and particularly Americans have to acknowledge that they are the others of who they define as the others. But the rest of the world has to have the power to ensure this. Being humiliated and exploited is inevitable otherwise. World is becoming more and more global and interlinked to each other and difficult to administer solely from the Western capitals. But if being dominated has became unbearable, the dominated have to do something by themselves.
Think about the cartoon case. Protests in Muslim countries are promising and even Rasmussen seems to retreat after the boycott of Danish products. Do you really think the editor of the newspaper would still support the freedom of speech in such passionate manner if advertisements of Muslim corporations created a substantial amount of the incomes of the newspaper?
Intellectuals from the non-Western world have the responsibility of introducing themselves and saving the face of their religion and culture. Neither Islam nor the Eastern culture deserves the gloomy veils of terrorism, inferiority and all other negative attributions.
Furthermore, media is one of the most powerful actors in the cotemporary world. To what extent do the non-Western media fulfill its obligations in overcoming all these problems? The non-Western media has an important responsibility to introduce its own identity to the world public opinion. Do we have the right to criticize the one-dimensional attitude of the European media if we cannot subsidize it with something else? Do we still have room to not be manipulated in such a context?
The brutality in Iraq has marked the news nowadays besides the cartoon case. Like all the other cases I am not hopeful that British officials will be fair with regard to the fight between its grim soldiers and Iraqi children. Justice in Iraq seems nothing but just a dream since Iraq does not have the power of defending its own "naughty little Childs". Does Iraq, which is "transferring to democracy" under the supervise of its "voluntary" commanders really have the power manage to protect its citizens from those masters?
Nermin Aydemir is Netherland representative for Journal of Turkish Weekly |
Wednesday, 15 February 2006
Nermin Aydemir
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