PROF. Clarita R. Carlos’ commentary “Give the Muslim youth a reason to live” (Opinion, 3/29/16) highlights—and offers—a solution to the increasing worldwide problem of inequality born of cultural bigotry or ethnocentrism.
The marginalization and frustration of Muslims and their violent reactions shame the whole world and expose the hypocrisy of the more developed and so-called freedom-loving nations with their rhetoric on “unity in diversity.” Obviously, the frustration cannot be contained by the Western world and its allies through damaging measures by “repressive state apparatuses” (coined by French Marxist philosopher Louis Althusser) like the military and police. Thus, what Carlos calls shortsighted policies are rather the lame and more polite tools that animate the continuing marginalization of Muslims and people of color.
As Carlos suggests, it would take more than repression through the use of state-controlled forces (drones and bombs) to curb militant reactions from the Muslim youth. A more aggressive but sincere orchestration by the Western states of their “ideological state apparatuses” (also from
Althusser)—especially the bilateral and multilateral agreements on grants and international aid for affordable housing facilities, inclusive education, accessible health programs, fair media exposures and egalitarian justice system—should be the main defense against what eminent Oxford political scientist Samuel Huntington calls the “clash of civilizations” (originally used by Albert Camus in 1946).
Noteworthy in relation to Carlos’ perspective is an article of Bernard Lewis in the September 1990 issue of The Atlantic Monthly, titled “The Roots of Muslim Rage.” The article discussed the questions as to why so many Muslims deeply resent the West and why their bitterness will not easily be mollified. Likewise, in an Inquirer article titled “America seen as ‘arrogant, uncaring,’ says US top brass” (News, 8/29/09), Adm. Mike Mullen was reported to have made a searing critique of government “strategic communication” efforts. Mullen highlighted the idea of how everyday actions could go beyond the words we utter and even write. Thus, America must be more careful of its actions and messages when it comes to international politics.
—VIRGILIO C. VENTURA, vcventura@yahoo.com