AMERICAN IMPERIALISM AS A CAUSE OF SEPTEMBER 11

Perhaps the two most frequently asked questions after the terrorist attacks of September 11, were "Why do these people hate America so?" and "Are we somehow partially to blame for inciting terrorists?" There are no simple, pat answers. But, scanning some of the letters to the editors in this weeks TIME Magazine (Oct 22) might shed some light on the issue:

"The problem is that U.S. citizens

have little reciprocal feeling for U.S.

engineered human tragedy elsewhere.

The U.S. needs to be aware that even

among the countries is considers its

subordinates and even within affluent

nations the U./S. considers its compliant

allies, there is growing resentment and

impatience with American arroganceà"

"Despite what our politicians have told

us, the terrorists don't hate us because

of our freedom, democracy, and way of life.

They have specific grievances: U.S. support

Of Israel, our presence in Saudi Arabia and

Our backing of authoritarian regimes in the

Region under the banner of American democracyà"

Neither these views nor other similar views held by editorial writers and political analysts can excuse taking anger to the extreme of murdering thousands of

. . .
t understand them, nor does it understand why there are so many angry at, upset with, and antagonistic toward the United States. An editorial in the United Arab Emirates stated: "Now we have to sit and watch as it we are merely uninterested bystanders. Watch as George W. Bush promises revenge or retribution or war or whatever it is called. It doesn't matter what it is called, because, rather than address the cause of the violence, we are instead only promised further escalationà" (Al Rahim M 6) Some of the complaints about America's export of its own views on democracy also brings with it an export of modern goods- from satellite dishes to microwave ovens, sleek new automobiles and computers. To some of the fundamental Muslims, this is a breach of their traditions, "Phil Lamy, a professor of sociology and anthropology at Castleton College in Vermont, further probes that world view: 'the fear that these changes will eradicate their language. Their religion,. Their way of life. Westernization as the major lifestyle. Capitalism as the major economic system. English as the major language. Tourism as a major industry. These things scare them. This is not just a madman's mind-set." (Van Biema 2001 34) As America looks for al
. . .

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Approximate Word count = 1309
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page)