31 Oct, 2010

The Judeo-Christian world’s great betrayal of its own values and principles

Imtiaz Muqbil

Originally Published: 31 October 2010

This upcoming 4 November 2010 will mark the 15th anniversary since the assassination of former Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin by the Jewish fundamentalist fanatic terrorist Yigal Amir. In a few weeks, the world will mark the last Christmas of this first decade of the 21st century. And the countdown has now begun towards what will be next year’s 10th anniversary of 9/11.

Combine these three, and the central message of this column will be for the Judeo-Christian world to undertake some deep and introspective soul-searching about what these events mean in the context of present-day global developments, who bears responsibility, who should face accountability and most important, whether the continued violence on the global stage, the huge costs associated with it and the suggested remedies are in line with the teachings and principles of the Judeo-Christian traditions.

Dwell on that in churches and synagogues every weekend between now and Christmas, and beyond. Think carefully about the fact that the ongoing violence is being accompanied by lies and cover-ups of the kind now being exposed by the wikileaks and other people with conscience, while the crusaders and purveyors of violence continue to seek justification to continue to do what they are doing.

Whatever happened to the Sixth of the Ten Commandments: “Thou Shalt Not Kill?” Is Jesus, the Prince of Peace, applauding the state of play? Is Moses, the original author of the Ten Commandments, doing the same?

There is growing evidence that the second decade is set to be no less chaotic, unstable and violence than the first as the Judeo-Christian world continues its pursuit of global domination by manipulating two of today’s most important power-levers — military and monetary. The only obstacle is the third lever, the media, which is still showing some opposition backbone.

I submit that that the Judeo-Christian world is guilty of a great betrayal to the rest of the world. All those who had hoped for a blossoming of freedom, democracy, justice, peace and economic stability following the fall of communism have been not just disappointed but betrayed.

This is because the Judeo-Christian world has betrayed its own values and principles to an even worse extent than the Islamic world. Rather than trying to spread freedom, democracy and the gospel in the Islamic world, which is seen as being somewhat “inferior”, the Judeo-Christian world needs to really hark back to the teachings of Jesus and Moses, assess where it has gone wrong, and whether it is time to reverse course, do the right thing, repent and seek forgiveness.

Whatever happened to leadership by example? Last week, the former Australian Prime Minister John Howard, an active member of the coalition of willing that attacked Iraq, became the latest victim of a growing form of global protest – shoe-throwing. The shoe-thrower first asked him what Howard thought of the situation in Iraq and Howard’s role in it.

With great aplomb, Howard threw up his hands up and said “I accept responsibility”. Asked immediately if he would do so before the International Court of Justice, he told the shoe-thrower to “calm down” before offering a pathetic justification of Australia’s role in the coalition of the willing.

No matter how much damage they do, leaders in Judeo-Christian world walk free. They accept responsibility but remain beyond accountability. When today’s younger generations grow up and start asking questions about the world they are being bequeathed, on top of the list will be: “Why wasn’t anyone held accountable?”

Why, indeed, is there no accountability? Over the weapons of mass destruction that were never found in Iraq but led to a war that has killed thousands; over the inability to find Osama bin Laden who, in spite of being blamed for 9/11 and apparently crippled with a kidney problem, can still send videotapes to TV stations in spite of being pursued by the world’s most formidable intelligence and security apparatus; over the financial bailouts given to all the corporate fat-cats who caused the financial crises of the past two years.

Whatever happened to the rule of law and its fundamental principles: no-one is above the law and all must be considered innocent until proven guilty?

This lack of accountability is spawning a culture on impunity and heightening a sense of supremacy. Judeo-Christian leaders know that they can, and will, get away with wrongdoing. The saying, “power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely” is being proved true big time. That will not last.

Thanks to embedded journalists and superb marketing spin, the Judeo-Christian world has once again been hoodwinked by one of the greatest campaigns of lies and disinformation since Hitler, a Christian, began to build a case for extermination of the Jews.

But the tide is turning. The steady stream of unstoppable leaks is a sign of Judeo-Christian people with a conscience deciding that it’s time for the truth to emerge. When people let their conscience become the guide, it sets the stage for the next confrontation between those who have one and those who don’t.

It is a foregone conclusion that those without a conscience will lose, but not before causing more bloodshed.

The second decade, by all accounts, is likely to be worse than the first. Last week, alternative-media websites reported that a French nuclear-powered warship has set sail for the Gulf. It’s not going there on a fishing expedition.

Think deeply, O children of Abraham.

Exactly 15 years ago, a Jewish terrorist killed not a man of peace, but the cause of peace. In the last 10 years, Christian leaders have embarked upon wars based on lies and deception that are being steadily exposed.

Which Judeo-Christian values does all this conform with? Is there a tolerance level that must be reached before sanity prevails? Is there a critical mass of people with enough courage to demand rigorous scrutiny of results, rather than rhetoric? What justification can there be for maintaining a moral high ground?

When the next round of violence breaks out, the bloodshed will be horrific. Religious leaders of the Judeo-Christian world still have time to prevail on their home-grown fundamentalist fanatics and try to avert it. Time is indeed running out.