A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of hearing Dr. Zuhdi Jasser speak at the Cunningham Center. The Richard R. Halleck Foundation founded by colonel and Mrs. Richard R. Halleck before Col. Halleck’s death in 1999 funded Dr. Jasser’s presentation. The Columbus State University Political Science Department sponsored the event and similar presentations addressing important current events.
This program was especially interesting given the threat we face from Islamic extremists. Dr. Jasser referred to this political movement of followers of Islam as “Islamism.” Islam is a religion. Islamism is a political ideology that uses the Koran as the basis for a theory of political activism that is hostile to Western culture and political systems.
Dr. Jasser made a number of interesting points. He remarked that one of the strengths and appealing aspects of the United States is the idea of pluralism. This country is composed of people from many backgrounds. We enjoy more than tolerance where one group dominates all others but allows for peaceful coexistence. Our laws and cultural values encourage acceptance of all people as equals. Our society is far from perfect, but the intent is a pluralistic society. Islamism doesn’t encourage tolerance let alone pluralism. No enlightenment as experienced in the West elevated concerns for people outside of a religious context in the Middle East.
Our conflict with Islamism is really a conflict between a post-enlightenment culture (Western liberal democracy) and that of a pre-enlightenment culture (Islamism). Muslims must resolve this conflict through maturation of cultural norms toward an acceptance of pluralism rather than dominance or even toleration alone as a goal.
Dr. Jasser indicated that the United States must stay engaged with moderate Muslims in the Middle East in order to protect them from the thugs who try to seize political power with a weapon, whether under the guise of Islam or alleged pro-Western leanings while fighting terrorists.
Dr. Jasser did not appear to take a position on whether we should have invaded Iraq or not; however, he did indicate, at least to my ears, that we must stay involved in order to ensure that a political settlement occurs with an orientation more in line with democratic ideals and not Islamism.
Dr. Jasser made it clear that he supported the American military in the performance of its duties. He spent seven years on active duty after the Navy provided him a scholarship for medical school. His service included Operation Restore Hope in Somalia. Dr. Jasser is a physician specializing in internal medicine and nuclear cardiology in Phoenix. He also is the chairman of the board for the American Islamic Forum for Democracy, an Islamic think tank that strives to encourage Muslims to separate government and religion as is done in the United States.
Islam as practiced by Dr. Jasser and other Muslims who agree with him is not a threat to democracy. There are no easy solutions and Islamism, rather than Islam, remains a threat to Western society. Hopefully more people like Dr. Jasser will take a stand to promote peace, democracy, and pluralism. That will lead us toward peace instead of war.