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After September 11, 2001 attack on America by Arab terrorists, Dan Rather of CBS news was asked by a fellow journalist, "Why is America despised by so many through out the world." Rather responded by saying that the people in the Middle Eastern regions and other places hate America and wishes her ill because we are winners and they are losers. Rather went on to add that the United States is hated for its prosperity and freedom.
RESPONSE: Dan Rather's comments lack logic and reasoning, as well as veracity. Rather gave a simple answer to a complex problem. Rather and others in the mainstream press are quite aware that the animosity directed toward the United States is not the result of mere jealousy. It must be understood that the United States is not hated for its dominance and success. Instead, the United States and the western world are hated for how they achieved their dominance and success. Rather is quite aware of the history that exists between the Middle Eastern countries and the western world. Rather is cognizant of the colonial policies of the western countries and its negative effects on the third world population, but he prefers to deceive the American public into believing that America's greatness and dominance came from fair play and hard work. This deception on the part of Rather only serves to belie the actual history. Since Rather refuses to use logic and truthfulness in explaining why hatred toward the United States permeates through out most third world countries, then, I will attempt because I honestly believe the American public deserves the truth for a change.
Let us begin by answering the question, "Do the people in the Middle East have a legitimate reason for disliking the United States and many western nations?" For those who are familiar with the United States domestic policy, the answer should be a resounding yes. At this point, one may be asking why is he discussing America's domestic policy when he is trying to prove why Middle Easterners and others around world dislike the United States? The answer is quite simply. I am attempting to use logic in explaining why contempt toward the United States exist.
From 1850 to 1960, the United States influence in the Middle East was greatly felt. During the same time period inside the United States, African-Americans and other people of color were experiencing legalized terrorism from the federal and state governments. People of color were denied their basic civil rights. They were denied the right to vote, denied equal access to public facilities, and denied the right to be treated like human beings. I do not think any clear thinking American will deny the racist treatment experienced by people of color inside the United States.
Now, if the domestic policy of the United States government was to deny fair and equal treatment to its colored citizenry from the 1850s to the 1960s, then, what makes one think America's foreign policy toward people of color in other countries during that same time span was any more benevolent? The same contemptuous attitude held by many government officials in this country toward people of color was the same contemptuous attitude held toward people of color in other countries. The same racist policies enacted by government officials in this country against people of color was the same racist policies enacted against people of color in other countries. The United States either directly or indirectly overthrew democratic governments in the Middle East that were not willing to put the interest of the United States over their own country's interest. In place of these democratic governments, the western world established some of the most brutal dictatorships the world ever known. The lives of the Middle Easterners meant little because they were not white. And because these people were not white, western governments, including the United States, believe it was their manifest destiny to dominate the dark-skinned people of that region. The same brutal treatment experienced by America's dark-skinned people is the same brutal treatment experienced by dark-skinned people in other countries by government officials in the United States. A fact well known by Middle Easterners. Even though these facts are not reported in the United States, the mainstream press, including Dan Rather, are quite aware of the racist foreign policy of the United States towards countries dominated by people of color. They just choose not to report it.
While it is true America and many western nations dominate other countries, the way these nations achieved their dominance and success is nothing to be proud of. If Americans are not proud of how southern whites achieved their dominance over African-Americans during America's segregation era, then, they should not be proud of America's dominance in the world. Racism, militarism, and classism were the official policies when dealing with Middle Easterners.
In essence, nobody wants to delve deep into the true nature of colonialism. People in the west want to mention colonialism only as an afterthought. But colonialism was more than an afterthought. It was a devastating practice that gravely affected millions. Colonialism was cruel and brutal. Nobody in the West wants to talk about grown Arabic and Indian men being beaten with canes by their British masters. Nobody wants to talk about Indian men having their thumbs cut off for breaking anti-sewing laws. Nobody wants to talk about how Britain and the United States overthrew legitimate democratic governments in the Middle East for their own benefits. Nobody wants to discuss how western nations made covert deals with brutal dictators who tortured their own people. Nobody wants to talk about grown Arabic and Indian men forced to strip from their attire to be inspected like cattle by their western masters. Nobody wants to talk about millions of dollars worth of raw material taken from the Middle East to benefit a select few in the West, while millions in the East are left to live a life of abject poverty. Nobody wants to talk about it, but it happened, and those who represent the mainstream press know it happened as well.
Those in the west may close their eyes and pretend Western dominance never took place in the Middle East, but the millions who lived through the horrific experience will never forget, and that is what drive the Arabs hatred toward the United States and other western nations. It is easy to simply belittle the feelings of millions of Arabic people as fanatic, but, keep this in mind, the same animosity that drove Denmark Vessey, that drove Gabriel Prosser, that drove Nat Turner is same animosity that drive millions of Arabic people to dislike the western powers. The animosity is well founded, just like the animosity of the slaves and Indians in America was well founded. It is just a shame that Rather and others in the media lack the guts and integrity to report the truth about the Middle East to the American public. While patriotism is adored by many, the truth is left a lonely orphan. For Rather to intentionally overlook the racism of the West as creating an atmosphere of hatred towards the United States and Britain is shameless and irresponsible.
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