A Jordan Times editorial called a conference held in Jordan this month ?a crucial conference.? The reason for that assessment, from the point of view of the editorial writer, is that the conference brings together ?More than 80 amongst the most illustrious Islamic thinkers? from 40 countries?? to discuss ?reestablishing normal relations between Islam and the rest of the world?? The task, so says the editorial, ?is a daunting one.?
?Now that the dust has started settling from the disastrous events of Sept. 11,? the Jordan Times states, ?the Islamic world needs answers.? The question is a little surprising: ?What went so dramatically wrong in relations between Islam and the West to trigger unprecedented anti-Muslim campaigns...? The editorialist cites two possible causes for the soured relations between Arabia and the West: ?Perhaps some introverted and self-absorbed Western circles fell easy prey to ignorance and deliberately ignored any contact with or knowledge of a different culture and civilisation. Perhaps Muslim societies were partly responsible for the stereotypes imposed on them, they might have rejected their opponents before being rejected by them.?
Among the Muslim failings, the Jordan Times cites ?Inept attitudes towards the technology and communications revolutions?? Such attitudes are, so the author writes, anathema to Islam, whose ?teachings and culture have always been about contacts, exchanges, interaction with the other.? The resisting of technological innovations has led to a state where ?the information highway is one-way, with traffic only going from north to south,? claims the article.
Another failure, according to the Jordanian newspaper, is that ?the Islamic world largely failed to make clear to the rest of mankind its relation with the Palestinian issue. The Palestinians' quest for their legitimate rights is the core issue in the Islamic world, but this link has regularly been distorted, manipulated, and hijacked by other agendas.?
While saying that ?the Muslim world has been confused and confusing as to what it considers extremism and how it wants to confront it,? the editorial also says that ?Islam is crystal clear about what is right and what is wrong.? On the other hand, ?governments and scholars alike have been issuing controversial and unclear messages on the line that separates self-sacrifice from sin, resistance from terrorism, good from evil,? writes the Jordanian editor.
The article concludes with the admonition that ?A healthy dose of self-criticism is the start of any constructive effort?? Part of that effort, the author implies, is getting the message of Islam out to the West, for ?Muslims can no longer expect that the rest of the world will come to them to find out about their values, culture and heritage.?
?Now that the dust has started settling from the disastrous events of Sept. 11,? the Jordan Times states, ?the Islamic world needs answers.? The question is a little surprising: ?What went so dramatically wrong in relations between Islam and the West to trigger unprecedented anti-Muslim campaigns...? The editorialist cites two possible causes for the soured relations between Arabia and the West: ?Perhaps some introverted and self-absorbed Western circles fell easy prey to ignorance and deliberately ignored any contact with or knowledge of a different culture and civilisation. Perhaps Muslim societies were partly responsible for the stereotypes imposed on them, they might have rejected their opponents before being rejected by them.?
Among the Muslim failings, the Jordan Times cites ?Inept attitudes towards the technology and communications revolutions?? Such attitudes are, so the author writes, anathema to Islam, whose ?teachings and culture have always been about contacts, exchanges, interaction with the other.? The resisting of technological innovations has led to a state where ?the information highway is one-way, with traffic only going from north to south,? claims the article.
Another failure, according to the Jordanian newspaper, is that ?the Islamic world largely failed to make clear to the rest of mankind its relation with the Palestinian issue. The Palestinians' quest for their legitimate rights is the core issue in the Islamic world, but this link has regularly been distorted, manipulated, and hijacked by other agendas.?
While saying that ?the Muslim world has been confused and confusing as to what it considers extremism and how it wants to confront it,? the editorial also says that ?Islam is crystal clear about what is right and what is wrong.? On the other hand, ?governments and scholars alike have been issuing controversial and unclear messages on the line that separates self-sacrifice from sin, resistance from terrorism, good from evil,? writes the Jordanian editor.
The article concludes with the admonition that ?A healthy dose of self-criticism is the start of any constructive effort?? Part of that effort, the author implies, is getting the message of Islam out to the West, for ?Muslims can no longer expect that the rest of the world will come to them to find out about their values, culture and heritage.?