The United States Needs to Value Collective "Missed Lessons" from Other Cultures

Two U.S. warships are approaching Libya. Some people think the United States’ retaliation is visibly intensifying with regard to the death of their ambassador. But this time, the target of retaliation is not a country. It is not even a matter of which well-known organization [to strike]. It is quite common that there is anger in Libya toward Americans for a movie that insulted the Prophet Muhammad. Perpetrators quickly disappear among the people. It is not easy to find the people and places where the U.S. can retaliate.

U.S. warships can quickly appear near Libya. Only the United States has this power and prestige in the world today. If military power could solve all of the United States’ problems, then it would not have any troubles. But, indeed, the reality is that military power is not the master key to open all kinds of locks. This wave of anti-American sentiments in the Arab world in these two days illustrates that the U.S. fleet is probably just decoration.

The Arabs want the United States to respect their culture. The tops of the warships are artillery shells. Even if the U.S. can really seize the individual who murdered the ambassador and bring him to justice, it still does not answer the question of respecting another’s culture. The more U.S. warships retaliate, the Islamic world’s hatred will be more enthusiastic and there will be more tense interactions.

At the present stage of the development of human civilization, the U.S. is undoubtedly at the top level. American arrogance is from the bottom of the depths of the spirit. They constantly conceal. Moreover, the Americans do not intend to keep a “low profile.” Some Americans actually regard many other cultures as “on-the-brink cultures.” Their value is just the embellishment of “foreign countries of sentimental appeal.” And they embody a slight confrontation with Western culture that is considered to be “weird” and “harmful.”

Islamic civilization is the relatively weakest of today's world civilizations. This weakness has given birth to more sensitivity. The United States and Western cultures’ demeanor should respect these sensitivities. But this is far from being a strong social consensus of the United States and the Western world. “Brave” individuals continue to emerge in the United States and the West. They use firm beliefs to challenge Islam to teach the public about the bottom line with regard to happiness and sensationalism.

Western society’s public condemnation of these instigators has been very weak. A great many believe in “freedom of speech” see these instigators as acting justly. For these instigators, the pressure is too light. They manufacture a situation where the personal cost of an international conflict is negligible.

The impoverishment of many countries in the Islamic world continues to grow. People there have a massive hatred of the West; it seems as if the situation will forever be just one match short of starting a fire. If today someone shoots an insult about the Prophet in a short film, tomorrow, some will announce that they want to burn the Quran... or put it in the toilet. The U.S. and Western governments insist these individuals have nothing to do with them. Well, let’s wait for new fireballs to mass up, then!

Americans must develop their own sincere respect for other cultures as they are a leader in the Western world. Americans should be able to discover the advantages of other cultures. If the Americans cannot see them, then it is a horrible thing. Now, many emerging countries develop fast and are impressive and open-minded. Perhaps the U.S. could correct the starting point of its attitude toward the rest of the world.

Only with a true open mind can one see the feelings of others and see their feelings as sacred. Desecrating other religions will not continue to occur. Even where these people are concerned, it cannot be linked to the overall cultural attitude of the U.S. The issue now is those respective devils often, by outsiders’ reckoning, speak up about the U.S. and Westerners’ “hearts and minds.”

I hope that the U.S. warships and Marines sailing toward Libya will think twice before attacking heavily. Do not be concerned with the folly of “first killing several who have vented their spleen toward the United States.” This may not be in the interest of the United States. A lot of people in the world restrain their anger toward the United States. The United States also needs to exercise self-restraint in order to better communicate with the outside world.

It is impossible for the U.S. to instill obedience around the world. Just the same, it is impossible for the U.S. to stay at home and not be involved in world affairs. Everyone receives power from the information age. The United States must seriously get along with the world. The U.S. needs, from top to bottom, to value collective “missed lessons” from other cultures.