A little more on martyrs
The whole complex of the martyr as it exists in the Muslim world is often presented as something foreign and exotic and, almost as frequently, presented as something from a more primitive culture. (Mmmmm... Smell that American exceptionalism.)
But in reality, the US has utilized martyrs just as well. After 9-11, how often were those deaths mentioned to justify military action? Or Pat Tillman? Or Jessica Lynch? Or the repeated political statement that leaving Iraq now would somehow "dishonor" the "sacrifice" of those who have died?
From "Remember the Maine!" to "Remember Pearl Harbor!" the US has utilized its linguistic version of the concept of the martyr to motivate the population into war.
So, as the Arab world begins to rally around the pictures coming out of Lebanon, understand that that's their Pearl Harbor, that's their Maine, and we are perceived as having had a part in it.
But in reality, the US has utilized martyrs just as well. After 9-11, how often were those deaths mentioned to justify military action? Or Pat Tillman? Or Jessica Lynch? Or the repeated political statement that leaving Iraq now would somehow "dishonor" the "sacrifice" of those who have died?
From "Remember the Maine!" to "Remember Pearl Harbor!" the US has utilized its linguistic version of the concept of the martyr to motivate the population into war.
So, as the Arab world begins to rally around the pictures coming out of Lebanon, understand that that's their Pearl Harbor, that's their Maine, and we are perceived as having had a part in it.
posted by mikevotes at
2:58 PM
3 Comments:
"...the US has utilized its linguistic version of the concept of the martyr to motivate the population into war."
+++++
So true. Good point.
By
Anonymous, at 3:40 PM
Depends on the definition. I don't see the people in the twin towers as martyrs, they did NOT know what had happened to them.
Certainly the passangers who attacked the terrorists on the plane and died in a field in Penn., Knew what was going on and decided to risk their lives to stop their plane from becoming another missle.
To all of these people it had nothing to do with religion, so I call them HEROS.
By
Unknown, at 6:20 PM
Well put. It is a bit of a linguistic minefield because the arabic word for martyr isn't a direct match. For instance, the translation that allows living fighters to be called martyrs.
Or the children that died at Qana.
But in parallel to the civilian deaths that are called "martyrs" in the Arabic press, and are used for the purposes I described, the 9-11 victims are a match.
That's not a critical point I'm arguing here. And, you're right in the English usage.
Mike
By
mikevotes, at 6:53 PM
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