Society and tolerance<\/p>\n
Several articles in The Jakarta Post have referred to the need
\nto refute proponents of terrorism such as Imam Samudra.<\/p>\n
One proposal is to ban Imam Samudra's book. This is
\nimpractical since people will inevitably encounter similar ideas
\n"underground" and the sense of persecution to which they refer
\nwill be more justified.<\/p>\n
Another proposal is education by clerics about the true nature
\nof jihad. This can certainly be helpful, but it is largely a
\ndiscussion about nuances of interpretation. People who are
\nconvinced that massacre is justified are unlikely to be easily
\ndissuaded by Koranic hermeneutics.<\/p>\n
Therefore, in the long run it will be useful to consider what
\ncharacteristics make people susceptible to terrorist propaganda.
\nStatements by terrorist sympathizers reveal the following traits.
\nFirst, a narrow perspective on world history and international
\naffairs. Second, rejection of reason or impaired reasoning
\nability. Third, a system of values in which people are made to
\nfit laws rather than laws being made to fit people. Fourth, a
\nlack of empathy with other people.<\/p>\n
One would expect the government to aim to discourage such
\ntraits among the population. But in fact many policies tend to
\npromote them as widely as possible.<\/p>\n
For example, officials want to prevent people from receiving
\nforeign news broadcasts, thus fostering ignorance of
\ninternational perspectives.<\/p>\n
They maintain a long-standing ban on proselytizing to people
\nof different religions. While preachers, like any salesmen, can
\noccasionally be annoying, they are surely not so annoying that
\nthey need to be outlawed. This ban only prevents people from
\nlearning to compare, contrast and rationally evaluate religious
\nideas. Instead, they learn from childhood that outside religious
\nideas need to be shut out, in case they lead to contamination or
\nbetrayal. This defensive religious identity is the soul of
\nextremism.<\/p>\n
Of course government leaders have as much interest as anyone
\nin combating terrorism, which threatens both their person and
\ntheir power. But they inevitably favor "big splash" measures,
\nsuch as stricter identity checks, whose waves disturb lots of
\npeople, but can easily be ridden out by terrorists.<\/p>\n
In the long term it is essential to reduce the number of
\npeople susceptible to terrorist propaganda. This cannot be
\nachieved through security controls, or a campaign of
\ncounterpropaganda, but only by nurturing a society in which
\ntolerance can flourish.<\/p>\n
JOHN HARGREAVES, Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/society-and-tolerance-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }