A professor from the American University of Beirut spoke tomembers of the Muncie community Wednesday evening about therelationship of the Islamic world and the Western world in alecture and discussion forum at the Alumni Center.
Ahmad S. Moussali, a professor of Islamic and Western politicalthought, explained that the process of developing the complexrelationship between Islamic and Western cultures started centuriesago, not at the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. He described thecollapse of the Soviet Union and the resulting ideology ofdemocratization of the world as a more recent catalyst leading toconflict.
"They perceive themselves as an important player in the collapseof the Soviet Union," Moussali said of powerful Islamicfundamentalist groups that recognized the Soviet Union as anatheistic country. He said a succession of events since then hadput them on a course against the United States and Europe, addingthat the conflict has moved from nationalism.
"We are now entering a new phase of confrontation, which is theclash of civilizations," he said. "The United States ideology doesnot fit into their new, emerging world order."
Pointing out that the Taliban follows an ultratraditionalistrather than a fundamental movement, Moussali said that confusionexists even in the Arabic world about the difference betweenfundamental Islam as a faith and as a political empowerment.
"For a fundamentalist, religion becomes more important as apolitical instrument," Moussali said, noting that religion became aforce to empower people and that those oppressed and out of hoperesort to radicalism. He added that those connected to Osama binLadin are among the most radical.
Forecasting the future of America in Iraq, Moussali said theUnited States must allow all Iraqi political groups to representthemselves to create a new government, and he called for a removalof U.S. troops as soon as possible. He does not, however, see hiswish coming true anytime soon.
"It's not promising as it stands right now," he said. "They [theUnited States] don't want to finish it quick."
Dee Moser, 64, attended the lecture and has a son currentlyserving in the National Guard in Afghanistan.
"The conflict has been going on for so many years," she said."It's not going to be over with in just few months. One election isnot going to take care of it."
Moser is a member of the Muncie branch of the AmericanAssociation of University Women (AAUW), a group that collaboratedwith the Ball State International Women's Club to bring Moussali tospeak.
Alice Bennet, president of the AAUW, said Moussali expressedwell the need for cooperation between the cultures rather thandenomination.
"I thought it was such a well-reasoned presentation," shesaid.
Ball State is the only Indiana university Moussali is visitingthrough the "Understanding Contemporary Islam" program. He will bespeaking at local schools, community gatherings and at theuniversity until Oct 4.
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