Cultural Blindness

Andrew Sullivan points us to a personal recollection of Matt, who counts a well educated Pakistani as a friend. (Peruse the comments section if you have time as well) This Muslim friend and his brother are convinced that Mossad was responsible for the 9/11 attacks; Matt even alludes to fears for personal safety amidst the mainly Muslim gathering they were at. When culture and faith impose such blinders on a faithful's ability to reason, or even to discourse reasonably, then you cannot reason with the faithful. This is why to let our guard down now would be dangerous.

Key quotes:

I don't think we can penetrate that kind of cultural and religious brainwashing.

It really is us against them. Us and the Israelis and a few others against 1.6 billion zealots.

The 1.6 billion figure he cites might be a little too much since it lumps every Muslim into the category. As much as I wish this account weren't true, I think I agree with Matt on the principle.

What gets me is that a free and open society allows such divergent thoughts and beliefs; yet, there is little kindness reciprocated.