“It takes a thief the catch a thief.” “Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel.” “No one is more pious than a reformed woman in church.” Nice little aphorisms. The point is the same: The paradox of opposites is found within the same person… or archetype. It may well be schizophrenia if it’s double blind. On a plural basis, it can become cult-like. On a national basis it can be irrational patriotism… patriotism for patriotism’s sake.

So we find those in the Islamic world who are unaware of the higher callings of Islam. We find people in the West who have missed the higher calling of its culture and live to excess. That is the problem. Each sees what’s wrong with the other. Each in their own way calls the other out. Those in the middle get caught up in the process.

What lessons could be learned by taking our most egregious civil offenders like white-collar criminals who sport the American flag in their lapels and put them in Guantanamo with accused Islamic terrorists? Both parties are equally guilty of crimes against not only America, but civilization itself. Would these people morph into super criminals, or become enlightened as Christ or the Buddha?

On the other hand, who is to say that super criminals couldn’t exist under the guise of being noble, and play us for pawns? It prompts the question: if the rhetoric is toned down, will the understanding increase?

Fred Stewart
Grand Junction

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