SST3772-ABED_1: Challenges to Liberalism: Religious Perspectives

To be an extremist, one's belief system must lie outside of the normal spectrum of beliefs. Extremism is the belief in actions that are considered unacceptable morally, socially, or politically.

Here is what happened to one airline passenger in an American airport:

"There I was, walking in stocking feet with my hands up. I watched the line of people slowly being herded along as armed guards patted us down. I had to take off my sweater so the female guard could pat me down. Then I went into a chamber where powder came out of the walls. I could see the fear in everyone's faces. And to think, I was in the so-called land of the free. We have given up our freedoms in the name of security, but I don't feel very safe right now."

The attacks on the World Trade Center in New York on September 11, 2001, ignited the War on Terror campaign and led to the 2001 invasion of Afghanistan and Iraq in 2003, plus a series of foreign policies known as the Bush Doctrine.

Foreign policy under the Bush administration after 2001 emphasized the right of the United States to secure itself aggressively from countries that harboured or gave aid to terrorist groups. This approach is associated with the ideals of international intervention to secure American national interests.

"We will pursue nations that provide aid or safe haven to terrorism. Every nation, in every region, now has a decision to make. Either you are with us, or you are with the terrorists. From this day forward, any nation that continues to harbor or support terrorism will be regarded by the United States as a hostile regime." —George W. Bush in his September 20, 2001, address to the United States Congress

In 2001, as a result of the terrorist challenges to western liberalism, the liberal democracy of the United States passed the Patriot Act, which allowed American authorities to

search all communications such as telephone and e-mail conversations
search records such as medical, financial, and any other records
ease restrictions on intelligence gathering in the U.S.
increase the powers of law enforcement and immigration authorities in keeping or deporting immigrants for suspected terrorist related acts

In a country that prided itself on civil liberties, under pressure from extremist groups like al-Qaeda, the U.S. Patriot Act did much to limit those freedoms.

The Canadian government passed similar legislation in 2001, the Canadian Anti-Terrorism Act.

"Everywhere where power is exercised there needs to be clear limits to its reach, and it is liberals who should be defining them. The war against terror has given governments a new and dangerous rationale for encroaching on civil liberties and limiting personal privacy—often in the name of our own safety. This year the European Parliament was forced to take European governments to the European Court of Justice when they authorized an agreement with the United States to share confidential data on European airline passengers traveling across the Atlantic. As in the United States, many European governments have used the war on terror to fast-track untested biometric technology. If these things make us marginally safer-and there is not a lot of evidence that they do-they do so at a real cost in reduced privacy and liberty.

The war against terror leaves us afraid, and fearful people will listen to governments who tell them they can only be safer when government is more powerful. Benjamin Franklin said that the man who would surrender liberty for a little safety deserves neither. As liberals we need to be on our guard against claims that we can be more secure by being less free."
—Graham Watson, Member of European Parliament, 2004

An area of extremism has been the Taliban in Afghanistan and Pakistan. The Taliban is an extremist group that once ruled Afghanistan in a totalitarian manner. After the World Trade Center was destroyed by the extremist group al-Qaeda on 9/11, 2001, the United States removed the Taliban from power by military force. The Taliban had been allowing al-Qaeda and its leader, Osama bin Laden, to train their extremist forces there. Canada and many other NATO forces supported the United States in pushing out the Taliban. However, the Taliban have been able to mount a brutal campaign against NATO coalition troops.

During 2008, in the Swat Valley of Pakistan, the Taliban shut down schools. Through an agreement with the Pakistani government, the schools for girls did reopen. But there is still immense pressure on girls not to go to school. Girls face serious harassment in Afghanistan, as well. In 2008, some girls were attacked by acid and received serious facial injuries that impacted their ability to attend school. During the Taliban's rule, girls were banned from attending school.

Please watch the following video explaining Safe & Sorry–Terrorism & Mass Surveillance:

Read "Justifying Challenges to Liberalism" on pages 264-272 of your textbook, Understandings of Ideologies. These pages will further your understanding of challenges to liberalism from other perspectives.

You should make notes, either on paper or on your computer, about what you have read. You may want to read the tutorial How to Make Notes. When you are finished the tutorial, return here to continue this unit.