Hello and Welcome Back!
We are currently exploring themes related to the War on Terror within our ASTU 100 class. This discussion was opened with the reading of The Reluctant Fundamentalist written by Mohsin Hamid, a British/Pakistani novelist and writer. In the novel, Changez, the narrator, tells an unknown American the story of his life in America, through the course of one evening. My first impression from the title gave me a hint that the novel would be exploring elements of fundamentalism, and perhaps the misconceptions associated with the War on Terror. Prior to diving into this topic within our class, I had never really giving this phrase a second thought. This military campaign, or metaphor of war, that started after the September 11 attacks, has engulfed the entire world. This large fear of terrorism, resulting in the creation of stereotypes has elevated feelings of fear and racism in the 21st century. What heightened racism following the War on Terror, was the somewhat unknown and hidden aspect of terrorism. It was the fact that you didn’t clearly know or understand who your enemy was, resulting in the unknown fact of who to fight. Individuals living in the United States, under the features and characteristics of the Middle East, began to burden the feelings of the post 9/11 world. As security measures heightened, so did the racial profiling, leaving individuals feeling as outsiders and as the enemy.
A topic that Hamid explores throughout his novel that I found very compelling, was this idea of not belonging, of being the stranger. Being from a Pakistani origin, and moving to America for his studies, Changez is casted out as exotic or different within his communities – and this further develops after the events of 9/11. This idea that individuals who are not American are viewed as the outsiders is strange, considering the US makes up a small portion of the world’s population. Changez even personally refers to himself as exotic “…was well-liked as an exotic acquaintance…” (p.17), but also exemplifies his feelings of belonging “In a subway car, my skin would typically fall in the middle of the color spectrum” (p.33), which strengthens his feelings of limbo – belonging somewhere, but nowhere at the same time. This idea of confliction, of betrayal to himself, of striving to attain something that is perhaps not possible, is a constant struggle within the story, to which an example can be found on page 152:
“There really could be no doubt: I was a modern-day janissary, a servant of the American empire at a time when it was invading a country with a kinship to mine and was perhaps even colluding to ensure that my own country faced the threat of war. Of course I was struggling! Of course I felt torn!” (p.152)
I believe anyone can have these feeling of not belonging, or feelings of being an outsider- whether it be in a classroom, or in a new country. Throughout the novel, these feelings of not belonging and conflictions continue to arise and represent an important part of the post 9/11 world. Before closely studying 9/11 within our class, I had never viewed myself as living in a “post 9/11” world, perhaps because I simply grew up in that era. However, as I began to think about the increased safety measures, the increasing racial profiling, and terrorist attacks that occur globally, I can now understand the true impact of 9/11. The way in which individuals engage in warfare has evolved, and terrorism remains one of the biggest security and safety issues around the world. Individuals continue to feel unsafe and targeted, perhaps afraid to live openly and freely. With security measures being heightened at airports, people continue to feel as if they are being watched, and could be singled out at any moment.
When people become fundamentalists, it creates an extreme, which is never beneficial. It is no help that new president elect: Donald Trump, is fueling these testaments, and allowing individuals to harbour these feelings of racism and discrimination. Unfortunately, the States is becoming a location engulfed in open discrimination, instead of a land with endless prosperity – or as Changez originally viewed it “… a dream come true” (p.11) Perhaps the world, similar to Changez, is beginning to be shocked, as we realize the hatful and discriminatory society we currently live in. This forces me to pose the question, how do we end these thoughts and transform these racist views into more equal and accepting ones? And what role do us as young individuals have to protect the liberties of others? Personally answering this, I believe it is our role to eliminate fundamentalism, and as Hamid puts it, approach fundamentalism as reluctantly as possible.
Until next time…
