If you've read this site at all, you know I'm a proponent of tolerance--by which I mean that essential quality that promotes understanding. Tolerance isn't about letting bad people get away with evil. It's about seeking justice for what people do rather than pay lipservice to justice by treating people differently because of what they are. Tonight I was thinking of the Middle East and the history of terrorism, which goes way back, both in that region and outside, and this ethical dilemma came to mind as a way to get people to understand others better. Ready?
What would you do if you found out that a relative--particlularly your own child--was a terrorist? Generations of parents of various nationalities, cultures, and creeds have had to deal with this. What if your daughter blew herself up in a crowded market, or your son committed acts similar to those of Timothy McVeigh? Or you knew that it was likely to happen? Would you be like the Unabomber's brother and make the difficult decision of innocents over family? We all probably know what the ethical thing to do is--but faced with that choice, what would you do? Discuss amongst yourselves and get back to me.
The sad thing is that many folks probably never dream that this could happen to their family. You expect it in, say, families where extremist ideology plays an important role. But a lot of otherwise moderate people wind up in this situation. The trick then becomes, how do we prevent it and make our young people less vulnerable to those who would build up their esteem through hate?
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