In a revealing quote from Robert Reich, former Clinton Labor Secretary who wrote an article in American Prospect magazine, he said clearly the cultural conflict the United States will face in the years ahead:
“The great conflict of the 21st century will not be between the West and terrorism. Terrorism is a tactic, not a belief. The true battle will be between modern civilization and anti-modernists; between those who believe in the primacy of the individual and those who believe that human beings owe their allegiance and identity to a higher authority; between those who give priority to life in this world and those who believe that human life is mere preparation for an existence beyond life; between those who believe in science, reason and logic and those who believe that truth is revealed through Scripture and religious dogma. Terrorism will disrupt and destroy lives, but terrorism itself is not the greatest danger we face.” (quoted in The Tennessean, 7/11/04, p. 22A.)
In a culture where the terms zealot and extremist is tossed about casually in reference to evangelical Christians, it is nice of Reich to said so clearly the views of many who stand on the other side of the cultural-religious divide. Though it’s a bit disconcerting to learn that some Americans view Christian believers as a greater danger than Osama bin Laden and his followers.