The Great Man Theory
May 3, 2011
I heard the news about Bin Laden's death when I arrived back at the Philadelphia Airport at 1045 on Sunday night with my colleague, Greg Beale. We noticed a small group huddled by a TV in the almost-deserted airport and stopped to see what the news was. It was quite amazing to see the excitement that news of the successful military operation generated and, in the subsequent 24 hours, I found it fascinating both to see the details of the operation and the explosion of excitement on the streets, in the bars and at sports venues across the country.
Three things came to mind. First, Carlyle's theory of the Great Man approach to history -- that important individuals are the decisive dynamos of the historical process -- is alive and well at a popular level, despite its obvious flaws. For all of the understandable and justifiable rejoicing at a powerful strike against the symbols of Islamic terrorism, it is unlikely that Bin Laden's death will make much difference to the world in ways other than the symbolic - yes, the powerfully symbolic, but still only the symbolic. Far more significant for the future of Islamic terrorism are the popular uprisings across north Africa and the Middle East. These seem to be fueled to a large extent by groups of people who repudiate the tenets of the Wahabbists. Whether these groups eventually take power, or whether they simply topple regimes and create space for the next generation of totalitarians remains to be seen; but, one way or another, these uprisings will be the truly influential events of 2011 relative to the future course of Islam, Middle Eastern politics and international security.
Second, I am reminded once again of how strange it is to be a foreigner in a country in the grip of a wave of patriotism. The UK is an American ally; and I am happy that there is one less mass murderer in the world to worry about; but I am never more aware of my foreignness and the fact I don't quite belong in a land where I have lived for nearly a quarter of my life than at such times. Passionate, noisy patriotism can be very intimidating even to friends who are still outsiders.
Third, and following on from the latter: patriotism is a civic virtue - I am a patriotic Englishman myself and, even as a resident alien, felt a flush of satisfaction when I heard about Sunday's special operation -- but it should have no place in the church. The church should be the place where all people from all nations and cultures should be able to meet together in the unity of the Spirit. Yes, every church exists in a specific culture; and I do not expect my church in Philadelphia to be anything other than a church which reflects to an extent the immediate culture of its surroundings. It is not Gloucestershire, after all. But we need to make sure that national agendas and patriotism are checked at the church door.
Three things came to mind. First, Carlyle's theory of the Great Man approach to history -- that important individuals are the decisive dynamos of the historical process -- is alive and well at a popular level, despite its obvious flaws. For all of the understandable and justifiable rejoicing at a powerful strike against the symbols of Islamic terrorism, it is unlikely that Bin Laden's death will make much difference to the world in ways other than the symbolic - yes, the powerfully symbolic, but still only the symbolic. Far more significant for the future of Islamic terrorism are the popular uprisings across north Africa and the Middle East. These seem to be fueled to a large extent by groups of people who repudiate the tenets of the Wahabbists. Whether these groups eventually take power, or whether they simply topple regimes and create space for the next generation of totalitarians remains to be seen; but, one way or another, these uprisings will be the truly influential events of 2011 relative to the future course of Islam, Middle Eastern politics and international security.
Second, I am reminded once again of how strange it is to be a foreigner in a country in the grip of a wave of patriotism. The UK is an American ally; and I am happy that there is one less mass murderer in the world to worry about; but I am never more aware of my foreignness and the fact I don't quite belong in a land where I have lived for nearly a quarter of my life than at such times. Passionate, noisy patriotism can be very intimidating even to friends who are still outsiders.
Third, and following on from the latter: patriotism is a civic virtue - I am a patriotic Englishman myself and, even as a resident alien, felt a flush of satisfaction when I heard about Sunday's special operation -- but it should have no place in the church. The church should be the place where all people from all nations and cultures should be able to meet together in the unity of the Spirit. Yes, every church exists in a specific culture; and I do not expect my church in Philadelphia to be anything other than a church which reflects to an extent the immediate culture of its surroundings. It is not Gloucestershire, after all. But we need to make sure that national agendas and patriotism are checked at the church door.
