That life in the world has undergone a radical change since the September 11 terrorist attack on the USA is already an axiom. Even now there is talk about a true human tragedy, the need to revise the underlying principles of international politics, crisis of the heretofore established notions of values, the vulnerability of the man in the street, and the possibility of conflict between north and south civilizations. All true, to some degree or an other, but not the whole truth. Once again the question arises of what exactly is human value and how will the individual’s most fundamental right to life be protected.
The human disaster actually comes down not only to the September 11 tragedy, however devastating. What happened that morning in America became possible because even before the terrorists hit the World Trade Building and Pentagon there had been rallies and demonstrations in various parts of the world, including countries considered models of today’s democracy, packed with aggressiveness and hatred. The real catastrophe is that hatred continues to be one of the most destructive forces in many societies. This catastrophe is also manifest in the fact that just like thousands of years ago the life of the individual is not considered the greatest value in a number of communities. On the contrary, as evidenced by the US tragedy and events in the Middle East, Afghanistan, Russia, the Caucasus, and Africa over the past several years, sacrificing human lives is considered a necessity, people have to die for the sake of some lofty idea. Children are raised in an atmosphere of hatred and taught to feel happy about fellow humans suffering somewhere else.
September 11 ought to be regarded as yet more evidence that it is a very bad mistake to talk about a crisis of Western values and their confrontation with Oriental ones, that Western Christian values are incompatible with Oriental ones, or that Christianity and Islam have no common values. Those familiar with The Bible, Torah, and Koran, Buddhism, Hinduism, or Taoism know only too well that none of the world religions call in its holy books or prophetic admonitions for violence, manslaughter, aggression, hatred, or fanaticism. Practically all the underlying principles of the world religions are based on common values, as exemplified by the Ten Commandments. The US tragedy ought to be regarded as graphic evidence that all — Christians, Buddhists, even snake - worshippers — are equal when confronted by violence.
What is happening could perhaps be described as a dehumanization of the community of mankind. The third millennium AD is again witness to wars and acts of violence, precisely the way it was at the beginning of man’s history. Except now we have far more and better equipment and technologies, and have become far more cynical. The crisis of values began not on September 11 in Washington and New York. History knows of many attempts to use force to build paradise on earth, and of the consequences of all those crusades, jihads, revolutions “for the sake of a radiant future,” or movements of vengeance. So far, history knows of not one case testifying to the contrary, when people could unite to protect every man’s innate right to live.
The dividing line runs not between the north and south or between European and Asian civilizations. It is between those recognizing general human (not eastern, western, north, or south) values and those to whom these notions mean nothing. Perhaps this (maybe more) is what can be considered a hallmark of civilization today. Yasir Arafat, donating his blood, Fidel Castro saying he wants to help America, days of mourning in Europe, canceled UEFA soccer matches — these are all examples showing that not all has been lost, that the problem of terrorism has been (or is being) comperhended as one affecting all.
There is little doubt that, as of September 11, the general problems of values, civilized development of the mankind, and human rights must be regarded from an altogether different perspective, proceeding from altogether different principles, in altogether different circumstances.
It is perhaps safe to assume that the US tragedy is not Armageddon, not yet. Rather, it is an occurrence making it possible for everyone to realize that the adage about minding one’s own business is no longer valid, that a noble cause can never be implemented at the cost of even one human life. Otherwise there is constant fear of terror. Anonymous, like in the US so far, or at the government level as has been the case elsewhere in the world, there is a threat of real disaster when human values seem absent.
