East-West relationships, a complex phenomenon, JAKARTA POST.

(From Worldsources (English))

Byline: Dominic P. Papatola

In the wake of the Bali, Baghdad and Jakarta terrorist attacks, I would like to share my view of contemporary East-West relationships. I have seen examples of a clash of ignorance, if not a clash of interests, rather than a "clash of civilizations".

Anti-Westernism, on the one hand, and anti-Islamism on the other have indeed been on the rise since the end of the Cold War. Both are a very complicated phenomena, as people live in an environment where deeply held religious and cultural values exist alongside powerful special interests, intense emotions and not a few psychopathic personalities.

Westerners wondered why such anti-U.S. sentiments emerged in some Muslim areas, even in Indonesia where the majority of Muslims are moderates. People in the Muslim world equally wondered why Americans hate Islam.

While anti-American sentiment can be said to be a product of specific U.S. government actions or foreign policies, coupled with rampant cultural misunderstandings and theological underpinnings, anti-Islamism emerged either as a response to this anti-Americanism or as a potent sentiment created by ignorance.

As many Americans misperceive the rest of the world, America is equally a vastly misunderstood paradox, partly because of media distortions and cultural misunderstandings. Both Western and Eastern media have contributed to these distorted perceptions.