Henry McLeish: politicians must exercise caution in reacting to the Paris attacks

The brutal slaughter of 130 people in Paris was yet another example of barbarism chillingly delivered. ISIS, operating well outside any reasonable definition of humanity, reminds us what a death cult looks like.

Organised and well-financed, this group of psychopaths and their bloodthirsty affiliates, abuse the Islamic faith, spread fear and terror, and leave their indelible MO on the softest targets in Europe, Africa and the Middle East. It is understandable why there have been deep expressions of solidarity for France and its citizens. 

People are also angry. There is fear about the future, as the complex issues surrounding ‘modern terror’ seem to be beyond the capabilities of governments, politicians and political parties to either understand or respond to.

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In the absence of strong leadership, the public mood is there to be exploited. The recent terrorist attacks in Mali, Paris and Sharm el-Sheikh come in the aftermath of an agonisingly difficult refugee crisis where a broader humanity of care and compassion was hard to find among recriminations and political rhetoric.

On both sides of the Atlantic there is a more worrying aspect to this. Politicians and political parties to the right and the left are stirring up hatred and vying with each other to uphold the Christian faith, be tough on foreigners, humiliate the Islamic faith and keep alive insidious nationalism.

Some political leaders seem to be competing to become the most outspoken, offer the most radical and insane remedies, scapegoat refugees and migrants, in particular Syrians, and conflate other issues so it becomes a concerted onslaught on ideas of difference, tolerance and solidarity. Nationalism and its consequences should be obvious to Europeans, considering events in Europe between 1870 and 1945.

The debate in the US has become toxic. There is a poisonous atmosphere surrounding the Republican Party as the presidential nominees’ campaign heats up. The two frontrunners, Donald Trump and Ben Carson, are scraping the bottom of the barrel of humanity with their recent outbursts. Carson in particular described Syrian refugees as “rabid dogs”.

The House of Representatives has just passed a resolution saying the US should not accept Syrians. While this will be vetoed by the Senate, over 40 Democrats voted with the Republicans. Nearly 20 of the 50 US state governors want a similar ban.

The New York Times captures the current mood: “Civilisation does not close its door to an orphaned toddler looking to start a new life in the United States, as Governor Chris Christie of New Jersey has proposed. Civilisation does not apply a religious test to victims of religious fanaticism, as Senator Ted Cruz, Republican of Texas, wants to do. Only those who pray to Jesus, in his plan, would be allowed to resettle in the United States.”

There is no room for complacency in Europe, though. There are signs, however, that the current populist rhetoric, backed up by actions in many EU countries, could lead us down this path of religious intolerance and inhuman solutions to hugely human problems. Politicians must exercise caution. The powerful emotions unleashed by the tragic events in Paris require careful handling.

People have a right to be angry, but politicians do not have a right to exploit human tragedies for cheap political advantage or to stir up hatred and fear in the cause of some distorted sense of patriotic fervour or narrow nationalism.

The public needs an alternative narrative that espouses notions of one world, being patriots of broader humanity and global citizens. We cannot condemn all Syrians, all refugees, all foreigners or all Muslims because of ISIS’ behaviour. The blame should be pinned on those committing global atrocities, not on the easier targets of a religion, a region or a country.

Politicians must be more aware of the dangers of deepening the current crisis by stoking the flames of intolerance, intensifying racist and ethnic anxieties and promoting religious exceptionalism around the Christian faith. Europe has, however, a much better chance of reining in the ugly excesses of divisive politics that the US, sadly, now takes for granted.

As we celebrate St Andrew’s Day, let’s acknowledge Robert Burns’ true words: “Man’s inhumanity to man, made countless thousands mourne”. But then he also penned “Man to man the world o’er shall brothers be for a’ that”. 

This is the timeless assertion of the dignity of us all and our equal worth.

The US has just celebrated Thanksgiving, which commemorates the harvest festival celebrated by the Pilgrim Fathers in 1621. It is hard to believe that a nation of immigrants – mentioned by Pope Francis on his recent visit to the US – could host this toxic migrant debate.

For some, the Statue of Liberty may just be a tourist attraction, but for the world this gift from the French symbolises the triumph of hope over fear.  It provides a timeless reminder that the land of the brave and the free has much more to offer the world than its current debate would have us believe.