Resumo de Terrorist - John Updike

It appears that John Updike?s latest book (fiction) titled ?Terrorist? being published by Alfred A. Knopf is due for release shortly. In this connection Updike?s interview by George McGrath has appeared in the New York Times of 31 May 2006. This piece by me is based on this interview.

The terrorist in question is an 18 year old boy called Ahmad whose mother is an American and father an Egyptian. It seems he is converted to Islam. In general he is a loveable boy. The act of terrorism is the blowing up of the Lincoln Tunnel. Updike states that he has had a tunnel-phobia himself and hence that has come in handy in the novel.

Updike during the interview states, ?I felt that I could understand the animosity and hatred which an Islamic believer would have for our system?. This appears t o be a very confused statement indeed.

A normal and moderate Islamic believer is first of all not capable of being a terrorist or fundamentalist. In fact, in all, only about a dozen or so verses in different Suras of the Holy Quran refer to any resort to violence, and but for them Quran is totally harmless. An average Muslim today does not believe in killing for spreading Islam whatever the past and old history.

Secondly, what does Updike mean by ?our system?? In fact most things about the American system are damn good and that is why people from all parts of the world go and set up home there. America offers liberty, equality and plentiful opportunities to find one?s full potential. So why should there be any hatred and animosity with regard to these things? Thousands and thousands of Muslims who are immigrants in the USA have nothing but praise for these things. The only aspect that a Muslim may hate is something related to culture and mores like nudity, kissing, pornography etc. Here too an average Muslim ignores these things as long as they do not affect him or his family. So, do not watch the x-rated movies and do not look at those huge hoardings showing scantily clad women!

Or does the expression ?our system? imply the arrogance and war-mongering of the American State policy as witnessed in recent years? The USA ignored the UN and committed aggression on another country on false pretext killing in the process several thousands of civilians including innocent children. That is something that will be hated not only by Islamic believers but all sane people of the world.

Updike has intruded into a new genre for him. He may have in the process somewhat educated himself about Islam, world politics and terrorism. However, reading the interview, one is afraid that with half-baked understanding of things, and particularly on such a sensitive subject as Islam and terrorism on American soil, he is only likely to create needless misunderstandings and misapprehensions among the readers of his novel ?Terrorist? that is not going to be a healthy thing.

by Dr.V.S.Gopalakrishnan

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