Fundamentalism

As events unfold in Afghanistan in the wake of the US withdrawal there is a bipartisan chorus of critics of President Biden's handling of the situation. The final verdict may be some time in coming. I am devoting this post to a different but related matter. Mention Afghanistan and many Americans shake their heads at the apparent futility of trying to bring about change in that part of the world. "Tribalism" is inevitably invoked with the implied backwardness of the society there. Alas, as the old saying goes, when we point a finger at others we should see our other fingers pointing right back at ourselves. Granted, Afghanistan may be stuck in the Dark Ages and, as a result unable to shake off its many handicaps. But the thing that is really keeping them there is fundamentalism - unwavering adherence to a set of beliefs, often but not solely religious, regardless of evidence to the contrary. Sound familiar? What is our excuse for what is going on in our country. A third of our compatriots equate public health measures with encroachment of their freedom. They are willing to risk getting a potentially fatal infection and expose their family and neighbors to the same to defend their beliefs. They are willing to undermine the foundation of this country we have all built together over almost 250 years by passing laws to ensure the dominance of one political party. I don't want to equate our fundamentalists with the Taliban but I have to say the difference is of degree only. The slogan "Make America Great Again" implies going back to a "better" time. When was that? And who was it better for? Meddling with the education system raises the specter of a repeat of the Scopes trial. How about going back to a time when women and people of color could not vote? Not good enough? How about a re-do of the Civil War hoping for a "better" outcome? I know some of you are thinking I have gone off the deep end with this line of thinking. I hope you are right but I fear you are not. Instead of looking with pity on countries like Afghanistan, we should be urgently looking for ways to mend our house divided. At least they have the excuse of illiteracy and poverty. What's ours?