Robert A. Tickle: Shades of ISIS

The Buddhas of Bamiyan were built in central Afghanistan in the 6th century before Islam came to that region. In 2001, Taliban leader Mullah Mohammed Omar ordered the Buddhas destroyed. They were subsequently blown apart and left in rubble. The Taliban did this because they found the Buddhas “offensive.”

In March of this year, ISIS demolished the remains of the ancient city of Hatra in the north of the Iraq. ISIS also destroyed the ancient Assyrian city of Nimrud. ISIS did this because these ancient cities predate Islam so they found these cities “offensive.”

Now some of our residents want to destroy statues and monuments in this country that were erected long ago to mark the history of the American Civil War. They want to destroy these things because they find them “offensive.”

Are we no better than the Taliban? Do we operate under the same rules as ISIS? Are we getting to the point where we just destroy things we disagree with?

I would like to think we as a people are better than that. Time will tell if I am wrong.

This story was originally published July 9, 2015 at 5:07 PM with the headline "Robert A. Tickle: Shades of ISIS."