Rushdie Haunted by his unholy Ghosts — Page 161
Rushdie: Haunted By His Unholy Ghosts 161 tion for Islam by urging Britain ‘to learn from Islam and appreciate some of its spiritual tenets to create a unique international role as the ‘bridge-builder’ between the Muslim world and the West. ’ Prince Charles is also aware that this could not be possible un- less Britain learns to respect spiritual matters : ‘This could not be done without a willingness on our part to learn from the world of Islam and to balance our innate pragmatism with an acute awareness of the vital importance of the things of the Spirit. ’ (The Daily Telegraph, 30 March 1995). Prince Charles delivered the ‘coup-de-grace’ to those that are in- tent on keeping the divide between Islam and the West in Jonathan Dimbleby’s documentary (shown on British television in 1994) in which Prince Charles said he would like to be seen as a ‘Defender of Faith’ - Muslim as well as Christian ! Suggestions and advice for bridging the gap between Islam and the West seem to be coming from all corners. It is hoped that these views are highlighted more in the media so that positive steps can be taken rather than sensationalising the actions of a handful of fundamentalists or extremists who are to be found in all faiths and civilisations. Noel Malcolm of The Daily Telegraph reacted strongly to an ‘ex- traordinary announcement’ by Willie Claes, the new Nato Secretary- General, ‘that Islam had replaced Communism as the main threat to Nato. ’ Malcolm is well aware of the pre-conceived ideas in the West about Islam that have led to this damaging statement as he writes: ‘the biggest problem is a failure of understanding by politicians and other opinion-makers in the West, who believe that Islam is a monolithic and alien thing, otherwise known as ‘fundamentalism’, which threatens us all. ’ Malcolm advises the British politicians to follow the example of Prince Charles and in referring to his visit to Egypt in March 1995 he picks out the most significant part of that visit: