The Social Darwin Strikes Again

Two Were Doctors - Andrew Sullivan

What strikes me about the fact that two of the British bombers were doctors is how similar to the proto-fascists this starts to sound. One of the more famed proto-fascist writers, Georges Sorel, was a well-educated engineer turned social critic. Those who argue that the more soul-sucking aspects of modernity were the catalyst for fascism make the point that the fascist leaders came from middle-class backgrounds, were well-educated and generally respected in their fields. At the same time however, class issues became more apparent as the mobility engendered by such an education did not translate into a higher social status. Hence the struggle against modernity that marked fascist ideology. What this means for those who pick the path of the 'great' jihad against the West is that it is possible these well-educated Muslims living in the West have not found spiritual peace amongst the trappings of modernity. This is something we are all struggling with in the West, but fortunately most of us have not chosen a path of destruction as these bombers have.