David C. Stolinsky, M.D.
Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2003

Words and beliefs have consequences – serious ones. History proves this with depressing frequency.

The Nazis told Germans that all their troubles were caused by the Jews. As a statement, this was inaccurate. But as a belief, it led to the extermination of 6 million human beings, including over a million children.

The Islamic extremists told Muslims that all their problems were caused by the Americans. As a statement, this was incorrect. But as a belief, it led to 9/11 and is likely to lead to more terrorist attacks.

When people choose words, they should ask themselves two questions. First, are the words accurate? Second, what effect will the words have on listeners?

For example, the editor of a leading English medical journal wrote an editorial criticizing Americans for producing too much greenhouse gases. This may or may not be scientifically accurate, but it is a reasonable statement. However, the editor's choice of words was entirely unreasonable.

The editor called our alleged overproduction of carbon dioxide "bioterrorism." Since he blamed "each U.S. citizen," the reader must conclude that all Americans are terrorists. To make matters worse, the editorial appeared two months after 9/11.

Perhaps the editor was using what he felt was legitimate exaggeration to make his point that global warming is a problem. But his journal is read worldwide. Did he stop to consider how readers in the Middle East might perceive his words? Did he realize that his editorial, coming so soon after 9/11, might be interpreted as justifying the mass murder of over 3,000 Americans?

But whether he realized it or not, he might be seen as not only excusing a terrorist act, but also encouraging more such acts. Nor is the editor alone in his fanaticism.

Recently a group of media personalities sponsored a TV announcement accusing SUV owners of supporting terrorism. How, precisely, should one act toward terrorists and supporters of terrorists? "Key" their SUVs? Set fire to their SUVs? Set fire to their SUVs with them inside? Crash airliners into their office towers? Release anthrax spores? Explode a nuclear bomb?

Calling every American a "terrorist" either trivializes real terrorism like 9/11, or equates Americans with mass-murderers. In the first case, we are not justified in fighting or killing the real terrorists, because they're no worse than we are. In the second case, all people are justified in fighting or killing us.

But in either case, moral distinctions are utterly lost. In either case, violent words encourage real violence.

Another example that words have consequences is the question of free will. Many psychologists and psychiatrists insist that our behavior is determined only by our genetics and our life experiences. They argue among themselves about which of the two is more important – nature or nurture.

But the end result is that human beings are reduced to the status of complex robots. And without free will, criminal responsibility is called into serious question. Thus many defense attorneys, and their hired expert witnesses, claim that the defendant's low-life parents and unhappy childhood absolve him of blame for his crimes.

Yet if genetics and environment really determine behavior, why are these experts so often mistaken at predicting behavior? Why do they often predict that an inmate has been rehabilitated and is no longer a risk, only to be proved terribly wrong when the person is released?

That is, the same experts who claim that behavior is predetermined are themselves often unable to predict behavior. Their belief that free will does not exist is thus not a scientific theory, subject to being refuted by data. Rather, it is a pseudo-religious belief, depending on faith quite as much as do religious beliefs.

Religious people believe we each have a God-given soul and free will. Many secular people believe we are complex robots. But neither belief is capable of being proved or disproved. The only difference is that religious people admit their belief is based on faith, while secular people falsely claim their belief is based on facts.

The Bible tells us to judge trees by their fruit. Likewise, we should judge beliefs by their results. What results can we expect from each belief?

America was founded by people who believed – and proclaimed loudly – that all human beings are created equal, and are endowed by their Creator with inalienable rights. What resulted from these beliefs? A nation resulted that, despite its flaws, is freer than any nation in history. A nation resulted that, despite occasional missteps, champions individual rights throughout the world – and is both admired and hated for it.

But what resulted from the belief that our destiny is predetermined?

The Nazis, like other racists, asserted that genetics – "blood" – is the key determinant of human behavior and worth. They stressed nature, not nurture.

Hitler, Himmler and Eichmann were their heroes. Auschwitz, Buchenwald and Bergen-Belsen were their crowning achievements. Their beliefs resulted in brutal tyranny and mass murder.

The Communists asserted that environment is the key determinant of human behavior, and attempted to produce "the new Soviet man." They stressed nurture, not nature. Stalin, Mao and Pol Pot were their heroes. The Ukrainian famine, the Gulag and the Cambodian genocide were their crowning achievements. Their beliefs resulted in brutal tyranny and mass murder.

And today, the Communists' unlikely heirs, the Islamic extremists, also believe in the supremacy of environment. Instead of economics, they claim to be concerned with theology, but their aim is identical – forcing society into an ideologic straitjacket. Bin Laden, Saddam Hussein and the suicide bombers are their heroes. It is too soon to say what their crowning achievement will be, but 9/11 was a strong hint. Their beliefs result in brutal tyranny and mass murder.

But, you ask, how can I compare Communists, who are militant atheists, with Islamic extremists, who are fanatically religious? True, they disagree on theology, but they agree on many other things:

• They both believe that people are shaped by their environment, which therefore must be rigidly controlled.

• They both believe that people have no inalienable rights, and therefore must be regimented by harsh rules that govern all aspects of human activity.

• They both think people can't be trusted, and therefore must be watched by a vast police apparatus.

• They both insist that nonbelievers can be converted by force, and those who resist can be persecuted without mercy.

• They both believe their role is to create a utopia on earth, and therefore they are justified in using any means including mass murder.

• They both hate Judeo-Christian civilization in general and capitalism in particular. The 9/11 terrorists could have destroyed a cathedral or a synagogue. Instead they destroyed the World Trade Center. That tells a lot about their priorities.

• They both believe they are entitled to control the world, and they hate America for standing in their way.

To put it another way, suppose Stalin claimed to be religious. Suppose he took off his military cap and put an Italian tablecloth on his head. Would that have made him any less of a mass murderer and ruthless tyrant? Would it have made him any less evil and dangerous?

In short, some people believe we are autonomous individuals and deserve to exercise our God-given free will. They tend to produce free and prosperous societies. Other people believe our behavior is predetermined by genetics or environment, and we must be strictly controlled. They tend to produce oppressive and impoverished societies.

What to believe is your choice. But be aware that the choice is a critical one, with far-reaching effects. So choose wisely.

Words and ideas indeed have consequences. And by their fruits you will know them.

Dr. Stolinsky writes on political and social issues. He may be contacted at dcstolinsky@prodigy.net

Read more on this subject in related Hot Topics:
Al-Qaeda
War on Terrorism

Editor's note:
FBI whistle-blower tells how the Clintons helped cause 9-11