Nobody ever wanted to go to war, but if a war came your way, it might as well be the right war, about the most important things in the world, and you might as well, if you were going to fight it, be called Rushdie, and stand where your father had placed you, in the tradition of the grand Aristotelian, Averroës, Abul Walid Muhammad ibn Ahmad ibn Rushd.
No one genuinely seeks war, yet when it arrives, it is crucial that it be a just cause that addresses significant issues. If one must engage in conflict, it is fitting to be recognized as Rushdie, reflecting a legacy that connects him to a profound philosophical tradition. This invokes the thoughts of great thinkers like Aristotle and Averroës, highlighting his position in a lineage of intellectual responsibility.
In "Joseph Anton: A Memoir," Salman Rushdie emphasizes the notion that participation in war should be for a purpose that aligns with core values and principles. Identifying with such a celebrated tradition serves to reinforce the idea that fighting for meaningful causes elevates both the individual and the conflict itself, positioning it within a framework of historical and moral significance.