Praying for the world we live in
Over the last few days I have tried to digest the news that has rocked the world we live in. On the day I was teaching 11 year old children how to find the truth in a news document; on the day I enjoyed a juicy medium rare steak with my fiance on our second anniversary; these events seemed trivial. The food and wine had the after taste of ash in my mouth. Why?
The answer is simple. A great act of terror was done, and the world mourned. On the day of November 13, 2015 several hundred people in Paris were the victims of a terrorist attack. As the beasts of ISIS claimed responsibility, the world had flashbacks of September 11, 2001. Justice must, and assuredly must be done to those who are guilty. And applause to the Parisian government to attacking ISIS installations today and in the future.
Now, lets get to the rub of the argument. Many people want to paint all Muslims the same; anti-American, wanting to impose Sharia law, woman beaters, anti-Semitic, anti-Christian. While yes, this does apply apply to the minority of Muslims (based on various polls, the majority of Muslims worldwide want Sharia law in places it is not already implemented). In my personal experience with classmates, students, and acquaintances that practice the Muslim faith I have never felt myself in danger. In fact, I found myself quite welcome. And yet so many people who I wonder have ever interacted with a Muslim person, want to go with the gut response of "F--- Islam! F--- Muhammad!" Because, you know, that's what Jesus would do.
I wish at this point to digress from my main topic to tell a story of such a friendship I had. My best friend in high school was Nabeel. He was a jolly, Arab guy. Our mutual senses of humor and laid back personalities drew us to each other. His dad was originally from Palestine and had came to America after meeting Nabeel's mom while she was on a mission. His dad offered me a box of doughnuts to take home the first time i went to their house, and after a few urges, Nabeel told me to tale them. I later learned that in Muslim households, you always give your guests something to take home as a sign of hospitality. I always had sandwiches, watermelons, doughnuts, and various other foods whenever I met his family.
I could also talk of my friend Nadeem, a Bengali who was raised in the Muslim faith. While the man does not eat pork or imbibe in alcohol, his is one of the most brilliant minds I know. Do I fear for my life or those around me when he is around? Absolutely not. If nothing else his good company helps to aide in breaking some negative stereotypes that come with being a bit too brown an swarthy
Let us now sink out teeth into the matter at hand. On November 13, 2015 almost 50 people were killed in a terrorist attack by ISIS in Beirut. Minimum media coverage was given. And earlier this month ISIS did similar attacks in Egypt. On November 14, 2015 more than 100 people were killed by ISIS in Paris and it was all over the media.
My question becomes, when does it become okay for terrorist to kill, and when not? If we go by the media, as long as it is brown killing brown then we are good. But if it is radical Muslims that kill white people, then by God we need to react! But, we have had white, Christians here in America do horrible acts of terrorism (look up Timothy McVeigh). We want to wrap our mind around just one group of people that do evil things, and sure, if you are under 20 years old you may be excused from that but. But those of us that know about the Bosnian War, the Troubles in Ireland, and various struggles in Africa and South America to act like this is honestly reprehensible.
So in closing, do I think that the remembrance and commemoration of the atrocities in Paris are unwarranted? Absolutely not. The lives lost should be remembered. But, we need to break our Euro-centrism world view, and who knows; such acts could be avoided.
The answer is simple. A great act of terror was done, and the world mourned. On the day of November 13, 2015 several hundred people in Paris were the victims of a terrorist attack. As the beasts of ISIS claimed responsibility, the world had flashbacks of September 11, 2001. Justice must, and assuredly must be done to those who are guilty. And applause to the Parisian government to attacking ISIS installations today and in the future.
Now, lets get to the rub of the argument. Many people want to paint all Muslims the same; anti-American, wanting to impose Sharia law, woman beaters, anti-Semitic, anti-Christian. While yes, this does apply apply to the minority of Muslims (based on various polls, the majority of Muslims worldwide want Sharia law in places it is not already implemented). In my personal experience with classmates, students, and acquaintances that practice the Muslim faith I have never felt myself in danger. In fact, I found myself quite welcome. And yet so many people who I wonder have ever interacted with a Muslim person, want to go with the gut response of "F--- Islam! F--- Muhammad!" Because, you know, that's what Jesus would do.
I wish at this point to digress from my main topic to tell a story of such a friendship I had. My best friend in high school was Nabeel. He was a jolly, Arab guy. Our mutual senses of humor and laid back personalities drew us to each other. His dad was originally from Palestine and had came to America after meeting Nabeel's mom while she was on a mission. His dad offered me a box of doughnuts to take home the first time i went to their house, and after a few urges, Nabeel told me to tale them. I later learned that in Muslim households, you always give your guests something to take home as a sign of hospitality. I always had sandwiches, watermelons, doughnuts, and various other foods whenever I met his family.
I could also talk of my friend Nadeem, a Bengali who was raised in the Muslim faith. While the man does not eat pork or imbibe in alcohol, his is one of the most brilliant minds I know. Do I fear for my life or those around me when he is around? Absolutely not. If nothing else his good company helps to aide in breaking some negative stereotypes that come with being a bit too brown an swarthy
Let us now sink out teeth into the matter at hand. On November 13, 2015 almost 50 people were killed in a terrorist attack by ISIS in Beirut. Minimum media coverage was given. And earlier this month ISIS did similar attacks in Egypt. On November 14, 2015 more than 100 people were killed by ISIS in Paris and it was all over the media.
My question becomes, when does it become okay for terrorist to kill, and when not? If we go by the media, as long as it is brown killing brown then we are good. But if it is radical Muslims that kill white people, then by God we need to react! But, we have had white, Christians here in America do horrible acts of terrorism (look up Timothy McVeigh). We want to wrap our mind around just one group of people that do evil things, and sure, if you are under 20 years old you may be excused from that but. But those of us that know about the Bosnian War, the Troubles in Ireland, and various struggles in Africa and South America to act like this is honestly reprehensible.
So in closing, do I think that the remembrance and commemoration of the atrocities in Paris are unwarranted? Absolutely not. The lives lost should be remembered. But, we need to break our Euro-centrism world view, and who knows; such acts could be avoided.