Historically, the United States of America is known for practicing an unprecedented degree of religious tolerance. As a matter of fact, the Pilgrims on board the Mayflower in the 1700's left England and founded the United States because the English government continuously persecuted them for their beliefs. However, today, it is quite unfortunate that the same principles of freedom and tolerance are selectively practiced at best.
Terrorism is a threat not only to the Americas but also to the rest of the planet. Throughout the past couple of decades, a vast number of terrorist acts have been perpetuated, culminating (or climaxing?) on the World Trade Center bombing on September of 2001. With a great majority of suspected terrorists being Muslims, the rest of the faith has often been vilified not only in cyberspace but also in real life.
Since 9/11, many Americans started to believe that anything that has to do with Islam is evil. They have started to believe that the word "Muslim" is a synonymous to anarchism. Worse, they have started to believe that any predominantly Muslim country is unworthy of its sovereignty. From the Iraqi and Afghan invasion up to the recent mass uprisings in the Middle East, you will find it hard to deny that a lingering irritation against Muslims have escalated to something short of inherent animosity.
The Reality
If you have been watching the news lately, it is very probable that you have heard about the Egyptian protests. In there you will see tens of thousands of people trying to effect change through largely peaceful means. They did not resort to destroying anything to achieve their ends. They even brought their spouses and their children along with them, as they protested on Tahrir Square, knowing full well the risks involved.
If you have been watching the news lately, it is very probable that you have heard about the Egyptian protests. In there you will see tens of thousands of people trying to effect change through largely peaceful means. They did not resort to destroying anything to achieve their ends. They even brought their spouses and their children along with them, as they protested on Tahrir Square, knowing full well the risks involved.
The Egyptian people are fighting for freedom. They are fighting for equality. They are fighting to get a better fighting chance. They do not want to hurt people. They only wish to live and survive and have a dignified life - a universal right that has been stripped from them three decades ago.
The Irony
Americans supported Pres. Mubarak, the dictator who enslaved the Egyptians for so long, up until the latter's defeat. Whether America did something right or something condemnable is not for me to decide. However, we still cannot discount the reality that we enjoy the fruits of progress and prosperity at the expense another group of people somewhere else on the planet, who live in misery and despair.
Americans supported Pres. Mubarak, the dictator who enslaved the Egyptians for so long, up until the latter's defeat. Whether America did something right or something condemnable is not for me to decide. However, we still cannot discount the reality that we enjoy the fruits of progress and prosperity at the expense another group of people somewhere else on the planet, who live in misery and despair.
Egypt is the largest Muslim country in the Middle East, and its people have shown that at the end of the day, regardless of what your beliefs are, all humans search for the same thing: freedom and equality.
We are not just victims in this world of terrorists - we are also, to some extent, the offenders. Each side has its own contribution in this global mess, and inasmuch as we'd want to go the easy route of jumping into conclusions, we also need to face the fact that this is not a world that we want our children to grow up in.
The Lesson
Some suspected anarchists may be Muslim, but there are way more Muslim people around the world who love peace more than anything else. However, peach is unattainable when we harbor distrust against our fellowmen. What we have to do is to let go of these prejudices because they simply aren't true. Just look at Egypt and its people.
Some suspected anarchists may be Muslim, but there are way more Muslim people around the world who love peace more than anything else. However, peach is unattainable when we harbor distrust against our fellowmen. What we have to do is to let go of these prejudices because they simply aren't true. Just look at Egypt and its people.
International religious conflict can be a very stressful topic to write about. To relax a little, Tina spends time in her home improvement hobbies. She grows organic tomato plants for food. She also uses food grade diatomaceous earth to kill insect pests.
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