Terrorism: The Miseducation of America

By Ty Fairman

In a country that boasts the most diverse melting pot of cultures and belief systems in the world, it is surprising how the American public remains ignorant to the intrinsic values, morals, and beliefs systems of other cultures, races, and religions.  We are one of the most intelligent and highly educated nations that adamantly reject the basic understanding of human existence and purpose. 

Terrorism is labeled as a phenomenon that is beyond the understanding of our humane society.  Terrorism has been described as an act or series of acts of cowardice by some of our senior military officials and the myriad of “September 12th Terrorism Experts.”  Adherents to the extremist and fundamentalist belief of jihad have been described as barbaric, ignorant, crazy, and inhuman.  Many questions, pertaining to a terrorist’s desire to sacrifice their lives for a belief that we refuse to understand, remain unanswered and will continue to remain a mystery.  However, this will remain a mystery to those who refuse to understand another’s perception or point of view.  We refuse to admit that we are only interested in what we perceive to be important to us, while at the same time, discounting the beliefs and expectations of those that we perceive as unimportant.

Contrary to popular belief and understanding, young jihadists are trained in the basic understanding and foundation of the Qur’an, at an early age.  During these influential years, many comparisons between Islam and the “pagan” belief systems and practices of the west are exposed.  Extreme examples of religious abuses and ungodly practices are taught and ingrained in the minds of these young men.  Ultimately, their view of the west is dominated with negativity and the knowledge that the infidel western nations are born and bred into the dominion of ignorance and evil.  This is the foundation that is created, while media reports further justify the intent of their lessons.  The consistent defamation of alcohol, pork, pornography, fornication, adultery, rape, child molestation, and the celebration of witches, ghouls and demonic spirits all lend to the extremist’s need to protect their country from an invasion of similar religious and social freedoms.  In a nutshell, extremists perceive and strongly believe that the western nations are trying to destroy Islam and implement their way of life and religious freedoms. 

After interviewing and speaking with some of the world’s most notorious terrorists, I was able to understand why jihadists are lining up, by the hundreds, to give their lives for a cause that’s so hard for our nation to understand.  This cause is similar to what we understand as Patriotism.  The difference is that there form of patriotism pertains to the protection of their religion, religious practices and way of life.  They take an oath to “…bear arms against all enemies, foreign and domestic.”  This oath is similar to the same oath that men and women of our armed forces swear to.  The only difference is that we have a complete understanding, acceptance and belief that our nation’s wars and confrontations are for the good of the world, while the opposition is and will always be wrong.  As a result, we have turned from the hunters into the hunted; the lambs, instead of the wolves.  The jihadists have embraced a belief system that has enabled them to attack our interests with ferocity.  Whether we understand them or not, is not the question; the question is, do we finally realize that it is their perception that counts.  Neither Americans nor its coalition forces are committing suicide attacks against non-combatants.  Our nation’s commodities and historic symbols are not being destroyed and/or targeted.  The fact is that our nation’s greatest commodities are its people, and they are being victimized and left to bear the burden of our nation’s foreign policy and zero tolerance to negotiation..  The defenseless are not being defended and this constitutes a weakness that terrorists are exploiting.  Extremists are aware that they cannot win a conventional war against the west’s technology and military might, so they’ve resorted to more unconventional warfare and guerilla tactics that have proven successful.  They are adapting and mobilizing quicker than we can respond, and the technique of “conscious assimilation” enables them to prepare, plan and organize their next strike without detection. 

Education, cultural diversity training, and open dialogue can be utilized to solve our miseducation issues.  The understanding of one’s perception should be taken seriously and looked upon as an issue in need of discussion.  Mutual respect for ones personal and religious beliefs should be identified and practiced.  With this new beginning, most Americans will fall out of the net of confusion and disbelief.  Many intellects often said that, “knowledge is power.”  America has to bear the burden of the atmosphere that we create, while at the same time, utilizing its strengths to end hatred and indifference.  With this new thought process, we can begin to understand who, what, when, where, and why terrorism may or may not occur within our borders in the future.  However, America has to cease its unreasonable expectation of protection and safety from law enforcement agencies and the federal government and begin to embrace a way of life that has set us apart from others in the past. Citizens must take control of approximately 75% of their own safety, while depending on security systems and protocols to do the rest.  A simple smile and a kind “hello” can go very far.  If we can just try to think objectively, we’ll probably have a great chance at addressing any and all confrontations that may ultimately affect America and American society.