I’ve been trying to figure out why so much violence seems to emanate from Islamic countries. Are these countries really more violent than other parts of the world, or does it just seem that way because it garners so much more media attention?
I’m inclined to think it’s a combination of the two, which also makes me wonder why the culture seems to be more violent. I refuse to believe that Arabs are inherently violent or that Islam promotes death or that more than a small minority of the population is to blame for all this violence. But, if I had to conjecture as to why it seems like so much violence comes from that part of the world, I’d have to attribute it to multiple issues that have contributed to a complex culture where violence seems like the only solution. First, a group of fundamentalists was born. They were very smart, dedicated to their cause, and unbelievably persuasive. A lot of cultures can get to this point though. We have the KKK in the
United States, another violent group that’s very dedicated to their cause. The difference is that the Islamic group of fundamentalists had a group to feed on. Society was so hopeless, so desperate, that they looked to the fundamentalists as a way out. Unemployment in Saudi countries is high and the western threat of oppression is constantly looming. This makes people very prone to persuasion, which is why this group gains a following and why so many people have faith in them. It’s not too different to why the German people believed in Hitler because he promised reform in a time where the German economy was dead.
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I would also like to add that United State's presence will undoubtedly influence the way of life for those nations. Upon seeing the women of America and the freedoms that they enjoy, enlightened individuals may propose changes, such as more rights for women. However, some people obstinately hold on to time-worn traditions and do not welcome such changes. Change can be a threat to power. We have seen this in American history with racial segregation. Some whites opposed integration because it was a threat to their statuses. They did not believe that blacks were equal to them, but rather that they were inferior. Violence ensued.
"The world is your oyster. Eat the animal and sell the refuse."