I feel a disclaimer may be needed for this article: in no way am I trying to offend anyone in this article. I desire to tell what I am observing in regards to the response of the recent terrorist attacks caused by the Islamic State. I do believe and stand by what I say in this article, and do feel passionately about the topic of ending the fear.
What Happened.
Three bombs went off on March 22, 2016 in Brussels. This is the second terrorist attack by the Islamic State in Western Europe in the last six months. I’ll admit, the initial discovery of knowing Brussels was attacked was terrifying; terrifying to know that the Islamic State is escalating, and trying to bring the European Union further into war. The United States has called Brussels a "level 3" attack, which leaves more terrorist attacks “serious, possible, and probable.” Comforting, right?
The Islamic State desires to expand, and carrying out attacks on developed countries helps them do that. When attacks are carried out on European countries, or the United States, the response is for that country to return attack. And when this war is carried out between the two, innocent civilians get killed. Just like in Afghanistan many innocent civilians were killed in the war. This led the remaining civilians to choose BIn-Laden over the United States because Bin-Laden wasn't trying to kill them. As people often say "history repeats itself," and its repeating now. Innocent civilians are being killed, and the Islamic State is happy it is being done by the Europeans and Americans because it drives people in the Middle East to make a choice: be killed by who you thought would be an ally, or join the ranks off the Islamic State and be provided for.
All of the politics aside, us as individuals still play a part in how we react to what is happening. This article isn't to tell you what the governments are doing/not doing correctly in regards to responding to the Islamic State. Rather, I hope to inform on what is happening, and how we need to respond as individuals.
What Now?
How does one move forward individually? Do we stop traveling in fear of another attack? Do we stand up a little straighter when we see a Middle Eastern man walk by? Or do we stand extra far away from the woman wearing a hijab in the grocery line?
I’ve talked to people from a number of different countries around here (I'm studying abroad in Europe) and it is very interesting to listen to the different views individuals have on Syrian refugees because of terrorism; there is a growing fear of people believing these Syrian refugees are creating violence and may be related to the terrorist attacks. Although in reality, most of these individuals’ motives are to get away from the terror and destruction that is happening in the Middle East. The Paris attack and Brussles attack get full media coverage in every developed country, yet there are mass killings and terrorism that are currently happening in the Middle Eastern countries. Not many people follow that news because it is not in the mainstream media. With not knowing about these constant attacks on Middle Eastern civilians, it creates a prejudice for Syrians who desire to seek refuge from the same enemy.
Prejudice is growing, but is that the proper response? Nazis were Germans, so do we isolate and discriminate all Germans? The Ku Klux Klan was predominately composed of Anglo Saxon Christians, so are all Christians to be hated? The answer “no” seems to roll off our tongues with questions posed like this. Yet, are we applying these rationales to the terrorist attacks now? Instead of our answer being “no,” we’re in a place of seeing prejudice rise in an (dare I say?) irrational way.
For example, I traveled with a friend a few weeks back and we went into an expensive shopping center with all designer products. We went to the top floor to take a picture of the city and the elevator doors opened up to the top floor which was in the dining room of a Middle Eastern cuisine restaurant. Immediately, fear overtook my friend. She felt she had to leave; she wanted to turn back into the elevator and go to a different floor because she could not handle being in a room of people she did not trust. Why is this fear driving people? Driving people so far as to not desire to take a picture because one would have to walk through a high-class Middle Eastern restaurant.
Why is this fear driving us?
The fear needs to end. Fear does not help us – it only hinders. It is a feeling that brings with it a string of negative emotions: anxiety, stress, anger and sadness. Yes, another terrorist attack is stated as probable, but does that mean we barricade ourselves in our homes until this battle is over? Do we stop our daily lives or our dreams to travel because of recent events? I believe we should take caution in regards to the terrorism, but we need to continue to live freely as well.
Statistically, an average American is more likely to die from an unstable television or falling furniture than to get caught in a terrorist attack. Therefore, there should be more fear of getting killed by inanimate objects, rather than a terrorist attack. That may be quite blunt, but it is the reality of it. Yet what is happening is we are being more driven by fear rather than desiring to live our lives.
Why do we let this prejudice stem from the fear that all of the Middle Easterners or Muslims have ties to the Islamic State? Most Muslims will not agree with the Islamic State’s stance or Caliphate because it is seen as extreme; yet all Muslims appear to be put into a box with the extremist group. Instead of fearing, we can show love by standing with refugees and Muslims in solidarity rather than isolating them. Standing united is the start to be able to end the terrorism. And once the prejudice begins to leave, one will begin to be able to live life more freely again as the irrational fears fade away.
