In reading some of what I wrote last night, I feel I need to clairify a few points. First, in no way do I condone ******** perpetrated by terrorists. As to the number of times the word 'jihad' appears, I imagine that it appears as often as tales of ********, and war appear in the Old Testament. Religions worldwide all claim to be of peace, but one only needs to flip a book on world history to see how religion and war have been entangled for years.
Should events which transpired almost 1000 years ago excuse ******** today, no of course not. The reason I wrote so much historical background is that from my experience with people of Middle Eastern origin, this history is ingrained in them from an early age. Their view of the West is not the freedoms provided by West, but only the worst aspects of our culture. Education, alieviating economic pressures and cultural exchange, IMO are the only long-term solution which can hope to end terrorism.
Should events which transpired almost 1000 years ago excuse ******** today, no of course not. The reason I wrote so much historical background is that from my experience with people of Middle Eastern origin, this history is ingrained in them from an early age. Their view of the West is not the freedoms provided by West, but only the worst aspects of our culture. Education, alieviating economic pressures and cultural exchange, IMO are the only long-term solution which can hope to end terrorism.