While researching something completely unrelated, I stumbled on this site. The site is of an organization named Terrorism has no Religion, which advocates against terrorism. The organization is campaigning in Iraq in print media and on air against terrorism. I decided to look at their TV spots and ads, one of which you can see below.
I thought they were very well done, with clearly a large budget. I decided to go on YouTube and see how others are commenting on it, a lot of comments were against Islam. My favorite was on person who explained that he was smart enough to know that “not all Muslims are terrorists”. It just bothers him “that all the terrorist acts have been carried out by Muslims”.
Just a quick side not and not to diverge from my point but there has been numerous terrorist act and groups that are not Muslim some aren’t even religious, such as the LTTE. How about the Jewish terrorist organizations: Irgun and Stern Gang, which have committed multiple murders and bombings (if you which google “1946-The King David Hotel”).
A few weeks ago I was taking a tour of the Library of Congress, and in the main reading room, the ceiling has one of the most beautiful paintings I have seen. The mural which is titled “Evolution of Civilization” and was created by Edwin Blashfield, portrays the different civilizations and their contributions starting with Egypt for its contribution to written records and finish with the United States. Half way through you find Islam for its contributions to Physics. All I can think about is saying look we did something else, look, look…It was a strange feeling of pride and contentment.
I know there is always that criticism of the media and how it alters the view of the masses, but it’s really true. I mean think to yourself, when was the last time you heard positive things on Islam, the Middle East or the Arab world.
As a final note at the end of the ad by Terrorism has No Religion the statement which is a quote from the Quran says: “Whosoever kills a human being without (any reason like) manslaughter, or corruption on earth, it is as though he had killed all mankind. And whoever saves a life it is as though he had saved the lives of all mankind.”
It is true that there have been and are other terrorist groups, both national and international. It is funny that we Americans tend to have such a selective memory when it comes to current developments in the public policy arena; maybe it is because we are constantly on information overload?
What makes this point so much more poignant is the recent premature release and subsequent re-arrest of Sarah Jane Olson, member of the Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA), that was known for activities in the 70s not limited to murder and bank robberies, but best remembered by the highly publicized kidnapping of Patricia Hearst. If the SLA were still active today, I wonder if it would be identified as a terrorist group. A self-described urban guerilla warfare organization, the SLA would easily fall under our broad definition for terrorism, but without the terrorism moniker, the activities of this poorly organized leftist group are recognized as what they are: the violent and destructive acts of a isolated extremists.
If we could eliminate the blind fear that accompanies the word “terrorism”, we could move beyond our current inability to dissect the complex nature of the different groups/individuals involved. Then it wouldn’t simply be Islamic radicals, but a complex array of guerrilla groups, 70s radical leftists, separatist movements, religious fundamentalists, etc.
By: Tammy Mack on March 27, 2008
at 11:45 pm