How we Frame Terrorism

Pew Research recently came out with a national survey asking Americans about the rise of Islamic extremism both at home and abroad. Unsurprisingly, as can be seen in the chart below, American have increasingly growing concerns of Islamic extremism both at home and around the world.

What the survey also showed was that more individuals have associated Islam with violence.

But to say that this Islamophobia is only a US problem would be diminishing the stories of global citizens who have been oppressed and abused by the nations that have promised to protect them and their right to practice their religion. In London hate crimes against Muslims has risen almost 70%, France has put a ban on both headscarves and full veiling, and a 2012 Gallup poll said that 40% of Americans would not vote for a Muslim presidential candidate. This generalized view on Islam and the people who worship this religion had aided in the systematic and societal marginalization of Muslims. And my question is: is this fair? Is it fair that people who have come to the US or any Western society are treated differently because of the religion they have the constitutional right to practice? Personally, I don’t think so but also that argument is apparently up for debate because as Trump stated about getting rid of the American “Muslim problem”– “We’ll be looking into that and many other things.”

4 Responses to "How we Frame Terrorism"

Alvin Yang says:

November 14, 2015 at 5:33 pm

I personally think that the rise of concern about Islamic extremism is not a surprising result. Especially, I believe the concern will rapidly increase even more due to the recent Paris attacks. This incidence will heighten the concern in the US considering that the terrorist attacks already had happened in the US in 2001. It is plausible that something similar attacks can happen any countries who are fighting against ISIS. It is unfair for Muslims because the concerns are manifested by the rise in hate crimes against Muslims. A lot of people forget that there are plenty of peaceful Muslims who are not involved in terrorist attacks. However, the rise of concern is inevitable because humans are susceptible Media. Is there any solution to this problem? I believe education is the key to resolve this issue. Also, I believe Muslims themselves also need to step up to fight against the extremists which will help to change people’s stereotype against Muslims.
1. Ninoska Aristy says:
  
  November 15, 2015 at 11:13 am
  
  I completely agree with you, but there is one issue where I would like to argue. You have stated that Muslims must step up to fight against the extremists in order to change people’s stereotypes against Muslims, but my question is: haven’t they already? In 2009 there were 3,409 Muslims in active-duty military for the US, there is also a vast number of Iraqi and Afghan translators who’s lives have been threatened by these extremist for aiding the US army, and of course there is the mass social movement of Muslims who have stood in solidarity with France after the recent attacks. So is it really fair to say Muslims haven’t helped in the fight against extremist, because to me it is clear that they are. Do they have to do more? Is it fair for us to ask that of them- to ask them to do more than the average individual would do?
2. Victoria Noles says:
  
  November 27, 2015 at 1:30 pm
  
  Alvin, I completely agree with your comment. Due to human beings’ cognitive tendency to group things in order to more efficiently classify and understand them, fear of Muslim extremism seems inevitable since Islam is crucial to the motives and beliefs of ISIS. It is much easier for us to stereotype and fear Muslim extremists than to seek to fully understand their beliefs and how Islam does (or doesn’t) play into their actions. I fully believe that Islam is a peaceful religion and there has to be some kind of misinterpretation going on, but I think the stigma will continue to grow stronger as long as the acts of terror persist.
Tyler Grosse says:

November 15, 2015 at 10:52 pm

I would like to see how the terrors that have just occurred in Paris will effect the world’s, and America’s view of Islamic extremism. It will be extremely interesting to analyze the feelings of individuals around the globe, especially when we have the data necessary to directly compare feelings before compared with feelings after. It remains incredible to me how many people, before this weekend’s incidents, remained oblivious to the horrendous actions that ISIS takes credit for. The International Relations scholar in me would like to believe that ISIS is a rational actor, but I cannot wrap my mind around such a concept when the individuals in this group are committing such atrocities globally. There is no rationale that can explain murdering hundreds of innocent lives. How reasonable can someone be if they actually believe that these actions are the answers to their problems? What type of person even considers cold-blooded murder as a “reasonable” or “logical” plan of action?

With President Hollande calling these acts of terror “an act of war,” I can’t help but think of Huntington and his “Clash of Civilizations.” Will this be America’s main focus in the near future, aiding an ally in the obliteration of a sect of religious fanatics? How willing will the citizens of the United States of America be to send their sons, daughters, family members, to fight a war yet another war against terrorism? How quickly will the french flag fade out of our Facebook “profile pictures” and our prayers and then our memories? Can we attempt to find the root of this evil, this terror, and destroy it before our haphazard brains move to some new social agenda?

Is destroying ISIS even going to solve anything, or will a new organization rise in the remnants of the old as ISIS did after Al-Qaeda fell? Terrorism appears to be a frustratingly vicious cycle. I’m not sure that we can end it, but we need to figure out a way how to before any more innocent lives are put in harm’s way. One thing remains certain, these terrorists from ISIS need to be terminated.

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