Today we woke up to the news of another tragedy striking our planet. At around 8 AM local time, the Belgian capital of Brussels was attacked. Bombs first went off in the departures hall of the Brussels Airport. Less than an hour later a bomb went off inside a metro train car. Estimates are around 34 dead and 200 wounded. ISIS has reportedly taken credit for the attacks, but nothing is confirmed as of yet. All this mere months after the November 13 attacks on Paris.
Last week I wrote about how the world can be changed for the better, and that is something I still believe. Today was a tragedy, how we react to it is our choice. We can react in fear and hate, which many are judging by the trending #stopislam topic on Twitter, or we can react rationally and move forward in a way that promotes a helpful response. Everyone spewing hate today, towards refugees and Muslims, is doing nothing to help the people of Brussels. People sitting behind a keyboard (yes, I see the irony) stirring the pot and promoting hate are only agitating an already volatile situation. People are promoting hate crimes and war crimes in response to this attack! That isn't the right response. Yes, terrorist groups need to be dealt with. But a terrorist group isn't an entire people or religion. When people speak of taking down the KKK, or shutting down the Westboro Baptist Church, they don't do it by advocating the entire dismantling of Christianity, because they know that the KKK don't represent Christianity! It's literally the same thing with ISIS. ISIS does not represent Islam. Say it with me: ISIS DOES NOT REPRESENT ISLAM. The people in ISIS are perverting a religion to their own needs and ideals. And all this anti-Islam rhetoric being tossed about is helping ISIS! The more the West turns against Muslims, the more power ISIS gains. The more misguided people get, the less focus that is placed upon ISIS.
ISIS was allowed to come to power through our ignorance. By our dismissal of them, and by our hateful ways. Today, in the world, we have politicians gaining popularity through their proclamations of willingness to commit war crimes. We're living in a world, right now, where the more ignorant you are, the more popular you are. These people, these ignorant hatemongers, are supporting ISIS through their hate. By turning our backs on refugees and casting an entire religion as villains, we are making it easier for ISIS to gain recruits. We are making it easier for ISIS to commit atrocities. That, obviously, is something that we cannot allow to happen.
We woke up to news of a tragedy today, let's make sure we don't wake up to another one of our own making tomorrow.
Last week I wrote about how the world can be changed for the better, and that is something I still believe. Today was a tragedy, how we react to it is our choice. We can react in fear and hate, which many are judging by the trending #stopislam topic on Twitter, or we can react rationally and move forward in a way that promotes a helpful response. Everyone spewing hate today, towards refugees and Muslims, is doing nothing to help the people of Brussels. People sitting behind a keyboard (yes, I see the irony) stirring the pot and promoting hate are only agitating an already volatile situation. People are promoting hate crimes and war crimes in response to this attack! That isn't the right response. Yes, terrorist groups need to be dealt with. But a terrorist group isn't an entire people or religion. When people speak of taking down the KKK, or shutting down the Westboro Baptist Church, they don't do it by advocating the entire dismantling of Christianity, because they know that the KKK don't represent Christianity! It's literally the same thing with ISIS. ISIS does not represent Islam. Say it with me: ISIS DOES NOT REPRESENT ISLAM. The people in ISIS are perverting a religion to their own needs and ideals. And all this anti-Islam rhetoric being tossed about is helping ISIS! The more the West turns against Muslims, the more power ISIS gains. The more misguided people get, the less focus that is placed upon ISIS.
ISIS was allowed to come to power through our ignorance. By our dismissal of them, and by our hateful ways. Today, in the world, we have politicians gaining popularity through their proclamations of willingness to commit war crimes. We're living in a world, right now, where the more ignorant you are, the more popular you are. These people, these ignorant hatemongers, are supporting ISIS through their hate. By turning our backs on refugees and casting an entire religion as villains, we are making it easier for ISIS to gain recruits. We are making it easier for ISIS to commit atrocities. That, obviously, is something that we cannot allow to happen.
We woke up to news of a tragedy today, let's make sure we don't wake up to another one of our own making tomorrow.
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