What to do about it? First of all, we may realize that ISIS is not primarily a religiously motivated phenomenon; it only takes that form as a rationale for its actions. I think of it as a distorted concept, derived from imaginary histories of biblical times, of a "chosen people" that relegates all others to perdition, as opposed to showing kindness to strangers. Behind the facade of religion are motives to re-establish a sense of worthiness in a downtrodden society, using senseless violence to compensate for its own shortcomings - the bully mentality taken to the extreme. Observing the practices of ISIS described above, one can only conclude that Islamic fundamentalism is a form of tyranny that instills fear, perpetuates ignorance and hate, and demands absolute obedience by its followers - something out of the Dark Ages. Those who preach extreme fundamentalist concepts should be criminalized.They act outside any reasonable orbit of religious and political tolerance and must be sought out and removed from any position of influence. They are as much fair game as any of their deluded warriors. Their "crime" in subjecting followers to a tyranny of ignorance and inciting them to barbaric acts is a most virulent plague upon humanity.
As a counter-measure, the world community of liberal nations could collectively offer some alternative other than military action. There must be among the adherents to ISIS some more rational people who can be induced by conciliatory measures to desert the cause and possibly overthrow the unholy regime from within. Instead of just bombing them, a massive campaign should be initiated to counter the propaganda and teachings of ISIS, emphasizing the universal consensus of its lunacy and sinfulness. Guaranteed promises for international economic, educational and technical assistance to build thriving, protected communities would be given in exchange for assurances to cooperate fully, to forgive and ask forgiveness, to live peacefully and productively with former enemies, and to abide by universal standards of human rights and decency.
After the presumed collapse of ISIS, there would still be the residual violence of extreme Islamic fundamentalist groups to contend with. Confronting them militarily could be an endless quagmire, as we experience in daily security checks, bombings and mass killings. Better understanding the factors contributing to extreme fundamentalism may reveal methods of countering it.
The salient factor may be the underlying tribal structure typical of Islamic fundamentalist groups, which isolates and alienates their people in varying degrees from the shared cultures and values of contemporary life in the outside world. (In some respects, that is potentially a good thing, since it protects their people from the excesses and degradations of commercially-dictated life-styles, and defines the patterns of life most suitable for their limited means of subsistence, as compared to industrially developed nations. Life in a rural village, a communal society, a convent or monastery would be good examples.)
The traditional tribal society has maintained a strict patriarchal hierarchy of authority. Modern influences are ostensibly a contamination of Islamic ideals, but very likely the isolation is perpetuated to avoid disruption of tribal structure and authority by democratic and liberal influences, and to perpetuate a cult of control, privilege and wealth. In Afghanistan, for instance, there is a mafia-like culture of warlords. In Egypt, the military has a similar role on a much grander scale. Until this tribal social structure is integrated into the mainstream of societies, mainly by virtue of liberal education and broadening communication, there will always be frictions internally and with the outside world.
Another major factor contributing to turbulence in many Arab countries is economic backwardness. Aside from the wealth of oil in some countries, which is distributed primarily to an elite group of rulers and foreigners, the economy in these countries suffers from persistent poverty, unemployment, low wages and corruption - all aggravated by political and factional violence.
The brief period of the Arab Spring uprisings gave hope that the time was ripe for some of these societies to cast off the chains of historic traditions and enter the modern era, but it appears that the blossoming will have to wait for another season. We may not see the end of these convulsions until the suffering and destruction approach mutual hopelessness.This is a theme that is being played out to some degree throughout the world in its struggles with over- population, environmental decay, increasing poverty and gross inequality, violence and repression, widespread corruption, lack of or negative education, and racist and religious prejudices. Perhaps the Islamic fundamentalist anger will not subside until the leading liberal democratic nations can master these problems, showing the way to world peace. It may require a new era of enlightened world government founded on sane, altruistic policies of cooperation rather than domination before we see a Global Spring.
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