Let's Fight Terrorism

What should we do to free our planet from terrorism? ..asks Indian President Abdul Kalam.

Read people's answers on this forum and alot speak of education, forming the minds and changing perception. More than 8000 have responded so far and much of what I've read are quite relevant. But do so sadly among extremist Muslims is a futile battle. To do so among many disgruntled Arabs is volatile at best. And to extend simple efforts to help and proliferate dialogue these days is a huge risk. Many people are angry.
I get disgusted mostly with Arab-Americans who claim so much right to this country when a growing number of them are hypocritical about supporting the American side of their heritage and nationality. They constantly bash the U.S. government when alot of their pent up frustration is found within many fundamental beliefs in their religion that means crap when it comes to applying their faith in real life. Many have Arab immigrants have forgotten what America (not the government, but the country as a whole) gave them-- an opportunity to live better lives, get better educated, and provide their children with the same opportunities they might not have gotten back home. Instead of educating other communities about their culture, they choose to ostracize themselves even more by increasing religious propaganda, by continuing to blame the U.S. (while they live in American soil). I'm no Arab hater but the stereotypes are starting to speak volumes again about how proud, traditional and closed in they can be. Times are changing. No one needs to veer away from who they fundamentally are. But when someone claims to be one thing while acting in conflicting ways, dont expect any kudos.

Shia-Sunni Differences

Interesting article on differences and roots of conflict between the two sects.
Islam's Sunni-Shiite split
by Dan Murphy, Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor

http://news.yahoo.com/s/csm/20070117/wl_csm/osunnishia

Has anything changed?

Even the holidays couldnt stop the crazies from setting off their own fireworks to fan the chaos in the Middle East. So far 34,452 Iraqi civilians have been killed in 2006.
These days I dont know why it is still such a shock to read about the violence. Hate to generalize, but a majority of the Arab world doesnt seem to want peace. Not that..

--hundreds of years in warring history;
--the continued conflicts between Sunnis and Shias;
--the disgruntled Lebanese over their 20 year civil war with Israel ;
--Iran discreetly forming its own version of Zion;
--Syria continuing to deny its conspiracies with terrorist groups and economic interests in Lebanon;
--Palestine

...are any indication that they dont want peace or recognize the path to it. But perhaps my sarcasm or facetiousness is not all that far fetched.
I marvel at how they quickly can point to the U.S. for being so involved in their politics when even they can't even seem to gain each other's trust in working together. The Iraqi government can't even move an inch without blaming the U.S. and yet after all the help they get, they cant even control their own people from quelling sectarian violence. Shias and Sunnis are killing each other, blowing up mosques. Just today a Baghdad university was bombed killing 65, targetting a mostly Shiite community.
Religion is supposed to keep people's faith. But no sect in any of these Arab countries have yet manifested their belief in faith. Particularly faith in achieving harmony through more peaceful means. Everyone just seems to be so fixated in doctrine while hundreds are dying everyday.
Here's a good one. Imad Moustapha, Syria's ambassador to the U.S. said that the Bush administration has misled key Lebanese leaders into believing that Syria is not acting in the best of Lebanon's interests. Now I've actually heard Lebanese folks comment (without the help of Bush) that Syria's filled its pot of gold full of Lebanon's resources and that it's high time that they disengage themselves and set Lebanon free from its excessive politics and commercial endeavors. Bush's spectacular administration can't forever be the scapegoat for bad decisions made in the Middle East. It's not like everyone except the U.S. had their hands bound and mouths taped shut that they couldnt make a difference in their own right.
Yes, yes. Easier said than done. But still. No matter what, if the Middle East wanted significant change, it shouldnt all depend on government. It should come from individuals. Even Arabs amongst themselves have suffered the pains of their own cultural ills but are too proud to even utter the words gender or racial discrimination, social caste, bigotry. Is there any one out their proud enough to face themselves in the mirror and realize their own faults? Anyone willing to eat their slice of humble pie and admit that their culture has major issues as well?

Lebanon transforms into Shia land

Video of Lebanese Flag brought down in Dec. 1 '06 Protest and replaced with Hezbollah flag
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ipDellud-VY

So begins the redefinition of a country. No disrespect to Shias but doing this in the middle of Beirut is an example of how sectarianism could work against other constituencies in Lebanon. Being primarily Shia, if Hezbollah reigns supreme over this possible shift in government and forces PM Siniora to step down, then Christians, Sunnis and Druze will severely lack representation and diversity will obviously diminish in the coming months. Perhaps this is a sign of things soon to come?

Obvious viewpoints that dont get enough press

-Religious propaganda in the Middle East has long gone out of control.
-Iran and Syria are Hezbollah's puppet masters.
-Syria is involved in Lebanon's political turmoil.
-Lebanon is just as involved and responsible for its own political turmoil.
-Conflicts in Lebanon are largely about ethnic origin, not just land.
-Lebanon is likely to turn into a Shia Muslim majority constituency.
-Iraq is in a state of civil war.
-Lebanon could revert back to civil war if the people dont take responsibility for their own weaknesses in establishing a more cohesive message.
-U.S.'s level of involvement in Iraq could have been executed differently but now that they're in deep, there's no turning back.
-Many people criticizing the U.S. for their involvement in the Middle East, are from the Middle East and comfortably living in the U.S.
-While Iran criticizes the U.S. for its 'Western' culture, lack of religion and political agenda in the Middle East, many of its own people are suffering from secular and gender discrimination and are cloaked in secrecy over their own involvement with countries like Lebanon and Syria.