Throughout the ongoing Syrian refugee crisis, there has been a large influx of Muslims in Europe. While a number of countries have been very accepting of these refugees fleeing violence and terror, others have not greeted them with such open arms. The alienation and lack of assimilation felt by many Muslims in Europe, I believe, is one of the central reasons why such violence as was seen this week.
On Tuesday, the terrorist organization, ISIS, carried out two deadly attacks at two separate locations in Brussels, the capital of Belgium. The first attack occurred at 8:00 a.m local time in the departure hall of the Brussels International Airport, killing 10 people and injuring many more. The second took place around an hour later in the Maelbeek subway station, not far from the headquarters of the European Union, in which 20 more were killed. Both attacks were carried out in highly populated locations, with at least 30 people killed and more than 230 wounded. Eight hours after the attacks, ISIS claimed responsibility for these acts of terror.
Since the Brussels Attacks, our nation's politicians have responded in a number of ways. First, there are politicians, like Ted Cruz and Donald Trump, who continue to call for action to be taken against ISIS. Cruz, in an attempt to further his presidential candidacy, stated that President Obama has been far too lenient in regard to the threat ISIS and that this country needs to take action in order to combat radical terrorists. Similarly, Trump condemned the government's current strategy for combating ISIS, and he continues to call for limited immigration into the United States. On the other hand, candidates John Kasich, Hillary Clinton, and Bernie Sanders' responses were more centered around mourning for those who died in Brussels and solidarity with European nations.
How politicians react to tragedies such as the Brussels Attacks can often define our attitude as a nation toward these events. How we respond can also guide the ways in which we take action to combat terrorist groups like ISIS. The first approach, taken by both Cruz and Trump, seeks to incite fear in the public. This approach attempts to provoke the public's emotions so that the government will be forced to take action in order to combat terror threats. This approach, though, was notoriously taken after the horrible attacks on the United States on September 11, 2001.
After this tragedy took place, the United States made a rash decision to go to war in the Middle East, and many political leaders now acknowledge how much of a mistake this was. The more appropriate way to respond to terror attacks is to, first, mourn and to, then, take action. Because of the growing prevalence of fear-inducing responses to terror attacks, the nation as a whole is more fearful of terrorist organizations. This should not be the case. The actions of radical terrorists should not define who we are as a country, and they should not make us fear because that is, in truth, the goal of terror groups, such as ISIS. In this case, we must acknowledge ISIS' presence and take appropriate action without giving them unnecessary power through fear.
Finally, the only way that the world will defeat ISIS is if we unite behind a common cause and work together to extinguish this hateful ideology. While the United States' current strategy against ISIS has proved to be working, to some extent, there is still more we can do to put down the threat of this terror group. One of the reasons why ISIS has spread so much is its message which appeals to Muslims living in a world of people who fear and express hatred toward their religion. Islam is often utilized as a scapegoat when dealing with terror, and this has been a prevalent problem here in the United States. When Muslims, most of whom are very peaceful, witness people like Donald Trump and Ted Cruz say that their religion is one of violence and one that hates America, they are inspired to join ISIS. Politicians calling for bans of all Muslims from the United States, surveillance systems in Muslim neighborhoods, and national Muslim databases do not give our nation a positive image in the face of the Islamic world.
Therefore, how we, as a nation and as a global community, treat Muslims directly impacts the spread of radical terrorist organizations like ISIS. If we are able to unite as a nation and not incriminate the entire Muslim population for the actions of a small minority, then we may be able to drive ISIS back and rid the world of their violence and hatred. There will always be mourning after a tragedy as that which took place in Brussels, yet we cannot allow this sadness to translate into fear, because that, in truth, only enforces the goals of ISIS. As President Obama stated the day of the attacks, "This is another reminder that the world must unite. We must be together, regardless of nationality or race or faith, in fighting against the scourge of terrorism."
After this tragedy took place, the United States made a rash decision to go to war in the Middle East, and many political leaders now acknowledge how much of a mistake this was. The more appropriate way to respond to terror attacks is to, first, mourn and to, then, take action. Because of the growing prevalence of fear-inducing responses to terror attacks, the nation as a whole is more fearful of terrorist organizations. This should not be the case. The actions of radical terrorists should not define who we are as a country, and they should not make us fear because that is, in truth, the goal of terror groups, such as ISIS. In this case, we must acknowledge ISIS' presence and take appropriate action without giving them unnecessary power through fear.
Finally, the only way that the world will defeat ISIS is if we unite behind a common cause and work together to extinguish this hateful ideology. While the United States' current strategy against ISIS has proved to be working, to some extent, there is still more we can do to put down the threat of this terror group. One of the reasons why ISIS has spread so much is its message which appeals to Muslims living in a world of people who fear and express hatred toward their religion. Islam is often utilized as a scapegoat when dealing with terror, and this has been a prevalent problem here in the United States. When Muslims, most of whom are very peaceful, witness people like Donald Trump and Ted Cruz say that their religion is one of violence and one that hates America, they are inspired to join ISIS. Politicians calling for bans of all Muslims from the United States, surveillance systems in Muslim neighborhoods, and national Muslim databases do not give our nation a positive image in the face of the Islamic world.
Therefore, how we, as a nation and as a global community, treat Muslims directly impacts the spread of radical terrorist organizations like ISIS. If we are able to unite as a nation and not incriminate the entire Muslim population for the actions of a small minority, then we may be able to drive ISIS back and rid the world of their violence and hatred. There will always be mourning after a tragedy as that which took place in Brussels, yet we cannot allow this sadness to translate into fear, because that, in truth, only enforces the goals of ISIS. As President Obama stated the day of the attacks, "This is another reminder that the world must unite. We must be together, regardless of nationality or race or faith, in fighting against the scourge of terrorism."
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