HATE. This is a very powerful word. Sometimes we can use it in a loose manner saying, "I hate this weather. Or, I hate this color on me." Other times, hatred can develop into a much deeper feeling by having hatred for another person. That hatred can cultivate into something stronger,and can cause people to act unreasonably and pursue distasteful actions.
Hatred was definitely the motive behind terrorist attacks that have occurred from September 11th, to the recent terrorist plot of sending packages to the U.S. with explosives. In one of my previous blog entries, I discussed this attempted attack on the U.S. with these packages, and how it was unsuccessful. Recently, the al-Qaida branch in Yemen claimed responsibility for the failed bomb plot. It is unfortunate for the U.S. to have to continue putting up with and be on the look out for these daily terrorist attacks. To add fuel to the flame, there has been a recent rallying by a radical cleric to kill any American. In an article published by the Record Journal entitled, "Cleric to Muslims: Kill U.S. 'devils'", this article stated that "A U.S. born radical cleric who belongs to the al-Qaida offshoot behind the cargo bomb plot on the United States told Muslims theya re free to kill American 'devils' at will in a video posted on extremist websites." (Record Journal) This man, named Anwar al-Awlaki has inspired several attacks agsint the United States and has made it his life goal to seeking revenge against the United States.
So, why is al-Awlaki filled with all of this hatred against the U.S. and what are his motives? According to some of his past messages, "he has justified killing American civilians as retaliation for the killing of hundres of thousands of Muslim civilians in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere."(Record Journal) I think that killing people, especially on the basis of no rationale, but just based on hatred is the worst thing a person could possibly do and this is very inhumane and unloving. Every living person has the right to continue living peacefully and ruling their life they want to fulfill it, and no one has the right to take away a person's right to live. Al-Awlaki encourages any Muslim to not consult with anybody in the killing of the Americans, but just to go ahead and kill them. It upsets me to see that someone could have no heart and go this far to say it is ok to take someone's life away, as if that person was valueless. No one knows the extent that al-Awlaki has on his outreach to people, but I sincerely hope that people will think rationally about this matter and not listen to what this radical and heartless cleric has to say.
This blog post is not meant to alarm people and think that all Muslims are going to kill Americans, but rather it is to inform and educate people that Muslims are good people. The problem is terrorist groups, especially al-Qaida, and they are the organization behind this hatred. Muslims still need to be treated and viewed in a respectable manner, but it is unfortunate to see that Muslims' reputation is being harmed and tarnished all because of this terrorist group. I think people need to come together and learn more about each other's differences in order to be more accepting. Instead of promoting hatred in this world, we need to start promoting LOVE.
In Chapter 13 of our book by Babbie, it discussed qualitative research, specifically Semiotics, which is, "The study of aigns ad the meanings associated with them. This is commonly associated with content analysis." (Babbie, 422) Since semiotic analysis invovles a search for the meanings either intentionally or unintentioinally attached to signs, this would be a good method of research to conduct. One study can examine the sign of Islam and get the results of what people think of when they see this sign, especially since a particular sign means something to a particular person. To go further, since people too could be examples of signs, it would be interesting to put a Muslim person in front of people, and then get people's initial reactions of the Muslim person.
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