⚠️ Caution: do not criticize Israel publicly if you are an immigrant to the US

[Nivsch]

3 hours ago, Basman said:

Hamas viciousness is in part due to a lack of viable ways for Palestinians to meaningfully change their political situation that doesn't involve extreme violence and blurring the line between combatants and civilians. Imagine if Ukraine was completely alone in it's war. The likelihood of Ukraine targeting Russian civilians would be much higher.

Not to justify targeting killing of civilians but two things can be true at once. Israel is responsible for the extreme hostility close to its borders.

Why can't hamas be just an ideological cult within stage Red just for its own sake (without further explanation needed) but far-right settlers in west bank can?

Why this double standart?

Edited Sunday at 05:10 AM by Nivsch

[Basman]

14 hours ago, PurpleTree said:

What about the islamists who committed killing sprees in europe and other places?

A mix of post-colonial/societal estrangement (in the case of migrants), religious extremism and seeing the West as everything wrong with the world.

Muslim countries and culture are predominately SD Stage Blue/Red which results in a lack of integration with western societies (or perhaps hostility). They are developmentally barbarians, which matters a lot. 

European ethnocentrism towards Arabs definitely matters as well and is partially responsible for radical Muslims but I'm not sure if it is actually possible for Europe to properly integrate Muslims in hindsight compared to the US, where Muslims seem to integrate better with the culture.

Here's an interesting paper that discusses how young Muslim men are radicalized: https://www.ps.au.dk/fileadmin/site_files/filer_statskundskab/subsites/cir/pdf-filer/khosrokhavar.pdf

Here's a ChatGPT summary of the paper (keep in mind possible inaccuracies):

Quote

The document "Terrorism in Europe and the Middle East" by Professor Farhad Khosrokhavar examines the evolution and dynamics of terrorism within Europe and the Middle East.

Historical Context of Terrorism in Europe: Europe has experienced various forms of terrorism, including:

Left-Wing Extremism: Groups such as Italy's Red Brigades, France's Action Directe, and Germany's Red Army Faction were prominent in the 1960s and 1970s.

Nationalist Movements: Organizations like Spain's Basque separatists, France's Corsican militants, and Northern Ireland's Sinn Féin have pursued nationalist or regionalist agendas.

In recent times, Islamist terrorism has emerged as a significant concern in Europe. Some converts to radical Islam view it as a utopian ideology, similar to how middle-class leftist youth in the 1960s and 1970s were drawn to Marxism or communism.

Radical Islam in the Middle East: The Middle East has a history of radical Islam as a minority phenomenon, which has been revitalized over the past three decades due to events such as:

The war in Afghanistan against the former Soviet Union.

The rise of the Taliban.

The conflicts following September 11, 2001.

The Iraq War since 2003.

Muslim Immigration and Radicalization in Europe: Terrorism in Europe is often linked to immigrant populations from Muslim-majority countries, their descendants, and a minority of converts. In the 1960s and 1970s, Europe's industrialization attracted many immigrant workers. The second and third generations of these immigrants have faced integration challenges within European societies.

Radical Islam in Europe has diverse origins, influenced by colonial histories and recent immigration patterns. Each country has its unique integration experiences, and radicalization is connected to both local histories and global events.

Case Studies: France and England:

France: Radical Islam in France has two primary roots:

External Influence: Ties to Algerian extremist networks like the Armed Islamic Group (GIA), which opposed the French government's support for the Algerian military against the Islamic Salvation Front (FIS) in the 1990s.

Domestic Factors: Disaffected youth in impoverished suburbs, including individuals like Khaled Kelkal, who faced racism and social exclusion. Some of these individuals, along with a few converts, were recruited by terrorist networks.

Radicalism in France has also been influenced by connections with England. For many young people involved in radical Islam, their engagement serves as both a rebellion against a society they feel has rejected them and a pursuit of spiritual salvation. Islam provides a framework to legitimize their feelings of rejection and channel them into a "sacred" cause, allowing them to reclaim dignity they perceive as denied in their daily lives.

The document underscores the complex interplay of historical, social, and political factors contributing to the rise of terrorism in Europe and the Middle East.

FYI, the paper itself underscores racism and social ostracization to a greater degree than this summary does.

Edited Sunday at 03:44 PM by Basman

[Basman]

13 hours ago, Nivsch said:

Why can't hamas be just an ideological cult within stage Red just for its own sake (without further explanation needed) but far-right settlers in west bank can?

Why this double standart?

There is no double-standard. They are both ideological extremes rooted in historical, religious and cultural factors.

 

Edited Sunday at 05:43 PM by Basman