Terrorists. Warmongers. Extremists. Misogynists. Executioners. Criminals. Fanatics. Ideologues.
These labels pop into mind when thinking of the Middle East. However, the majority of the people who live in the Middle East are none of the above. A small group of radical extremists have smeared our view of how we think of Middle Easterners.
The truth is Middle Easterners are people just like anyone else. They have families and loved ones. Jobs and pastimes. Fears and hopes. Cultures and traditions.
So why then do we label them in such a disparaging manner? Is it our fear of the unfamiliar that plays with our perceptions?
This is not unlike European Imperialism in the Congo. To the Europeans who trekked into the Congo, the people living in the Congo were utterly unfamiliar. They appeared savage, uncivilized, animistic, and strange. Simply put they were -- different. It is a natural trait of humans to define yourself as what you are not.
Not only were the people of the Congo different, but the geography and climate of their lands were very different. Travel was arduous, disease was rampant, communication was problematic and attacks by native people against the European imperialists were not uncommon. The land and the native people being so very different from the Europe known by the imperialists made it a dark and scary place.
Similarly, the Middle East is very different from the land familiar to Americans and Europeans. It's rugged and rocky landscape harbors little vegetation. Navigation through its terrain is treacherous and can house a host of dangers.
The unfamiliar customs, religion, language and culture of the Middle East, make it a dark and alien place. The extremists of al Qaeda, ISIL and now the Islamic State, who occupy the heart of this land, strike fear into the hearts of Americans, driving a wedge between understanding of everyday Middle Easterners as distinct from the fanatical fringes. Making this birthplace of civilization now represent the modern day heart of darkness.
I completely agree with this Riley. I remember in one of my history classes we watched a show about a Christian man who lived with a Muslim family for 30 days. During the show the host went around to ask people what the first word was that popped in their head when they heard the word "Muslim". A majority of the people said "terrorist", "9/11", "Al Qaeda", and etc. These people are generalizing everyday Muslims for things they were not a part of and it causes their to be a strain in the relationship between Americans and Muslims.
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ReplyDeleteI like how this post caught my eye with the introductory sentence. After reading, I have to say that I agree with what you're saying, and I think you did a good job connecting the Middle East to Heart of Darkness.
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