Boston bombers do not represent the whole Muslim world

That a sporting event be transformed into such a scene of carnage was shocking to observers throughout the world. Yet for many of us, there was a feeling of apprehension for what this will do to the already tenuous relationship that the non-Muslim majority of Americans has with Muslims worldwide and Saudis in particular. Any terrorist act that can be attributed to "radicalized" Muslims would undoubtedly put a bigger wedge into this relationship and have an impact on many Saudis, especially those who are studying in the US. The injustice of this being that the acts of two young Russian nationals, do not represent the majority of Muslims around the world.

And the further difficulty lies in the fact that, acts of terrorism inevitably engages some of the more primitive functions of the human mind, both individually and collectively.

Psychologists might call this the "reptile brain" not intending to be derogatory, but acknowledging that we all have this primitive component in our minds which, for time immemorial, has prompted us into fight or flight in response to terror. Both reactions require a target. And while the Tsarneav brothers have served as one such target, in the minds of many the entire Muslim world may be implicated simply by religious association. We can't blame those who have experienced violence at the hands of terrorists to be able to override the feelings of fear, rage and the wish for retaliation that might ensue. But we rely on our more civilized instincts, and on society itself to temper these impulses, to weigh and consider them, and to come up with an appropriate, fair and measured response.

That is precisely why building the relationship with the West is more important than ever. Another truism of the primitive mind is the fear of the "other", or the unknown. If the reference point in the minds of westerners when they think of Islam, Muslims, and Saudis is 9-11, we have a huge problem. If, on the other hand, there have been a number of peaceful and open and positive examples of cultural exchange, it becomes much less likely that the Muslim community as a whole will be painted as villains in any act of terrorism. For example, the IRA bombings during the time of dispute between Northern Ireland and Britain did not implant in a generalized fear of Catholics and Protestants.
The truth is that terrorism and religion are worlds apart.

I deeply believe terrorism - or any act of violence or war that is perpetrated in the name of religion, constitutes violence against that religion itself - through gross interpretation and blasphemous misrepresentation.
Terrorism, spoken or enacted, has no religion. It is a criminal act and is attributable to the individual or group that perpetrates it, despite any broader ties they may claim to have.

So, in the aftermath of the tragedy in Boston, let us send our condolences and kind regards to that city, following that first and most quintessentially human impulse of empathy.

Let us continue to act as cultural ambassadors, incrementally improving understanding between our cultures.

• Send us your comments to saudipulse@arabnews.com

Author: ALAA ALGHAMDI


Source: ARAB NEWS