Human Perspective Is Such a Powerful Thing

Recently, there's been some commotion from the States about the whole pat-down thing being performed by TSA (Transport Security Administration) staff. Many people feel that this move is very violating as the person being searched is groped and touched in very private areas. Man, this is actually quite hard to write about. I'm trying to be as objective as I can and I don't want to sound like some tabloid reporter. Yuck.

Back to the story, a family travelling back home from a vacation in New Orleans was selected from the line to go through the screening process. Now, there are 2 steps, you get scanned, then you get physically searched. Though it appears to be fairly random as to why you get searched. Selection from the crowd is also random, I think. I'm not following to closely. Anyway, this family was chosen and after everyone was scanned, their 6-year old daughter was chosen for the physical search. Imagine, you've been telling your daughter that it is wrong for someone to touch you in certain places and then to say "This person can touch you," and for them to do so in a public area. It's very stressful. In fact, afterwards, the little girl broke down, crying and confused.

Here's a video of the incident.

Anyway, that's just the event I'm using to bring my article today into perspective.

The message I want to put out is that I don't blame the TSA agents, they're just doing their job. I don't blame the US government for imposing such measures. Yes, it can be improved and needs to be reviewed but the motivations behind such measures is understandable. So who do I blame for putting that little girl through so much confusion? Terrorists. Muslim extremists, to be exact. I am a Muslim. And I have no shame in saying that. However, I despise, I loathe these people who claim to be doing the right thing. How is strapping yourselves with bombs and blowing up yourself along with countless other innocent people lead to martyrdom? In Islam, suicide is forbidden. In war ethics, only men who are in the war are to be harmed. Women and children must be left untouched. Here you go, screaming "JIHAAAD!!" and blowing yourself up, killing innocent men, women, and children.

These terrorists also make life for other honest, actual Muslims difficult. So much so, there's this phenomena called 'Islamophobia'. Geez, thank guys. Real smooth, assholes. Islam is NEVER about killing. It's about racial equality, judging on meritocracy, women's rights, being at peace, understanding others and appreciating their troubles, being patient, being kind, being forgiving, being fair. All religions preach this. Islam is no different. But when you say "I am a Muslim" and blow yourself up in front of millions of people who have little to no understanding about Islam, they think that's what Islam is about. You can hardly blame them. Sure, they should take the initiative to find out but when something is so overwhelming and so overpowering like that, that idea is permanently etched into their minds.

Just like when we look at drug addicts versus people who are depended on drugs for their very well-being. What's the difference? Awareness. We are aware, the latter group are being prescribed these drugs so they can lead normal lives, whereas the former abuse the drugs for their own pleasure. If we didn't have that awareness, we wouldn't see the difference even if we tried to.

It feels good to be able to write about something with good substance. It's been a while since I did that.

I hope that you found this article to be of some value. Thank you.

Small minds discuss people;

Average minds discuss events;

Great minds discuss ideas

- Eleanor Roosevelt.

Written by; Aqil