Terror: Why do Muslims commit acts of terror?

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(first draft, comments are welcome, text part of serie:)
Terror: Why do Muslims commit acts of terror?
Terror: Does the West commit acts of terror?
Terror: Land of the free?

Intro

Ever wonder how a human being could come to the point of blowing up another? Specifically Muslims? Let's put a few things we know about people, the history of the Middle East and Islam together and see if we can make some headway.

1. Orthodox Islam. There are always periods of expansion and contraction in the practiced amount of free thinking when it comes to religion. Islam has had it's progressive periods. For some time Islam has been in a period of contraction. This means that people focus more and more on the original rule book at the expense of outside views and free thinking. This increases the chance of intolerance. You can only compare another persons behavior to this one rule book, and it's your religious duty to dislike them if they don't measure up. An understanding attitude towards different ways of living is discouraged by the community. The rules are the rules. Now what do you see if you are a strict Muslim and you take look at the West? Sinners, sinners, sinners.

Obviously across the Islamic world attitudes vary immensely. While Iran and Tunisia are very modern countries, Saudi Arabia, Somalia and Yemen are very much into the old school. Let's move ahead keeping a strict orthodox Muslim in mind.

2. Western exploitation. In the far flung past, Islam has tried and partly succeeded to conquer Europe. The Moors conquered almost all of Spain, and the Ottomans knocked on the gates of Vienna. However, since the 1800's technology gave us in the West such an advantage that we started to colonize everybody everywhere. As good Christians it was our duty to bring ''civilization'' to the world, and relieve our fellow human beings of their natural resources and labor (nothing is for free in capitalism). After the 1950's the Europeans started leaving the Middle East, however occupation was replaced by a system of dictators. These dictators usually enjoyed either Western or Soviet support. The meddling never really stopped. The casualty list still grows on a daily basis (people that die). Take a look at Israel for instance. So, all in all a good reason to hate the West.

Obviously people meddling in another peoples affairs is nothing new. All Islamic nations have done the same towards other nations, or their own people. The ancient Egyptians meddled all over the place. The Romans meddled with the entire known world.. Ever heard about Arab slavery? That's right. Europeans did not invent enslaving Africans... We learned from the experts.
Meddling is a people thing, not a behavior linked to one race or religion. That said, people mostly live in the now, and forget about history. Since the West is the Top Dog at the moment, and is responsible for a sizeable chunk of the contemporary meddling, we are hated as the sole perpetrators.
So now we got a strict orthodox Muslim who is a bit annoyed with Western meddling. Let's take on the next topic.

3. Middle Eastern inferiority complex. In the past, Islam was the club to belong to. Great Empires (Caliphates) sprung from the original tribe of Muhammad. These achieved world domination in military power, science, art and overall culture. Muslims used to be the shit (American expression meaning the best). All regions and all peoples of the world had these episodes of greatness. The natural rise and fall of Empires.
If your glory days are behind you, a person can become envious to see someone else be the Top Dog. Especially if you are invaded or the subject of meddling. Why was the great Islamic culture not able to resists the British and the French taking over the Middle East? Why can America today get away with so much meddling? This has to hurt. A defensive explanation is in order. Resentment against the West for this reason is worldwide. The West is powerful, but they have no culture, no values...
Our strict orthodox Muslim now not only hates the West because of meddling, but has to find a way to explain the power difference. What might be next? Let's take a look.

4. Second class citizenship. All Empires have had their undesirables. People who are less. Second class citizens. The Berbers in Morocco, the Coptic Christians in Egypt, the Arabs in the Ottoman Empire, the British in the Roman Empire, the Uygurs in China, the Armenians in Turkey, et cetera. These people do not get the good jobs. They are not invited to the good parties. They are looked down upon. The Western Empire has a lot of these people. Africans, Asians... and now Muslims. And the condecending attitude is not limited just to our own Citizens. World wide our politicians often treat people in their own nations as thrash. Usually the second class ego is a bit hurt by all this condescending going on. Another reason to dislike the West for our strict Muslim.

5. Individual psychology. As a strict Muslim you tend to be a bit upset when it comes to the West. Clearly the Western people are not good Muslims. They do not follow the correct rulebook. In fact, technically, they are all sinners and infidels. It's hard to endure these unbelievers proclaiming greatness all the time, when you yourself have had such a glorious past. When these uncultured barbarians also start meddling in your internal affairs your hands might tremble with frustration, on occasion. However most people have a family, and with a family comes family concerns. Work, taking care of the kids, visiting grandma, etc. No matter how annoyed you might be with the West, there is no real motivation to give it all up and start suicide bombing something.

Now here is the thing. Not everyone has a family, a job, or a decent standard of living. Not everyone is a well adjusted individual with a good support system. Some people are unhappy and have no hope of improvement. These people are traditionally vulnerable to (self)indoctrination. If there is a way to quickly become a great person that does great things and has a great future (in this case Walhalla), they tend to take it. Now what did Hitler tell the Germans again?

Outcome

Let's take a look at Aziz. Aziz lives in Saudi Arabia. All his life he had to obey the rules. Anyone that stepped outside the lines was automatically deemed a bad person and in need of severe punishment. All his life he has been taught the superiority of Islam. All his life the West has been the great Satan. An evil force that oppresses good Muslims everywhere. Muslims, of course, have never done wrong. Except the fake Muslims in Iran and Pakistan. They also need to die. When Aziz is asked by his Imam to join the good fight on his 18th birthday, Aziz starts dreaming of dying for the cause. A quick flight to Lebanon, a drive across the border and the righteous fight begins. Black flag in hand.

Let's take a look at Ahmed. Ahmed lives in the suburbs of Paris. Nothing was expected of Ahmed at school. No one gave him the slightest hint he could achieve anything. Achievement after all is for rich white French kids, not colored people. His parents don't speak French. They work all day, and when they get home, whatever Ahmed has done at school that day they can't relate to. There are no rules for what happens outside the home. There is no incentive, supervision or punishment. All white people do when they meet Ahmed is walk by, averting their gaze. As any African American would, Ahmed started to hang out with other disgruntled youths. Gang banging. Low self esteem acted out on the community...

One day a friend invites him to join a specific Muslim discussion group on Facebook. Strictly hush-hush. No telling Dad. Here Ahmed learns that he is indeed a valuable person. It's the world around Ahmed that is wrong. Muslims are the unjustly oppressed in an inferior society. As long as he follows the true path, he will achieve great things and earn huge rewards. That true path is Jihad. Now Ahmed is a somebody. A hero to himself, a news update to you, cannon fodder to his recruiter, a subway explosion to his victims and tears to his mother...

Conclusion 

Is it really so strange that people destroy people when you add it all up?

Let's continue our journey and examine why the West also might commit acts of terror. After all, that is only fair.