Logan Mullen
Entertainment Editor
It is near impossible to turn on the news now without hearing the horrid crimes against humanity being committed by ISIS, but the reality is that not many people understand what ISIS is and what they want.
ISIS raised to prominence this past June when they seized Mosul (the second largest Iraqi city) using only 800 soldiers. In doing this, they now control and are implementing their extreme Sunni Jihadist notions upon their recently captured subjects.
But if they have their way, ISIS is far from over. They are focused currently on taking control of Iraq and surrounding areas, but they have already expressed interest in pushing west and attempting to replicate what they have done so far on a grand scale.
The process will take time, but it is still a threat that needs to be addressed before it spreads further through the Middle East and to the rest of the world.
ISIS has made clear that they are trying to leave a footprint around the world. In fact, this past Thursday, a plot was foiled in Australia (thanks, surprisingly, to the NSA) to randomly grab members of the public, behead them, and drape them in an ISIS flag.
Sickening, but true, and acts like these are a reality that must be addressed.
Last August, a member of ISIS tweeted a picture of the ISIS logo outside of the White House with the caption, “#AmessagefromISIStoUS We are in your state. We are in your Cities. We are in your streets. You are our goals anywhere.”
Again, ISIS is a reality we as Americans must be aware of.
A case could be made (strongly, at that) that this is the least bipartisan government we have seen in ages, likely ever, and the self-centeredness of our politicians is a harsh reality of where we stand today as Americans.
A vast majority of this country has their heads further up in the clouds (or deeper in their phones) than ever before, as absolutely despicable crimes are being committed across the world, but yet we seem minimally interested in the Iraqi violence.
A Pew Research Center polled conducted over the course of June 26 to June 29 found that only 25 percent of those polled said they seriously followed news in Iraq; a seemingly startling figure considering Iraq and its militants have been US enemies for many years, and that the violence in Iraq could become an imminent threat to the United States.
That being said, when did we as Americans become so lost?
It is an unfortunate reality, but for many years, we have grown used to not caring as much about foreign issues until an American is involved. This time around, it seems as if we are even less concerned than normal.
Upon concluding a speech in regards to the beheading of American journalist James Foley, our President immediately resumed his vacation and hit the links to play a few holes on Martha’s Vineyard. In regards to his criticized quick return to golf, President Barack Obama told Meet the Press, “I should’ve anticipated the optics.”
The optics. Not an apology, but an excuse. The President was looking at how he would be viewed, and he elected to criticize the media instead of focusing on the issue at hand. There was a litany of things he could have said, and his choice was way down on the list.
However, how can we blame him? We as a society have grown used to making things about ourselves and being reactive instead of proactive. We are all guilty of it, but we have a chance to change.
Until we learn to stop pointing our fingers at others mistakes, we should probably evaluate where we stand as far as self-centeredness in our lives.
Let’s not throw stones when we own glass houses. We can criticize politicans to no end, and to an extent we deserve to, but let’s not forgot how they got where they are.
The time is now to help those living in fear in the Middle East. Not only does it help in the process of stopping ISIS, but it protects others, and it protects us. If we open our eyes to truly helping other countries, not just sending the cash or our “support,” we will realize that we have stumbled upon the prototypical, “I’ll scratch your back, you scratch mine,” scenario.
No, this is not a battle plan, but it is an idea. It is a way to help Americans find our way again. The American way has worked for hundreds of years, but as we have begun to divert from that plan, we are noticing a change in our ways, and not necessarily for the better in every case.
ISIS is a junior varsity compared to whom they are facing. But halftime is ending, and the second half is approaching. The JV struck first, but the second half will be the test of who is truly resilient and up to the task.
It’s our turn, America.