Islamic Reform Not What It Seems

We've all heard the talk about the anti-American's in the Middle East.  The Jihad, and other irrational Muslims who supposedly are a "threat" to our western life style.  But how true is this view really?  Is it these Muslims groups and individuals who are being irrational?  Or the all mighty United States who believe that no matter where we are, in our country or theirs, that we are in complete control.

The Muslim extremist groups increased in numbers shortly after the cold war when the supposed "Green Peril" was gaining in power.  The Green Peril was basically the term for the quickly rising anti-American groups based off of their background of being Islamic, and the Islamic color green.  

It is important to remember as the article we read pointed out many times, these are not uneducated people like many people see at first.  Some of the largest reform pushers are extremely well respected intellectual Muslims.  The view we see is only that fed to us by large corrupt media sources.  But the truth is that many brilliant minds ponder on how Islam can reform without being over powered by Western lifestyles.  But also not become a pawn of these radical Muslims of feed of the uniting Muslim groups.

The pushing force behind the Green Peril was actually the growing need amongst the Muslim people worldwide to speak up for other Muslims that could not speak up.  Much like the Jihad they began to form as a peaceful group, but soon became violent based due to a preaching of poorly representing leaders.  The distinguishing point between many of the Muslim groups may not be clear based off of their goals.  But the majority of these groups start only looking for some freedom amongst themselves.  An ironic goal seeing as they fight against the overpowering Western views, and yet one of the most defining points of Western culture is the widespread freedom and equality without concern within those Western Countries.

Our invasive behavior in the Middle East, and over controlling actions are what many of the Muslim "extremist" as we call them, fight against.  The United States has too hard of a time letting people decided their beliefs, and governmental form for themselves.  Its a sad irony that we are the country that above all others stands for freedom and equality, and yet we cannot let other countries be free to decide how they want to be governed, and to let their actions be the deciding factor in their change.  Equal in our country, but less important if you live in another one is the true American motto based off the execution of our actions.