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Henry QIU

Henry QIU

Computer Scientist and Game Player
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Strangers and Us

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The recent documentary series "Strangers" by Chai Jing explores the issue of terrorism and reveals that it is not limited to the Muslim community in Europe. The problem of radicalism is a result of social issues and human expression, rather than being solely driven by political or religious demands. Many participants are second-generation European immigrants who have enjoyed free education and social welfare in peaceful modern countries. The recruiters are often well-educated individuals, even with doctoral degrees, who have secular careers and lifestyles. The majority of young jihadists who return to conflict areas are facing cultural integration and identity issues, and joining the cause allows them to escape these problems and find a sense of belonging. The recruiters create a community where independent thinking is not required, and the young individuals can find redemption by following the recruiters' teachings. The recruiters take on the roles of parents, teachers, government figures, and preachers, which is attractive to young Muslim immigrants who lack guidance and grow up in a fragmented environment. The recruiters provide an escape from secular struggles and responsibilities. However, the recruiters themselves acknowledge the extremism and unrealistic nature of their cause, but within their constructed fanatic community, doubts are not welcomed. They use religion to cover their own humanity and manipulate vulnerable young people to pursue a hollow religious vision. Religion's appeal lies in its simplistic explanations for all problems, blaming non-believers for all wrongs. This explanation is attractive because it avoids the need for complex social theories and critical thinking. History has shown that attempts to construct a heavenly world under the guidance of divine leaders often lead to hellish consequences, such as the Nazis, the Cultural Revolution, and ISIS. These movements easily attract support from the masses because it is easier to follow blindly and gain collective honor and a sense of purpose. From idol worship to witch hunts, to populism and jihadism, these are all fruits of the same poisonous soil. We come together to do crazy things because we refuse to accept our own ignorance and incompetence.

Recently, I have been watching Chai Jing's documentary series "Strangers" about terrorists. I discovered that this is actually a universal problem, not just limited to the Muslim communities in Europe.

The so-called problem of jihadist extremism is the result of various social issues and expressions of human nature. It is not an independent political or religious demand, nor does it conform to our stereotypical impression of extreme Muslim fundamentalists. Most of the participants are second-generation European immigrants who have enjoyed free education and many social benefits, growing up in a modern country far from conflict. Many recruiters in Europe have received higher education, even earning doctoral degrees, and have modern secular professions and lives.

Participants#

The majority of jihadist extremists who return to conflict areas in Europe are young second-generation Muslim immigrants. Like many other second-generation immigrants in the world, they face serious issues of cultural integration and self-identity. Participating in jihad allows them to escape these real problems and integrate into a circle with a strong sense of identity. Young people everywhere do foolish things to fit in with their peers, such as smoking, drinking, fighting, and even drug use. They are just going further under greater pressure to conform.

Recruiters have created a community atmosphere for young candidates, where they do not need to think independently or face complex social and personal issues. They only need to obey the recruiters as the sole source of truth to achieve redemption in this world. For these young people, recruiters fulfill the roles of parents, teachers, governments, and preachers, which is very attractive to Muslim immigrant youth who lack discipline and guidance, growing up in a fragmented environment. Once they accept all of this, they can abandon all other social identities and no longer have to face the struggles and conflicts of the secular world or take on any family and social responsibilities.

"Jihad is an excellent escape route, and it really feels comfortable to stay in this ideology."

Recruiters#

In interviews, many recruiters express another extreme, which is the ability to construct and reflect on the atmosphere of fanaticism. They admit that it is foolish and unachievable to try to build the world described in the Quran, written 1500 years ago, in today's world. They also believe that many aspects of jihadist extremism, such as strict religious laws and discrimination against women and sexual minorities, do not align with their own values. They have doubts about jihadist extremism, but in the fanatic community they have constructed, these doubts are not expected and should not be expressed. They cover their humanity with divinity, sit on the throne of self-deception, and lead one confused young person after another into the empty religious vision of an earthly paradise.

The power of religion comes largely from its simple and crude explanations for everything. Recruiters tell young people that all the mistakes and pain in the world come from non-believers, which is a very attractive explanation because those people do not have to study complex social science theories or go through the pain of critical thinking. They can use an us-versus-them theory to explain everything they encounter, avoiding the admission of their own ignorance and incompetence.

"So many people, but only one brain."

Us#

But we know that in human history, attempts to construct an earthly paradise under the guidance of divine mentors have mostly brought about hell on earth - the Nazis, the Great Purge, the Cultural Revolution, the Khmer Rouge, ISIS.

These movements easily attract the general public as supporters because giving up thinking and conforming is the simplest and most rewarding path to collective honor and a sense of purpose. From blind idolization, nationwide witch hunts, to populism and jihadist extremism, they are not so far apart. These are all poisonous fruits that grow from the same soil.

We come together to do crazy things simply because we refuse to accept our own ignorance and incompetence.

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