"And He Didn't Even Look Sorry"
Recently, the surviving brother of the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings received a federal death sentence for his participation and contributions. Although the media was not allowed in the courtroom, news personnel could report what they were observing during his sentencing trial. Over and over, commentators and panels of pundits pondered how that guy could sit there with a blank stare, have no visual reaction and practically swagger out of the courtroom with his hands in his pockets. "How can he have no remorse for what he has done??"
Every single commentator could not get over the fact that the kid did not react or appear to care, and none of them had any answer except that this was an example of evil. I agree that this was purely evil, but I can answer their "why", too.
Why didn't the kid show any remorse? Because his mindset is not Western.The Western mindset has certain unspoken rules, like walking on the right side of the aisle, standing a certain number of feet away from a stranger, innocent until proven guilty, freedom of speech to name a few. The minds of those raised in other cultures do not necessarily follow along, even if they life on US soil. Their roots go back generations and include such values and killing a loved one if they cease to believe properly, discrimination against women doesn't exist for them. How can that be discrimination when that is simply the way women ought to be treated?
In our attempt to frame our grasp of radical mindsets from our North American sofas, we have slapped on Western lenses. If you work with spreadsheets, you will understand when I say the wrong filter has been used. We do not care equally about human life, much less its purpose. The very basis of our world views collide. The extremist will die for their cause believing they have served the ultimate purpose. The guys on those four 9/11 flights are heros to them, and now their heroism has mutated into ISIS. Lookalike factions operating in smaller numbers.
Western thinkers must become objective and logical as they begin to work at warp speed to get steps ahead of the terrorists, rather than remain reactive and wondering why they aren't sorry. Take "sorry" off the table and realize what they value and be proactive.
No touchy-feely thinking applies. What the west values is not the same thing. There is power in determining what you will and will not value. Think about it. If you don't care about cooking, your house doesn't "need" a kitchen. Don't go talking kitchen with people who don't cook. Look at what is valued and go there. Find the currency and leverage that. But certainly don't expect western responses from people not raised that way.
While I believe all people and cultures need to be respected, this does not apply to terrorists. The west has given them a pass for decades. It is well past the time to wake up, or we are the ones who will be screaming sorry for what continues to happen to our nice, neat little world.
Every single commentator could not get over the fact that the kid did not react or appear to care, and none of them had any answer except that this was an example of evil. I agree that this was purely evil, but I can answer their "why", too.
Why didn't the kid show any remorse? Because his mindset is not Western.The Western mindset has certain unspoken rules, like walking on the right side of the aisle, standing a certain number of feet away from a stranger, innocent until proven guilty, freedom of speech to name a few. The minds of those raised in other cultures do not necessarily follow along, even if they life on US soil. Their roots go back generations and include such values and killing a loved one if they cease to believe properly, discrimination against women doesn't exist for them. How can that be discrimination when that is simply the way women ought to be treated?
In our attempt to frame our grasp of radical mindsets from our North American sofas, we have slapped on Western lenses. If you work with spreadsheets, you will understand when I say the wrong filter has been used. We do not care equally about human life, much less its purpose. The very basis of our world views collide. The extremist will die for their cause believing they have served the ultimate purpose. The guys on those four 9/11 flights are heros to them, and now their heroism has mutated into ISIS. Lookalike factions operating in smaller numbers.
Western thinkers must become objective and logical as they begin to work at warp speed to get steps ahead of the terrorists, rather than remain reactive and wondering why they aren't sorry. Take "sorry" off the table and realize what they value and be proactive.
No touchy-feely thinking applies. What the west values is not the same thing. There is power in determining what you will and will not value. Think about it. If you don't care about cooking, your house doesn't "need" a kitchen. Don't go talking kitchen with people who don't cook. Look at what is valued and go there. Find the currency and leverage that. But certainly don't expect western responses from people not raised that way.
While I believe all people and cultures need to be respected, this does not apply to terrorists. The west has given them a pass for decades. It is well past the time to wake up, or we are the ones who will be screaming sorry for what continues to happen to our nice, neat little world.
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