First, I was surprised at how unsurprised I was when seeing the story unfold on the BBC Monday night. Not to say shock didn't go through me like lightning, but a sinking, familiar disappointment went with it, something that I feel every time attacks such as this happen. Children attending a concert were the target of a hateful, deadly, panic-inducing attack. That is absolutely ridiculous, rage, sadness, hatred for those responsible fills me even now.
But there is one thing we need to remember as we all try to figure out how we feel about this.
Islam is a religion of peace. Calling all who practice the faith terrorists is the same thing as labeling all Christians or Jews as terrorists. Those in ISIS and other groups are not at all representative of Islam as a faith. These people have started to believe a toxic set of ideals and, using the instability of the Middle East to their advantage, have pulled many to their side for security, something not very common in the region. People see it sometimes as a join or die option, something we here in America have a hard time wrapping our heads around.
This does not, by any means whatsoever, excuse an attack like this, but it should be understood that the term terrorism applies not just to those that murder innocent children at a concert or commit these violent, senseless acts themselves, but also to those that recruit otherwise innocent people to do these things.
This attack, and others, are meant to strike fear into those of us who already see ISIS as a threat, meant to keep their fearing rule in place. Further, they can use these attacks as propaganda for their own twisted causes.
The most important thing right now, and the most important thing we can do, is to stay unified against ISIS, against ideals, not against Islam, not against those who practice the Muslim faith. Sometimes the media clumps Islam and terrorism into one term, sometimes unintentionally. We need to remember that there is a difference, that ISIS and other radical groups are the problem, not ordinary Muslims, not everyone who fits a stereotyped image.
History has shown us the bright, and the dark, sides of who we can be. The fact that peaceful debate can take place on the internet following this attack is because people had ideas, Not people of one race, not people of one religion, not people of one mindset, just people. Listening to one another is the only way we will ever understand each other. Everyone has opinions, and hating someone, an individual or a group, for disagreeing with you, is not the way we solve our problems. Changing ideals and ways of thinking, understanding, honestly understanding others is the first step in finding solutions.
Finally, my heart goes out to those that have gone through this, the families of those killed or injured, and to all who had to witness such a traumatic, life-changing event. I hope that somehow everyone can continue showing unity as they already have, and that we can stand together, as we do as a world, when something like this happens. This is not the first, and may not be the last attack we have seen or will see. But for every bad person, there are thousands of good ones, people who offered their homes to those in need using the #RoomForManchester Monday night, people who ran into the Manchester Arena instead of out of it, people who showed that fear could be conquered with love. And that is victory if I've ever seen it, that is how we fight.
