.... Yet to the admirers of militant Islamism surrounded by western culture – currently tying itself in anxious knots over delicate questions of class, race and gender – Isis promotes a satisfyingly fanatical revolutionary ideology in which (to borrow its own terminology) the lions and lionesses of the caliphate rear bloodthirsty cubs full of roaring certainties. Those drawn to Isis are not deluded as to its intolerant and brutal nature: that is precisely what they find appealing, along with the promise of power, adventure and a glittering afterlife.
It may be disturbing that in so many apparently ordinary British citizens the superficial bank of inculcated liberal, rational values can crumble and scatter as easily as the Iraqi army in Mosul, but we had better recognise that it does. Otherwise, we are choosing only to dupe ourselves. [849 comments]
[TOP RATED COMMENT 263 votes] "Those drawn to Isis are not deluded as to its intolerant and brutal nature"
Well said. Impressive CiF debut from Jenny McCartney.
".... that is precisely what they find appealing, along with the promise of power, adventure and a glittering afterlife."
I can't help thinking that part of the appeal is that the brutality is persuasively packaged as the enacting of true Islam. In other words, not only can one be brutal and bloodthirsty but, at the same time, one can take great pride in being so - because in being so one is faithfully carrying out one's religious duy.
[2ND 266] A comment that got 30 votes said: "Did you miss that bit where we invaded Iraq?"
Does that explain it all for you then? The 'West' invades Iraq so Yazidi women have to get raped?
[3RD 256] "Along with the promise of power, adventure and a glittering afterlife".
That is where anyone with sense would laugh in their faces and tell them to do one.
Here, blow yourself up and we'll set you up with a glamourous afterlife. Any mug falls for that does not deserve sympathy or excuses. [The Guardian] Read more
