noway!!! said:
What is your point in reference to my post?
I simply support your position, with a few additional references.
My belief is that the hierarchy of those with terrorist ambitions prey upon the ignorance of less sophisticated folks who are able to be swayed by a con artist with a glib tongue.
The typical follower of Islam is a peaceable fellow who wishes to live his life as best he can. However, perhaps bin Laden studied Thoreau.
AUTHOR: Henry David Thoreau (1817–62)
QUOTATION: The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation. What is called resignation is confirmed desperation. From the desperate city you go into the desperate country, and have to console yourself with the bravery of minks and muskrats. A stereotyped but unconscious despair is concealed even under what are called the games and amusements of mankind. There is no play in them, for this comes after work. But it is a characteristic of wisdom not to do desperate things.
Deep within every man is the desire for adventure, for recognition, for performing a great deed. A suppressed John Wayne persona, if you will. The bin Laden types choose their 'volunteers', seek to inspire them to adventure, recognition, and that great deed for which they will be remembered. To give life to that suppressed John Wayne persona.
How do the bin Laden types do this? With words, well chosen, simple, words.
In the wake of the recent London bombings, I saw an interview with an eighteen year old British born youth of Pakistani extraction. He told of how, at the age of fifteen, he was approached by men who sought to recruit him "to do great deeds for Allah". He demurred.
Nevertheless, there seem to be at least four young men who did not demur. They had their adventure, their recognition, and performed a great deed for which they will be remembered as they departed this life in a blaze of what they considered glory.