by CJ Clark, Featured Contributor
IS ANYONE ELSE besides me getting really worried? I can’t believe I’m the only one who watches what is happening in the Middle East and thinks, “Could they come here?” Or worse, “Are they already here?”
Public Radio International carried an article about ISIS’ new hand gesture.
“The Islamic State militants, known as ISIS, are now using a single, raised index finger as the symbol of their cause. It’s a well-known sign of power and victory around the world, but for ISIS, it has a more sinister meaning.
Nathaniel Zelinsky writes in Foreign Affairs that the gesture refers to the tawhid, “the belief in the oneness of God and a key component of the Muslim religion.” More specifically, though, it refers to their fundamentalist interpretation of the tawhid, which rejects any other view, including other Islamic 
interpretations, as idolatry. Zelinsky writes that when ISIS uses the gesture, it is affirming an ideology that demands the destruction of the West, as well as any form of pluralism. For potential recruits around the globe, it also shows their belief that they will dominate the world.”
These people have beheaded, not just killed, but beheaded two Americans. This isn’t the Cold War where neither side REALLY wanted to blow the other up and so were satisfied with détente. These guys are playing for keeps and have been raised since infancy to believe that we – the west – is evil and must be destroyed.
ISIS is recruiting here in the United States. Two Americans were recently killed in Syria while fighting FOR ISIS. They are infiltrating Europe as well. A 19 year old Scottish Muslim left her family last year to join ISIS, shown on CNN as
“She has been prolific on social media, advocating ISIS and Islamic caliphate beliefs, and calling for attacks to be carried out in Western countries. She posts photos of AK-47s and exults in ISIS executions. Her recent posting online has called to follow the example set by “brothers from Woolwich, Texas, and Boston.”
When James Foley was executed, my heart sank. I saw the picture of the young man dressed in “Guantanamo Orange,” kneeling in front of his executioner, who by the way has been confirmed as British. I cannot even imagine what his family has gone through, with his disappearance and then his beheading. Did you get a look at the knife in the picture? This wasn’t a swift guillotine, but a small knife that probably took quite a bit of time to complete the mission. I suppose that some may think me gruesome to point this out, but it is gruesome. Period.
A few days later, I was riding in the car and got a news alert that Steven Sotloff had been beheaded. I cannot even explain my emotions. I went from being sickened, to outrage, to sadness. Those emotions are still with me.
But today, I have another emotion that I’m struggling to deal with – confusion. Why are we, the most powerful nation in the world, allowing this cancer to grow and spread? You treat a cancer with drugs that kill the cancer, and may unfortunately kill good cells. You don’t treat cancer with antibiotics. They don’t work with cancer. Without aggressive treatment, cancer overwhelms the good and the body no longer exists.
I get it that the President apparently doesn’t want to touch this one. I suppose that’s his personal right, although it is far from executing on his oath of office.
But what about the rest of us? We are continuing to go to work, play, watch TV and movies and James and Steven float out of our minds. We put it behind us.
So here’s another emotion I’m dealing with, and wondering if I am alone – fear. Do others see that we are in danger? Do others thing that we should do something? I can’t do something alone, but together we should be able to do SOMETHING.
Wake up America!
