Omri Brinner
February 2009
The article I chose for this assignment, be it a possible topic for my research paper, deals with an awful suicide attack in Karbala, Iraq in which at least 34 people were killed, most of whom women and children. The offensive act was committed by a Sunni woman and was directed at faithful Shi’ites as they were resting, eating, and drinking before or after prayer at a religious site. The long lasting conflict between Sunnis and Shi’ites in Iraq has increased in the past few years or at least has gotten heavier media coverage since the presence of the United States military forces. The two Muslim sects have been divided for centuries, through which they have fought each other endlessly, over religious disputes and differences. In Iraq for example the Sunnis were allied with Sadam Hussein’s regime and have killed millions of Shiite believers throughout the dark times of his rule and even after, as happened several days ago. On the other hand, it is not common at all to hear about a Shi’ite attack on Sunnis. The main point from this article is not the act itself or whoever committed it but rather the response of a man who survived the attack. He said: "This explosion does not frighten us… Four years of violence in Diyala didn't stop us from coming to visit Karbala and neither will this”. The thing that interests me the most is how people deal with suicide attacks and terrorized life in different places around the world. Having been born and raised at a city which is the heart of the Israeli-Muslim conflict and experienced dozens of such regretful events, I believe I can analyze such behavior better than a simple clerk who sits in a small office somewhere in Washington D.C and who claims to understand the different views and cultures of two groups that genuinely hate each other.
The link that I’m attaching leads to the website of the movie Obsession, which deals with radical Islam and evolves around several suicide attacks around the world. Hopefully I can create an interesting thesis statement that will lead to good research.
Article: http://www.mercurynews.com/nationworld/ci_11703044
Attached link: http://www.obsessionthemovie.com/
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I think this is so sad. I knew there was alot of suicide bombers in Iraq but I didn't know they were women too!
ReplyDeleteAnd its really sad how most of the suicides are affecting women and children. In my eyes children are innocent and should never be put in that kind of situation. That's crazy that you have been in situations just like that. It is scary i hear and for you to have visualized first hand, well you can infrom many people about the realities of the life over there. Your essay was really well written and deifnately had an emotional appeal.