Crisis in the Middle East

Is it truly a crisis in the Middle East, or a Western media blow-out? The answer may be perhaps a bit of both. Clearly the death of the U.S. Ambassador to Libya Chris Stevens — alongside two former SEALS, and a foreign service member — was a tragedy, but in terms of the protests themselves, how serious an issue is this?

Most experts on the situation will tell you this is overblown, but nonetheless it is a very dangerous situation in the Middle East right now. The backlash has spread from Egypt and Libya all the way to Afghanistan and even India, and now U.S. embassies are not the only ones being targeted. Just today protestors in Sudan attacked its Khartoum-based embassy, setting it on fire and raising a black Islamic flag.

Protesters in Khartoum, Sudan set fire to the German Embassy.

Various British embassies were also targeted across the Middle East — making it clear that these extreme groups are waging a war on Western society, but why? It is clear that after the Arab Spring, many of these citizens who did not grow up in a free society do not know to react to something such as this offensive film. But this discussion shouldn't be one sided — it needs be noted that for the most part the Western media has covered these riots incredibly poorly, framing Muslims in such a negative light that may have falsely enraged Americans. 

I recall seeing a Fox News broadcast which they claimed protesters in Egypt were chanting "We are all Osama," when in fact they were screaming "Allah is great." Also western media has failed to acknowledge generally the type of people who are engaging in these violent demonstrations — disenfranchised youth out of work. So these people, feeling betrayed by their own government and others, would definitely be more prone to bouts of radical extremism. 

Overall though, this type of behavior is absolutely unacceptable, and as an American I am infuriated that other countries could treat mine so disrespectfully when the U.S. provides so much humanitarian aid and assistance to the Middle East. I know I am not the only one, but at the same time these groups are a select minority that do provide an accurate representation of Islamic community as a whole. I know this is not what the true Islam is about. There are many good people who have welcomed U.S. aid and guidance, and it is my hope that these violent demonstrations don't turn away Western societies from helping the good people who really need it.