Radical: My Journey Out of Islamist Extremism (Post #2 of 3)

I've only read through about half of this book.  I'm finding it to be a fascinating, but difficult read.  I'm very conflicted about my sympathies for the author.  This is a man who as a youth felt displaced in his own hometown.  He had enjoyed a pleasant childhood as a Pakistani in South End, London.  But upon entering adolescence he found himself the target of many of his childhood friends -- mostly white -- who seemed to turn against him because of the color of his skin.  

Because of this ostracism he states, "there was a real vacuum in my identity, which was the ideal place for someone to be before recruitment to an Islamist organization."   He found home among a powerful group of Islamist Extremists when he entered college.  His parents misunderstood his behavior -- happy to see him appear more comfortable with his Muslim faith, being unaware of his extremist ideas and activities.  

He distinguishes between that faith and extremist activity by stating: "it isn't a religious movement with political consequences, it is a political movement with religious consequences."  It's clear that the group he was involved with did not promote religion, did not teach their recruits aspects of prayer and devotion.  Rather, their meetings and instruction were focused entirely on cultural issues -- specifically how to fight back against liberal western ideas they perceived were harming the traditional Islamic way of life.  

What I find most disturbing is the presence of profound hatred based on nothing other than differing lifestyles.  It is hatred based on ignorance and fear of "the other".  And it's certainly not unique to Islamic extremists and Americans.  Why do we humans fear others to the point where such hatred flourishes?  

I'm going to keep reading -- but I'm taking it slowly -- interspersing it with lighter reads to keep me from becoming too downhearted.