"Talking to terrorists" is the name of a book I am reading

[JAbuchan08]

I haven't posted here in a while, but I thought I would relate an experience I had recently.

I'm really into politics, but I'm mostly an observer and outside of voting not much of an active participant. Mostly I read one-off opinion articles and cruise the commentary sections. I'll occasionally pick up a book, as I did a week or so ago when I took Mark Perry's "Talking to Terrorists" off the shelf of my local library.

Basically the thesis of the book is that most of the groups that we consider "terrorists" are not irrational actors who "hate us for our freedoms" but are rational actors with real goals and motivations as well as real grievances and that the vast majority of Arabic and Muslim militants are not fundamentalists trying to impose their way of life on us. It's basic thesis being that it's constructive to speak to our enemies even if they use terrorist tactics - something I generally agree with. The book has some flaws, but it is interesting and a worthy read even if a lot of the general jist of it is something I already knew or agreed with.

I've been reading it on the train, somewhat self-consciously, realizing that the title will be off-putting to some - and I live in NYC. I sometimes read during my lunch break at work. I work at a large multi-national coffee chain (no points for guessing which one) and there isn't really a "break room" per se, just a little storage space/office where we keep our stuff. So I left the book out when I was finished with my break.

Apparently a couple of my co-workers saw it and came back out into the lobby/dining area where they made somewhat of a scene jokingly shouting (I forget what exactly) in reference to the book and giving me a mock pat-down as if "talking to terrorists" was some kind of instruction manual. They were joking, but it was still embarassing, humiliating and somewhat intimidating (not physically as these were small women) to be even jokingly implied to be sympathetic to terrorists.

I thought, well maybe I can use this as a teaching moment, but as soon as I started talking about it I was shushed as if even talking to me about talking to terrorists was the equivalent of talking to terrorists.

Finally I just said "well, if they come after me, I'm making sure you're going down with me" (joking of course)

Just my little slice of America - cowed by fear and ruled by ignorance.

[Tobin S.]

1. Yep, people sometimes make judgments before they really understand something

It's probably something most people have done in their lives at some point. I sure have, but I've learned from those mistakes and I try to make an honest attempt to understand people now days. Kind of sounds like the theme of your book. :)

[JAbuchan08]

2. I don't mean to play it up as more than it was

but it shouldn't be diminished either they were "joking" but it was one of those moments where a lot of truth is said in jest. It was harassing behavior enforcing a political point and while they likely adopted that perspective out of ignorance and apathy rather than malice or indoctrination I was kind of taken aback.

[tigereye]

3. yeah, why try and figure out why people do what they do -

exasperating, isn't it? Like people are afraid to think beyond their comfort zone. Unfortunate. I think I saw the author interviewed somewhere, either Fresh Air or the Daily Show...