Martyrdom holds no attraction for those who appreciate nothing greater than the joys of living. And fortunately, most of us belong to this group. The rest of the world lives for beliefs, mostly religious beliefs, and for them the instructions of their denominations are stronger than common sense.
Nobody should expect that people who live by a concept of life based on common sense would ever understand those who follow their ideas. And, vice versa, nobody should expect that the latter group could ever truly understandable the former.
For Muslims, many actions are credited to the divine rules of their faith. But those actions are sanctioned by common law in the so-called “Western” world, including in the United States.
What can be said? What can be done?
The first step would -- and should -- be to seek to understand the motives of the opposing parties. Each group should study the way of thinking (including religious rules and other traditions) of those who seem to at first to be so enigmatic. Then we should consider what we can -- and should -- do to defend the life and property of everybody in our world, accepting the different motivations by which each decides their actions.
Until the first step is taken, there is no way to take the second. I know that the latter is more like a giant leap. And we may not find simple solutions. But, I am afraid, on this overcomplicated earth there are no simple solutions anymore.
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