Are they thinking what we're thinking?

How does one deal with a concerted and conceited effort to undermine the basic values that bind together the components of a society? How does one address a smugly self-righteous force bent on disrupting all social norms and reversing centuries of civilisation and progress?

What vocabulary can one use, and what common language do we share? What would our terms of reference be, and indeed, what would be the objective of such a discussion? Do we understand who we are dealing with, and do we appreciate their motivations and concerns? Should that even matter at all? Isn't this a simple clash between good and evil, where good (reason) is bound to prevail over evil (fanaticism)?

Those who choose to see this as a good-evil struggle assume not only that good and evil are absolutes and are recognised universally for what they are, regardless of ideology, but also that these Islamist groups are intentionally engaging in actions they perceive as being evil, for some ideological political ideal. While one may be excused for making the first assumption, it would take a deliberate negligence of recent events to justify the second.

(to be continued insha Allah)