Perspective - Perspettiva: January 2015

Pavlov and Islam

At the start of the twentieth century, a physiology scholar called Ivan Petrovich Pavlov came up with the concept of Conditioned Reflex. He had a dog which, when about to feed it, would ring a bell or set off a metronome. After some repetition, he noticed that the dog started salivating immediatly upon ringing the bell, even if no food was presented. Pavlov concluded that the dog had begun to associate the sound of a bell with food, to which it had a physiological reaction.¹

I think that there is a relationship between the learning from Pavlov and the situation of Islam today.

In Western nations (with which I include Australia even if it is found in the East, due to its heavy English influence), Islam as a religion and also as a culture are very much in a minority. As a result, in these countries, the majority of people encounter Islam predominantly in the media, or in the streets in daily life - in public transport, in shops, in work places. When this happen, they take snapshot after snapshot of this phenomenon, rather than live it closely and continuously.

I also pass through this experience. I have to say that the snapshots coming from the media, even those that I see myself, are almost always constantly negative, sometimes extremely negative, from people who say that they are acting on behalf of Islam.

It is easy to remark that the media can exaggerate, and pick and choose what it reports. This is not so hard to imagine it happening, especially when there are commercial interests at play, and there is interest in increasing readers, listeners or viewers. However I think that this is not the whole story.

A week before Christmas, in Sydney we had the case, traumatic for many people aghast in front of their television sets, of a crazy person who took seventeen hostages at the Cafe Lindt in Martin Place, which ended in a severe shootout and the tragic death of two of the hostages, as well as the aggressor.

The extraordinary thing about it, which wasn't immediately evident to everyone, was that the aggressor was making the hostages take videos of each other making messages he wanted them to make in front of a black flag in Arabic script and an Islamic message, and send them to TV and radio stations, on Youtube and social media. The authorities were attentive not to give the aggressor the TV publicity he wanted, however naturally they could do nothing to stop the social media.

Hence, the aggressor was searching out the media, not avoiding it.

The same is happening with other extremist groups which call themselves Islamic, like ISIS which has set up a caliphate I wrote about another time, Al-Qaeda and others. Apart from sending their propaganda messages, as do all other political groupings around the world, these are augmented with atrocious and cruel images and videos, with a victorious background music, and Arabic writing (which most people in the West don't understand) and an Islamic message (translated, which is well understood).

This continual drumming is doing nothing except, in the eyes of most people around the world, associate everyone who is Muslim with emotionless, cruel and heartless killers.

It is true that these messages might appeal to those who have no hope, without an aim in life, those who are rejected by society, who have been discriminated against and so on. It is true that these groups may offer a momentary glory in macabre and violent acts, and promise a reward in heaven, according to their interpretation of Islam.

However I would argue, how many more people are going to be attracted by this orgy of violence and depravity? How many mothers which love their kids will send them to be despised by the world and to a probably early death? Is it possible that these groups think they will persuade some large mass of people to provide support?

Usually, organisations try to present their best foot forward in the media. Islam itself has five pillars of faith, which include charity with the poor and fasting, amongst others, which are very positive virtues. The word 'Islam' itself is derived from peace (sliem).

On the contrary, these groups are presenting to the public the worst of the worst, and are doing untold damage their own religion, and to the name of their prophet Mohammed.

I have friends from many different religions, including some which don't have any religion. When I talk to those which are Muslim about these things, I only hear disgust, and sadness that the teachings of peace that they try to live with every day are simply being thrown away by these extremists.

This gives me some comfort. A number of polls taken in countries with a large Muslim population, show that the majority of Muslims are against actions like suicide bombings in the defence of Islam, in most countries except the Palestinian territory.² Nevertheless the percentage of people in favour is small but not negligible.

The siege of some days ago in Martin place has split Australia in two. On one side there was a strong movement, quite unexpected, of those who consider that extremists don't represent the majority of Muslims, a movement that was represented by a campaign on Twitter called #IllRideWithYou³, which began when a person offered to ride public transport with a hijab-wearing Muslim who was afraid of the repurcussions by people after the siege.

On the other hand, there is also a strong movement which has a huge anger at anything that is, and anyone who is, Muslim. Even if someone from this movement reasons that not everyone is an extremist, if a symbol is encountered that a person may be Muslim, even if this symbol is cultural rather than religious, such as the hijab, niqab, burka, Persian turban, the Arabic version of the word God (Allah) or even just Arabic scripts, almost immediately you will hear hard and angry comments.

Also, if during a discussion you try and make the distinction between the extremist and the common Muslim, you are likely to be taken to be defending the extremist. The desire to condemn anything remotely connected to being Muslim, in this second movement, is very strong.

This is the Pavlovian effect I was referring to before, and I have to say I do understand who feels that way.

The unfortunate thing is that these extremist groups are themselves fanning this effect, deliberatly and constantly, and with these groups one can add crazy people like the aggressor at Martin Place.

Although it is true that it is not only Islam that has extremist groups, recently there have been too many of these extremists around the world, who (ab)use Islam to further their murderous ideology, and this Pavlovian effect is increasing.

I only see one solution to this situation in this country:

making clear that the Muslim community is accepted by the rest of society, so that no space is provided to those who feel excluded who will seek acceptance in groups at the fringes of society;

that the Muslim community is strong and persistent in its insistence, within its own society as well as society at large, that it is absolutely against extremism. This is happening, and needs to continue and be strengthened;
that people who seem to be getting radicalised, are identified and pass through a programme of rehabilitation and/or pass through the criminal justice system.

This cannot but be a long term process.

1 http://www.simplypsychology.org/pavlov.html, retrieved 19.12.2014

2 http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/07/02/muslims-against-extremism-pew-survey_n_5551693.html, retrieved 19/12/2014

3 http://www.gizmodo.com.au/2014/12/illridewithyou-sydney-stands-up-to-racism-with-one-beautiful-hashtag/, retrieved 19/12/2014

------------------------------------

Pavlov u l-Islam

Fil-bidu tas-seklu għoxrin, studjuż tal-fiżjoloġija jismu Ivan Petrovich Pavlov ħareġ bil-kunċett tar-Rifless Ikkundizzjunat. Kellu kelb, li meta kien se jibda jitimgħu, kien idoqq qanpiena jew jitlaq metronomu. Wara ftit tar-ripetizzjoni, innota li l-kelb beda jipproduċi l-bżieq immedjatament meta kien idoqq il-qanpiena, anke jekk ma kienx ippreżentalu l-ikel. Il-konklużjoni ta' Pavlov kienet li l-kelb kien beda jassoċja l-ħoss tal-qanpiena mal-ikel, li għaliha kellu reazzjoni fiżjoloġika.¹

Jien nara li hemm relazzjoni bejn it-tagħlima ta' Pavlov mas-sitwazzjoni tal-Islam illum.

Fil-pajjiżi tal-Punent (li magħha ninkludi l-Awstralja anke jekk tinsab fil-Lvant, minħabba l-kultura qawwija Ingliża tagħha), l-Islam bħala reliġjon u anke bħala kultura jinsab fil-minoranza. Għalhekk, f'dawn il-pajjiżi, il-maġġoranza tan-nies jiltaqgħu mal-Islam fil-midja predominantement, jew fit-triq fil-ħajja ta' kuljum - fil-mezzi ta' trasport pubbliku, fil-ħwienet, fil-postijiet tax-xogħol. Meta jsir dan, jieħdu stampa waħda wara l-oħra ta' dan il-fenomenu, iktar mill jgħixuh fil-qrib u fit-tul.

Jiena wkoll ngħaddi minn dan. Nista' ngħid li l-istampi fil-midja, anke milli nara jien, ikunu kważi kostantement negattivi, u ħafna drabi estremament negattivi, ta' bosta nies li jgħidu li jaġixxu f'isem l-Islam.

Huwa faċli li wieħed jirrimarka li l-midja tgħaġġeb, u tagħżel dak li tirrapporta. Dan mhux daqshekk diffiċli li timmaġinah isir, l-iktar meta jkun hemm interessi kummerċjali fin-nofs, u jkun hemm l-interess li jiżdiedu l-qarrejja, is-semmiegħa jew il-telespettaturi. Imma jien nara li dan ma jispjegax kollox.

Ġimgħa qabel il-Milied, f'Sydney kellna l-każ, trawmatiku għal ħafna nies li baqgħu iċċassati quddiem it-televiżjoni, ta' persuna miġnuna li ħadet sbatax-il ostaġġ fil-Kafè Lindt li jinsab f'Martin Place,, li spiċċat f'musketterija liema bħala u l-mewt traġika ta' tnejn minnhom, flimkien mal-aggressur.

Li kien straordinarju, u li mhux kulħadd induna mallewwel bih, kien li l-aggressur kien qiegħed iġiegħel lill-ostaġġi jieħdu vidjos ta' xulxin jgħidu l-messaġġi li riedhom jgħidu quddiem bandiera sewda b'kitba bl-Għarbi u messaġġ Islamiku, u jibgħatuhom lil stazzjonijiet tat-TV u tar-radju, fuq Youtube u l-midja soċjali. L-awtoritajiet qagħdu attenti li ma jagħtux lill-aggressur il-pubbliċità fuq it-televiżjoni li xtaq, imma naturalment ma setgħu jagħmlu xejn biex iwaqqfu l-midja soċjali.

Għalhekk, l-aggressur kien qed ifittex il-midja, mhux jaħrabha.

L-istess qed jagħmlu l-gruppi estremisti oħra li jseħħu lilhom infushom Islamiċi, bħall-grupp ISIS li waqqaf il-kalifat li ktibt dwaru darb'oħra, Al-Qaeda u oħrajn. Dawn apparti li jibagħtu l-messaġġi propogandistiċi tagħhom, ħaġa li jagħmlu l-gruppi kollha politiċi ta' madwar id-dinja, iżewwquhom ukoll b'stampi u vidjos atroċi u krudili għall-aħħar, bi sfond mużikali rebbieħ, u kitba Għarbija (li l-parti l-kbira tan-nies tal-Punent ma jifhmux) u messaġġ Islamiku (li jiġi tradott, u jinftiehem sew).

Dan it-tanbir kontinwu mhu qed jagħmel xejn ħlief, f'għajnejn in-nies ta' madwar id-dinja, jassoċja lil kull min huwa Musulman ma nies qattiela, bla emozzjonijiet, krudili u bla qalb.

Huwa veru li dawn il-messaġġi jistgħu jappellaw lil min huwa bla tama, bla skop f'ħajtu, min forsi mhux aċċettat mis-soċjetà, min ħass diskriminazzjoni kontrih u l-bqija. Huwa veru li dawn il-gruppi jistgħu joffru l-glorja tal-mument f'atti makabri u vjolenti, u jwiegħdu l-ħlas fil-ġenna, skont l-interpretazzjoni tagħhom tal-Islam.

Imma ngħid jien, kemm iktar nies se jkunu attirati minn din l-orġja tal-vjolenza u depravità? Kemm se jkun hemm ommijiet li tassew iħobbu lil uliedhom li jibgħatuhom ikunu l-istmerrija tad-dinja u għal mewt probabbilment bikrija? Possibbli li dawn il-gruppi jaħsbu li se jipperswadu lil xi massa kbira ta' nies li jagħtuhom l-appoġġ?

Normalment, organizzazzjonijiet jippruvaw jippreżentaw l-aħjar attitudnijiet tagħhom fil-midja. L-Islam innifsu għandu ħames kolonni tal-fidi, li jinkludu l-karità mal-fqar u s-sawm fost l-oħrajn, li huma virtujiet pożittivi ħafna. Il-kelma 'Islam' innifisha ġejja minn 'sliem', jew paċi.

Għall-kuntrarju, dawn il-gruppi qed jippreżentaw lill-pubbliku l-agħar fost l-agħar aspetti tagħhom, u qed jagħmlu ħsara kbira lir-reliġjon tagħhom, u lill-isem tal-profeta tagħhom Moħammed.

Jien għandi ħbieb minn ħafna reliġjonijiet u anke wħud li m'għandhomx reliġjon. Meta tkellimt ma' dawk Musulmani fuq dawn l-affarijiet, ħlief kliem ta' stmerrija, u dispjaċir li dak it-tagħlim ta' paċi li jippruvaw jimxu miegħu ta' kuljum qed jiġi sempliċement mormi minn dawn l-estremisti, ma nismax.

Dan itini ftit tal-komfort. Diversi stħarriġ f'pajjiżi b'popolazzjoni kbira Musulmana, juri li l-maġġoranza ta' Musulmani huma kontra azzjonijiet bħal attakki ta' suwiċidju biex jiddefendu lill-Islam, fil-pajjiżi kollha ħlief it-Territorju Palestinjan.² Madankollu il-persentaġġ ta' nies favur huwa żgħir imma mhux negliġibbli.

L-assedju ta' ftit jiem ilu f'Martin Place qasam lill-Awstralja fi tnejn. Fuq naħa waħda, kien hemm moviment qawwi, u mhux mistenni, ta' min jikkunsidra li l-estremisti ma jirrappreżentawx lill-maġġoranza tal-Musulmani, moviment li deher biċ-ċar fil-kampanja fuq Twitter imsejħa #IllRideWithYou³, li bdiet meta persuna offriet li tirkeb it-trasport pubbliku ma' persuna Musulmana li tilbes il-ħiġab li kienet qed tibza' mir-riperkussjonijiet tan-nies wara l-assedju.

Fuq in-naħa l-oħra, hemm moviment qawwi ieħor ukoll li għandu rabja kbira għal dak kollu li hu, u kull min hu, Musulman. Anke jekk wieħed minn dan il-moviment jirraġuna li mhux kulħadd huwa estremist, jekk jiltaqa' ma' xi simbolu li jista' jindika li persuna hija Musulmana, anke jekk il-ħaġa hija kulturali u mhux reliġjuża, bħal ħiġab, niqab, burka, turban Persjan, il-verżjoni Għarbija tal-kelma 'Alla' (Allah) jew anke sempliċement kitba Għarbija, kważi immedjatament tisma kliem iebes u anke ta' rabja.

Ukoll, meta persuna f'diskussjoni tipprova tagħmel distinzjoni bejn l-estremist u Musulman komuni, ġieli tittieħed li qed tiddefendi lill-estremist. Ir-rieda li jiġi kkundannat kull ma hu Musulman, f'dan it-tieni moviment, huwa tant qawwi.

Dan hu l-effett Pavlovjan li kont qed nirreferi għalih qabel, u irrid ngħid li nifhem lil min iħoss hekk.

L-isfortuna hi li dawn il-gruppi estremisti qed irewwħu dan l-effett huma stess, deliberatament u konsistentement, u ma dawn il-gruppi jistgħu jingħaddu mġienen bħal l-aggressur ta' Martin Place.

Għalkemm huwa veru li mhux l-Islam biss għandu dawn l-estremisti, riċentement qed ikun hemm wisq minn dawn l-estremisti, madwar id-dinja, li j(abb)użaw l-Islam biex iwasslu l-ideoloġija qattiela tagħhom, u dan l-effett Pavlovjan jikber qiegħed.

Jien l-unika soluzzjoni li nara għal din is-sitwazzjoni f'pajjiżna, hu:

li jkun ċar li l-komunità Musulmana tkun milqugħa u aċċettata mill-bqija tas-soċjetà, ħalli ma jingħatax lok għal min iħossu eskluż u jfittex li jkun milqugħ f'xi grupp fil-periferija tas-soċjetà;
li l-komunità Musulmana tkun qawwija u persistenti filli ssostni, kemm fil-komunità tagħha, u mas-soċjetà in ġenerali, li assolutament hija kuntrarja għall-estremiżmu. Dan qiegħed isir, u jrid jitkompla u jitqawwa;
li nies li jidhru li qed jiġu radikalizzati, jiġu identifikati u jingħaddew minn programmi ta' rijabilitazzjoni u/jew jgħaddu mis-sistema kriminali.

Dan ma jistax ħlief ikun proċess fit-tul.

1 http://www.simplypsychology.org/pavlov.html, retrieved 19.12.2014

2 http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/07/02/muslims-against-extremism-pew-survey_n_5551693.html, retrieved 19/12/2014

3 http://www.gizmodo.com.au/2014/12/illridewithyou-sydney-stands-up-to-racism-with-one-beautiful-hashtag/, retrieved 19/12/2014

Perspective - Perspettiva

Monday, January 19, 2015

Musings of a Maltese Immigrant -- Muża ta' Immigrant Malti

Saturday, January 3, 2015

Pavlov and Islam -- Pavlov u l-Islam