Perception of war

War. What comes to mind when you hear the word? Most people will agree that they think of images, media, films, and music that somehow relates to the post 9/11 aftermath. Images such as a soldier in a firefight, bombed out buildings, local civilians of either Iraq or Afghanistan angered because of a "US Presence", a mosque, the Twin Towers, war torn country sides, etc. Those are just a few of the things most people will agree upon when they hear the word war. The media gives the US and world the majority of the insight on what a war stricken country looks like, or is perceived to look like. Soumaya Ghannoushi is a freelance writer. In her article The propagation of neo-Orientalism in the Al Jazeera writes: 

"In a globalised world governed by the power of the image, the question is no longer what has sparked this event or that incident and how it has unfolded on the ground, but how it gets captured by the camera and reported to viewers, listeners, and readers at home.... For the lens is neither neutral nor objective" 

She then goes on to state an accurate fact. Out of the Muslim world there are many fallacies that the media exploits. The countries that make up the Middle East comprise of many economic, cultural, and geographic nations. Some have riches, some are poor, conservative, liberal, women oppression is common in some and others there is a female leader. However, when society, primarily the American society, views a "Middle Eastern country" they only think of "....a narrow set of narratives about blood-thirsty terrorists, shouting mobs, black turbans, battered wives, and caged daughters." 

Many do not take the time to talk with, let alone learn about the culture and the people of the region. When one hears the word Islam, everyone jumps to the conclusion of terrorism. It is a stereotype that has been brought about due to restricting media and large corporations. "Bad" news sells papers. Too many people believe what the media is covering is the truth. Many viewers believe that Iraq is a country covered in sand, dust, and everyone is a terrorist wanting to blow the shit out of Americans or our allies. When simply that is not true. The country of Iraq and the people of it is a beautiful country. As soon as you are willing to learn about a certain culture you will learn to respect it for what it is. The country itself is filled with rivers, grass, trees, flowers during the rainy months, and cities that are economically well off for the region. I'm not saying that everything that goes on in the country is right, because that never is the case no matter the country. As an Iraq and two time Afghanistan war veteran, it is simply outrageous what people simply believe or just don't want to hear. They block out everything that has to do with their simple, easy, comfortable lives in the United States and leave all the worrying to the families whom have loved ones serving and risking their lives on a daily basis. The ignorance of the American population is sickening. As Soumaya Ghannoushi writes:

"The west seems to have created its own "machinery of truth" about Islam, Muslims, Arabs, and the Middle East.

Through it the lens is directed and small narratives are produced and reproduced ad infinitum."
In order to truly see what a country, group of people, religious views of someone other than yours are, you must be willing to step out of mainstream society and mainstream beliefs of a group of people and learn. If you are not willing to learn about something that is being portrayed as something "evil" then you are bound to not understand the world around you.
The video that has been attached shows how an American society, mainly how the young adult (college) population views a war stricken Islamic, Muslim, Arab country. When I saw this, it was terrifyingly true and yet there is humor to it. Only because I have been there, done that, and got a t-shirt from the Middle East.