It is becoming increasingly clear that the next major world conflict will arise from a clash between fundamentalist Islamists and those they deem to be infidels.

Islamist thought content is so foreign to Westerners, that our only tools are to fight violence with violence, or to attack monetarily.

While these methods are important - it is necessary to kill or capture murderers and choke off their money - these methods address the effect, but not the cause of the problem.

The problem lies in the hearts and minds of people. It lies in what has been taught or hammered into their very beings. It lies in what they experience.

Millions of hate-filled Arabs did not magically spring from the ground like daisies. They were created through focused, determined effort and vast monetary investment. They were forged under heat and pressure, like steel.

The pressure comes from poverty, repression, physical need and threatening messages repeated so often that they become brainwashed into a reality. "They have killed our people and taken our land." "They disrespect Allah and Islam." "Their culture is evil."

Unless the Western world can address the poverty, the culture and the messages, there will be no hope for thwarting an eventual explosion of hate which will span the globe.

Media is the Answer

Given the enormity of this problem, only a response of equal scale and duration will have any hope of success. We spend billions on soldiers and bombs. Why not spend billions on a television and radio programs, and the means to broadcast programming throughout the Arab world? Twenty four hours a day, seven days a week.

If necessary, satellites could be employed to transmit this programming, and satellite radios could be distributed in poorer and more remote areas.

Quality Arab language TV and radio programs should be produced to specifically address the multitude of painful messages Arabs are constantly bombarded with, in a way which is credible, entertaining, redundant and mind-broadening.

Local Arab governments and religious leaders will, of course, ban such heresy and possibly punish people who watch and listen. Nonetheless, over time, the lure and availability of such forbidden fruit will attract a following. Messages other than doctrine will be heard.


Programs to Open Closed Minds
Some suggested programming:

The Teachings of Peace in the Koran
This important program would have one or more pacifistic imams who present and discuss portions of the Koran each week which support peaceful resolution of problems, and present peace as a disirable goal.

Wealth and Poverty in the Arab World
This documentary would show the history of Arab leaders, engulfed in oil money, choosing to keep their people in poverty. Episodes could be devoted to Yassir Arafat s diversion of millions from his people, and what those millions could have done if properly spent, for instance, the complete eradication of refugee camps. The program would pose the question, "Who should we be angry with?

Arab Scientists and Nobel Prizewinners
This program would make heroes of people who make positive contributions to the world, are internationally recognized, and bring honor and esteem to the Arab world.

I believe that Arabs desparately need role models who present options other than violence and suicide. Arab scholars from medicine, mathematics, physics, literature and other disciplines would be represented.

I also believe that part of the dangerous Islamist mentality portrays the West as hating and killing Arabs, and possibly even worse, disrespecting them. These programs would show experts from around the world praising Arab contributions to world science.

Architecture of Arabia
This program would show the beauty of Arab architecture and portray the painstaking hours expended by highly skilled artisans in building great edifices. Architecture and building can be portrayed as a means to not only praise Allah, but also as a way to spiritually elevate the people. Again, praise from the outside world would be shown.

Arabic Poetry
We in the Western world have been exposed to the poetic way in which Arab leaders express themselves, too often in tones of defiance. I suspect this springs from a rich vein of poetic expression within the culture. Non violent poetic expression would be emphasized.

Sexuality Across Cultures
This documentary would survey a variety of different cultures with regard to norms for separating or commingling the sexes during childhood, dating/mating rituals, methods used to attract the opposite sex, average age marriage occurs, whether marriages are of free will or arranged, average duration of marriages, numbers of children produced, etc.

This scholarly piece would avoid sensationalism which might enrage fundamentalist sensitivities, yet would provide a glimpse into an outside world which does things successfully in many different ways, allowing consideration of the idea of personal choice in family planning.

Arabs and Democracy
This Documentary would show people of Arab descent, as they live in democratic countries. How are their choices and freedoms different? Is their quality of life different? Is it difficult for such transplants to adapt to a new environment? Both positives and negatives of open societies would be presented.

Population Control and the Arab World
This survey of child-production in the Arab world would contrast Arab customs with those found in other parts of the world. The program would discuss survival strategies for families and countries, and present an option which would consider having less children, but more resources to put into the raising of that child, with positive outcomes.

Arab Against Arab
This historical piece would explore long-standing hatreds, Iran vs. Iraq, Sunni vs. Shiite, etc. The program would promote the idea that such struggles detract from the greatness of all Arab peoples, and there needs to be a golden moment in which Arabs drop their inter-tribe hatreds and unite for the common good. (And not against a common enemy.)

A Child s Future
This study would track three or more children and examine the aspects of their lives which contribute to, and also detract from, long term success. An Arab concept of success, which is other than success by martyrdom, would be encouraged.

Women of the World
A survey of the contribution of women to various societies, as leaders, as educators, as mothers, as business people, etc. A discussion of the relative strengths of the genders, oriented toward appreciating and utilizing the strengths of each in the furtherance of family and society.

Death of a Martyr
This piece would explore the notion that martyrs will be rewarded with 72 virgins in each of 72 mansions in Paradise.

It could be presented in two ways:

1. A history of glorifying death as a way for tribal leaders to encourage their people to make suicidal choices in battle. Interviews with attempted martyrs who had near-death experiences, wherein few virgins or mansions were sighted.

Or my favorite...

2. Ahmed Explodes into Paradise. In the opening sequence of each episode, this comedy would show suicide bomber Ahmed exploding and then struggling with reassembling his bloody body parts, which rain down into a nice, virgin-filled mansion. As he untangles his intestines from the chandelier and hunts for a missing foot, bitchy virgins complain about stains on the carpet.

In other episodes, the virgins, each covered head-to-toe in a chador, elude and scorn him for his shortcomings, eventually making him wish he were back home. When he finally scores with a virgin, the event is an unpleasant, bloody affair filled with hysteria. Following her deflowering, his first conquest jealously haunts him day and night. Shrieking, but fully clad cat-fights ensue showing Ahmed violence he could never have imagined. In subsequent episodes, money runs out and the virgins force Ahmed to taks a job at a convenience store to support all of them. Ahmed longs for the simplicity of the terrorist training camp and a dry pita.