Protecting youth from false propaganda

As the world has been witnessing rising extremism over the past few decades, little has been done to identify its root cause. It is quite uncertain what stimulates the youth to take up weapons to fight the principles of themselves. The fact is that some youth are falling into the hands of extremism without realising the dangers hiding in the ideology.

Society has evolved to the extreme as belief and religious sentiments are branching out in different directions and taking a new shape. It is quite disappointing that many of those involved or the masterminds behind the gruesome attacks in the recent past were often educated youngsters. The spiritual conspiracy is unknown, yet more and more youth are seen attracted to challenging the traditions of the past.

On the other hand, leadership arrogance has left millions homeless and continuing to struggle for mere survival. All the while the powerful ‘religious’ sentiments of the youth and fundamentalists continue to disturb the peaceful set of family ambience. Religion should be about maintaining a peaceful existence among human beings.

People living in countries like Syria, Iraq, Libya and Afghanistan, will find it takes generations to get back to the lost glory of centuries old. For those who are in the thrust of power, they may regret their actions and thinking that led to heavy casualties and destructions over the past few years. Youth today must realise that poverty, poor education and unemployment might cost them more than anything in their future life. However, the most disgusting fact would be that most of the children born and raised in those countries hit by civilian calamities, will be growing without parental and social guidance and it’s a shame for the current generation to accept this shocking reality.

It’s high time they keep away from the false propaganda labelled with religious sentiments. Instead, we need the youth to embrace a moderate life that carries the values of a true civilised society of the new age.

— The reader is a quality manager based in Muscat, Oman.