Terror in Europe, or Is It Just a Misunderstanding?

Watching the news nowadays can seem repetitive. Parisian mass shootings two times in the same year. Truck runs over people in Berlin just a few months after Nice. Reviews of the numerous attacks make us realize how much bloodshed there has been at the hands of terrorism within a couple years. They have affected the smallest villages and the federal government; as a result, the anti-immigration, Eurosceptic far-right have seen huge surges in recent elections.

The tension of cultural integration of immigrants has existed for decades in Europe, brought on by decolonization after the Second World War and the breakup of the Warsaw Pact. Yet the misrepresentation of populations by radicalists has provoked a negative, impulsive reaction from citizens. In addition to former colonials and migrant workers from Eastern Europe, many Westerners have also assumed a negative view of the influx of refugees from the Middle East and West Africa, who are sometimes seen as uncomprehending of Western traditions and there to take national resources. These feelings are often driven by fear and uncertainty, as people are suspicious of foreign-looking strangers.

From my personal experience, however, I have also witnessed great leaps taken by caring volunteers, helping refugees get accustomed to life in a new country. My wish is that Americans can see that our problem is bigger than ourselves, collaborating with other countries to solve it. When I was there, the US government cautioned us against certain places, but if we show our fear, it will only consume us.