Islam

We all belong to our own discourse communities: a community in which we share

common goals and interests. Each distinct community enforces its own set of rules and
guidelines about how to conduct ones self in society. Discourse communities can range
from the group of friends you play basketball with to the religion that you practice. One
of the most prominent discourse communities since the dawn of humanity has been the
religion of Islam. However in recent history, a new sect of Islam known as Radical Islam
has taken control of a significant fraction of the worlds population. Despite the
negative connotation that Radical Islamists portray, not all who practice Islam are
members of this extremist discourse community.
Radical Islamists have been negatively portrayed through the media in recent
years notwithstanding the positive values that they extol. Similar to regular Islam, this
extremist discourse community believes in the five pillars of Islam: Shahadah, Salat,
Zakatm, Sawm, and Hajj. Shahadah is declaring there is no god except God and
recognizing Muhammad is Gods messenger ("The Five Pillars Of Islam."). Salat is a
ritual prayer performed five times a day always facing Makkah("The Five Pillars Of
Islam."). Zakat is philanthropy, giving 2.5% of ones savings to people in need ("The
Five Pillars Of Islam."). Sawm is the act of fasting from sun up to sun down during the
month of Ramadan ("The Five Pillars Of Islam."). And a Hajj is a holy pilgrimage to
Makkah at least once in a lifetime ("The Five Pillars Of Islam.")Word did not find any
entries for your table of contents.. Both Muslims and Radical Muslims believe in these

5 principles, along with the other two teachings of Muhammad and the Quran, but
Radical Muslims believe that everyone should practice their religion, and anyone who
does not, will be executed. This is according to a training manual produced by the
Radical Islam group al Qaeda:
[An] Islamic government would never be established except by the bomb
and rifle. Islam does not coincide or make a truce with unbelief, but rather
confronts it. The confrontation that Islam calls for with these godless and
apostate regimes, does not know Socratic debates, Platonic ideals nor
Aristotelian diplomacy. But it knows the dialogue of bullets, the ideals of
assassination, bombing, and destruction, and the diplomacy of the cannon
and machine-gun. The young came to prepare themselves for Jihad [holy
war], commanded by the majestic Allahs order in the holy Koran.
("Radical Islam.")
This quote exemplifies the motives of those that belong to this discourse
community. The first line states that government can only be established by brute
force and continues to say that it does not accept non-believers. It also says that
confrontation does not involve democratic methods, debating or compromising,
but only death, destruction and violence. Scholar of Middle Eastern Affairs,
Martin Kramer further described the true motives of those that practice this
religion by stating, Islam must have power in this world. It is the true religion
the religion of Godand its truth is manifest in its power ("Radical Islam.").
As this discourse community continues to grow in infamy, the
increasing use of media and agitprop, agitation and propaganda for the cause
of communism, has strengthened ideology of Radical Islamists.

("Slay Americans.")
In this example of agitprop, the Radical Islamists use numerous rhetorical
techniques to evoke emotion out of the viewer. The first noticeable object is the
darkness that the Radical Islamist portrays much like that of the grim reaper. The
whole act that is demonstrated by this poster shows superiority and power that this
group is attempting to illustrate to the public. The most prominent rhetorical
aspects are the typeface of lettering used and also the choice of vocabulary. The
lettering is very rugged and messy like the act of killing. Along with this messy
lettering, the choice of using the verb SLAY says a lot. Slaying is often
associated with animals. Pigs are slayed. Cows are slayed. The choice of using
this messy and dark work belittles Americans as a whole, comparing us to animals.
This poster can be looked upon by two completely different viewpoints, one being
empowering and the other being terrifying. Through the eyes of Radical Islamists,

this depiction is a call to action and a prime example of their aggravated dislike of
western civilization. On the other hand, from the Americans point of view, this is
a threat to our country as a whole and a shocking realization.
Despite all of the aspects of this community that are commonly unpopular,
Radical Islamists practice a few acts that in other places are viewed as admirable.
One positive aspect of this community is that they are strong in their beliefs, and
hold steadfast in their faith. The members of this discourse community are unwavered by outside opinion and stand behind their beliefs especially those
opinions from the western world. The beliefs that the members of this
community hold to be true are so strong that they are willing to sacrifice their own
lives and even the lives of other close family members for the greater good of
the religion. There are very few other discourse communities that hold selfsacrifice so high in their beliefs, the others mostly being affiliated with a military
of some sort. The last positive aspect of this discourse community is the
camaraderie that the members share. Even those that have no family ties with each
other, immediately have a sense of brotherhood because of the shared beliefs.
In reality, Radical Islam makes up a small portion of he religion that is
Islam. Very few members of the Muslim discourse community are also a part
of the Radical Islam discourse community. However, the majority of the world
merges the two into one radical group. After the tragic events of 9/11 that
were perpetrated by a radical Muslim group known as al Qaeda,

generalizations and racial stereotypes began to arise. Radical Islam has

transformed peoples perception of Islam and has turned it into a religion of
violence, which, in reality, is not the case. This rise is Radical Islam has caused
an exponential rise in the misconstruction of Islam.

**Disclaimer: Patrick Ryan Kane & Joseph Seabrook Bailey do not in any way shape
or form support the actions of ISIS or any other radical Islam affiliates. **

Islam
Patrick Kane
&
Joseph Bailey
Collaborative Writing
Mr. Frank
English 1030-22
September 17, 2014

Works Cited
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Sept. 2014. <http://www.cnn.com/2014/08/08/world/isis-fast-facts/>.

"Slay Americans." Cristy Li. 25 Aug. 2014. Web. 18 Sept. 2014.

<http://www.cristyli.com/?p=24282>.

"Discourse Community Definition." Discourse Community Definition. Web. 18 Sept.

2014. <http://shrike.depaul.edu/~jwhite7/discoursecommunitydef.htm>.

"Radical Islam." Discover the Networks. Web. 18 Sept. 2014.

<http://www.discoverthenetworks.org/guideDesc.asp?catid=107&type=issue>.
"The Five Pillars Of Islam." The Five Pillars Of Islam. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Sept. 2014.
Musri, Imam. "ISIS Beheadings of Journalists Are Nothing Short of Barbaric." The
Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 3 Sept. 2014. Web. 18 Sept. 2014.
<http://www.huffingtonpost.com/imam-muhammad-musri/isis-beheadings-ofjourna_b_5755812.html>.
Friedman, Thomas. "Take a Deep Breath." The New York Times. The New York Times,
16 Sept. 2014. Web. 18 Sept. 2014.
<http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/17/opinion/thomas-friedman-isis-and-thearab-world.html>.