student reading one: searching for reasons.

1. What questions do you have about the reading?

My question is basically the same as the heading. Why exactly do they hate us so much? What did we do to them personally that was so terrible they would feel the need to perform such terrorism on our country?

2. What is President Obama's answer? Brennan's?

President Obama's answer was basically that Al Qaeda is an organization that recruits individuals with no history of terrorism, making them do all the dirty work. And that was the reason why we must get through to them. Brennan's answer concluded that the reasoning behind all these events was because Al Qaeda uses religion in a really corrupt and perverse way.

3. Thomas was clearly dissatisfied with Brennan's answer. Why? Would she have been satisfied with the President's? Why or why not?

Obviously she was dissatisfied because no one was answering her question! Those sorts of people are very familiar with beating around the bush, trying to avoid answering the question and just totally BS-ing it. She wanted an answer and wasn't getting it. She wouldn't have been satisfied with Obama's either because he was doing the same thing! He was telling us things we already knew. Not answering, and just thinking he was giving people what they really wanted to hear.

4. Why does Glenn Greenwald think it's important to consider terrorist motivations? Do you agree? Why or why not?

I happen to totally agree with what Glenn is saying. We Americans are not brave totally when it comes to terrorism. We are not afraid to stand up for our country, and not let them defeat us. Which is absolutely fantastic. But no one is willing to dig deeper. Someone needs to answer this question, to be brave and give everyone answers. Not to be afraid of it being heard around the world.

5. How would you answer Thomas's question, "Why?" Why do Hasan, Abdulmutallab, and others commit such acts? 

I would answer Helen's question totally honest, just because everyone needs to hear it.

Just because we're America, does not mean that we have the right to shove our morals and ways of life down other country's throats. We are not the best, and if another country is happy doing its own thing, good for them. We don't need to interfere just because we assume our thinking is better than theirs. I'm guessing that would irritate a few people. We are also very close-minded. We think our way is the only way and everyone else is wrong. We believe strongly in justice, and are very sensitive about that. We just need to step back, and not help unless asked for it. Maybe things around the world we be a lot better.