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Undoubtedly, Muslim extremism has damaged tourism and it perhaps will never recover. People used to travel to many more places in the Far and Middle East than they do now but many places, from Israel, Jordan, Egypt, Kenya, Iran, Iraq,Kuwait are all targets for extremists.

It is a terrible shame because Islam cannot truly teach that it is right to create lands where others cannot go or are in danger if they do. I always understood that the teaching of Islam were gentleness, obedience and harmony. I have never met a true believer who I believe would harm me or my children, yet I would avoid certain parts of the world for fear of extremism.

We must remember that extremism is not confined to Muslims- there are extremist of all kinds, including Americans but the question here was has Muslim extremism damaged world tourism and the reply has to be that, like any kind of extremism, yes it has.

Even a visit to London is under marked by a slight ripple of fear as trains, buses and tube trains have been targets in the past with bombs being left at termini and suicide bombers blowing themselves up on buses and tubes.

Why, I do not really understand. I can understand wanting to spread their faith but surely gentle, kind acts would do this far better and really spread faith and what it is about. Most religions have at their heart, a desire to do good, spread their faith and love each other but extremism in any form makes people think all followers of that religion believe the same thing. The fact is that extremists are largely vulnerable, brain washed people who genuinely believe they are doing what is right for their faith. If they only stopped and thought with their own hearts for a moment.

Christians have been guilty in the past (Crusades) of trying to do the same thing but it is the loving acts which actually say more about a religion than extremism.

Some of the most beautiful places on earth are now no go due to the fear of extremist acts. Iraq was once lush, the Garden of Eden was supposed to have been in the area and the Hanging Gardens of Bablyon were in the East. The Pyramids have been targeted with bombs at Luxor and even Thailand has been the victim of extremism.

Attributing every extremist act to Muslims is wrong as other groups may be jumping on the band wagon but it would be nice to feel we could travel, learn of other faiths and above all, learn to love each other and share this wonderful planet of ours.

Learn more about this author, Sammy Stein.
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