Fade In:
Ext. OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM IN THE HALLWAY
The kids are outside waiting for the teacher to arrive talking amongst themselves.
Dissolve to:
Int. INSIDE THE CLASSROOM-FIRST DAY OF CLASS
The kids take their seat and the room quiets down as the teacher goes in the front and introduces himself.
Mr. Bush
Good morning class. My name is Mr. Bush and welcome to Origins of Terrorism
Students
Good morning Mr. Bush
Mr. Bush
In this class, we will discover the origins and the political motives of terrorists. We will see their perspectives in accordance to ours.
Pan to:
Student #1
What do you mean by perspective professor?
Mr. Bush
Terrorism has rather narrow definition for us. It has a strong connotation than that. One must remember that terrorism is about perspective. You don’t know it yet but you will.
Student #1
Okay?
The other students look perplexed. The mumble and talk amongst themselves in
Confusion.
Dissolve to:
Some weeks later in the class
Hakim
Voice
(Internal Monologue)
I wonder what will be discussing. I really hope that they do not concentrate on Islamic Radicalisms.
Int. The classroom scene:
Mr. Bush
Today, we will be discussing Islamic radicalism. We shall watch this video about Islamic terrorism around the world and 9/11.
Cut to:
Show the clip of the 9/11 attacks and around the world.
Snap Zoom:
Mr. Bush
Islam is said to be a religion of peace. What do you think perpetuates such behavior?
Student #2:
No offense to the Muslims but Islam is like the kid in the corner of the room. If you leave it alone, it won’t bother you. If you mess with it, it will overreact and cause a lot of trouble.
Student #1:
I never understood why they are committing Jihad. I don’t anything from the Qur’an yet I don’t know the purpose of this.
Mr. Bush:
What about the other terrorist groups? What about the Christian groups that we have discussed?
Student #5:
Yes, there are some extremists in some religion yet it seems that the Islamic fundamentalist does the most?
Student #4:
I beg to differ. Some does just as much. Remember the incident in Israel where this one guy took an AK during a Muslim gathering and killed dozens and injured hundreds more?
Hakim:
Internal Monologue
I wonder why the central discussion of this class has been my religion. I realize that there has been a lot of events revolving around my faith yet it seems that they never discussed the other ones. Our book discusses some yet concentrates more on my religion.
Mr.Bush:
This goes back to the idea of perspective doesn’t it?
Hakim:
Raises his hand
In actuality, there is much more to that. Everyone commits terrorism. America is also susceptible such behavior.
Student #3
Some say that but we merely tried to help the situation. We do not mean to be a burden. In fact we should be the one that feels that way since we are taking it upon ourselves to help.
Hakim:
You may feel that way but the fact is that more civilians have died in the bombings of the US that terrorist killed.
Students:
Murmuring in the background.
[end scene]
Act II
Dissolve to:
Ext. in the square
Hakim is walking from another class. One of the students from the previous class sees him.
Snap to:
Student #2 is walking with another one classmate of Hakim. They want to confront him from the previous class.
Student #2:
Hey Hakim, could you come here for a second
Hakim:
Hey guys, Can I help you with something?
Student #2:
What was that you said during class today?
Hakim:
I merely said what the people already knew.
Student #2:
I beg to differ. How does America not help the other countries in the Middle East? Our People are dying and that is what you say?
Hakim:
You misunderstood me. I mean no offense. What I am merely trying say was that terrorism cuts both ways? It is not only one side. Do you finally understand what Mr. Bush was saying about perspectives?
Student #2:
Understand? All that I need to understand is the fact that we never started this.
Hakim:
If it were only that simple, then I would yield.
Zooms to the face of Student #2
Looks livid. Clenches his fist and knocks Hakim. He falls to the ground and looks at the Student #2 and #3. Panting heavily. Little blood on the side of his mouth
Switch zooms between the face of Student #2 and Hakim
Student #3
Whispers to himself
Life would me much easier without religion.
[end scene]
ACT III
Brighten to show Settings
Ext. OUTSIDE CLASSROOM
Student #8
Approaches Hakim and inquires the small clotting beside his lips. She then touches the wound and inquires:
Hakim, what happened?
Hakim
Nothing, don’t worry about it. I was fooling around with some friends and we got careless.
Student #8
If you say so, then I’ll stop asking. Hey, Mr. Bush is coming let’s go.
Over the door shot:
The kids line-up and enter the room
Int. INSIDE THE CLASSROOM
After watching some more movies, Mr. Bush discusses
Student #2
I find Islam paradoxical since they say they are a religion of peace yet they take part in all of this war, in the Middle East, in the Europe, and in Asia. More than that, It has the potential to incite oppression.
Hakim
I feel that is rather unfair?
Student #4
How so? I don’t follow a particular faith if can be frank but many of today’s extremists come from Islam doesn’t it?
Mr. Bush
Let’s not jump to conclusion here. There are Radicalists in all religion. In Judaism, Shintoism, Hinduism, there are those who want to make this religion superior.
Student #2
Yes, but that was a long time ago….
Hakim
Interrupts the student
What about the what’s happening in India right now? What about the religious oppression of Tibet? There are many more out there too than I care mention.
Mr. Bush
Yes you are right. Let me address those. The one in India is a simple exaggeration of Muslim grievances. A conflict that was started by Muslims and the Hindus retaliated. The China Tibet relations are also different from the India problem. That is the issue of independence than religion.
Does any body want to contribute their ideas?
Student #3
I also agree with Mr. Bush. Tibet and China is a totally different than the other one example
Mr. Bush
It is a stretch I agree.
Hakim
But…
Bell Rings
Mr. Bush
UNFORTUNATELY, that is all the time we have let’s continue next class
The other students look at Hakim and stare for a while. Hakim on the other hand keeps his head low.
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