Just one U.S. Citizen joining those fanatics is one too many. I have the same question. Why?
Did you see in the News that there are less U.S. people joining ISIS ? I was shocked at the number of people who have joined them. Why would they join those fanatics?
Zack gave a good link.
It's the same reason people join gangs, really.
1 - They lack a sense of family or belonging, and the gang fills that need.
2 - They want to hurt people, and the gang allows them to fulfill that "need".
Zack's link is well worth reading. The jihadists are expert at manipulating young minds and, for that matter, not-so-young minds.
You need look no further than this site to see how often we may throw aside reason to espouse a conspiracy theory. Gullible minds are easy to manipulate.
Boredom, excitement, attention, dissing Parental control, macho ego, make a statement, take your pick as why does anyone do anything most don't understand
I'm only guessing. But I feel like we have such a large population, and not everybody can actually "fit in". I live in some of the most diverse places in the United States, and even in those places some groups just don't seem to be able to integrate. I remember in grade school, my Indian schoolmates used to get picked on the most. By all the other races.
Anyway, back to Muslims. Or basically anyone that looks dark brown, looks middle eastern, or wears a turban like the Sikh (not muslims btw). Ever since 9/11, these people have been shunned and persecuted. People on airplanes stare at them suspiciously and they even get kicked off of planes due to "suspicion". There's not that many places they can freely live without fearing prejudice. Probably not Alabama. The kids get picked on. The adults get harassed.
So understand that these kids grow up not feeling part of neither society or American culture. Then all of a sudden, ISIS. The promise of being someone special, someone important, being part of a "brotherhood", acceptance, achievement, and the promise of accomplishment. And there you have it.,