The Burden of Opinion

Obviously, the perceptions of the Middle East depend on so many variables it's almost impossible to form an opinion. However, it's safe to say that the hardships over there have drastically increased over the past two decades. I find it tough to understand how innocent people can be merged into a category with lethal killers based on a childish stereotype. When you search Google Images for "Middle East," you get page after page of violent hate-seeking terrorists, and poor helpless refugees. It may be me, but everywhere I look it's one or the other. And the fact that we associate the Middle East primarily with a blood stained battlefield is a little sad. Yes, we're in the middle of a war, but does a war have to be the motivator in learning about a culture?