My Trip to Al-Qaeda

The documentary "My Trip to Al-Qaeda" was 'alright' despite being severely propagated; moreover, I think objective journalists in general would take issue with Wright's criticism of Saudi culture. While everyone is entitled to their opinion, likening the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to a "hypnotized chicken" is just as arrogant of a comment as the Hamas "death to The West" crowd, or The fascist Iranian president's views on Israel.

Mutual respect is that which bridges gaps between cultures, religions, etc. We as Americans have our own cultural irregularities that the rest of the world doesn't exactly agree with. As level-headed and rational I find Mr. Wright to be, I must disagree with his approach and overall condescending attitude towards Saudi culture in this documentary.

Government tolerance is really a subjective thing. Our forefathers wouldn't tolerate taxation without representation, and found it befitting to start a war over it. Today, the federal and state governments bully us out of roughly 28% of our paychecks in income taxes; highway tolls, and other illegal means, without any opposition. If you're rich enough, hire a good lawyer; if not, you're legally forced, much like situations elsewhere in the world, including Saudi.

Saudi women cover to prevent getting raped/uphold their religion. We in the US get fined "for our own safety" for just about everything. No seat belt: fined! Forgot your wallet at home -- triple fined (despite today's technology which allows law enforcement to pull up where you took your last dump)! Your tail-light/license plate light is out? That's okay if there's no way that you can tell without someone telling you -- you're getting fined anyway. What happens if you don't pay the fine for a traffic violation? You get thrown in Prison, like a violent criminal. What happens when you don't pay taxes? Prison. What happens if you don't have health-care and need dental work, organ transplant, etc. One of a few things: you either pay the piper, live with the pain, die in agony eventually, or go to prison for medical attention. What happens when you lose your job and home? You go to the shelter? I guess it works for some; however, there are many others who prefer steady meals in Prison over Homeless Shelters.

Is the US then to be classified as God's Hell on Earth? No. Why not? Using Mr. Wright's own words: "Humiliation is a choice." If you don't like your situation, leave, humiliate yourself by staying, or say thank God for everything as-is and live life with hope and a positive outlook. As the saying goes: "God grant me the power to accept that which I cannot change."

This documentary is nothing but full of lies. Some of the stuff is totally unbelievable. I taught in Middle east as well but people there are no where near bad or the way he mentioned. We have Madrisa's in UK as well and where students go and study Islam. And they are as normal as anyone else... I am sorry to say but Lawrence Wright's got it all twisted and it seems like he is assuming stuff and working on some Propaganda.

Information is totally false and biased, its really shame that this guy taught and lived in middle east for so long and still could not understand real Islam and people of Islam.

I can't call this film "riveting" or "eye-opening". It is low-tone and most of its information is hardly surprising to me. But I am more interested in politics than most other people. However, don't listen to the extremists form both sides when they accuse this documentary of "lies". Yes, if you are a Koran-burner or a Bin Laden fan, the facts in this film will make you mad and you will want to burn some more Korans or more American/Israeli flags or Danish cartoonists or KFC outlets, but normal people will recognize that this film is truthful.

I checked main facts from this documentary against other sources, and all of them were confirmed. This film correctly explains the jihadist mindset of the Islamic extremists and the feeling of "humiliation" that many in the Islamic world feel towards the more economically, socially, and technologically successful western countries; and equally correctly explains why Americans should never allow our leaders to abandon our democratic values under the pretext of "fighting terror". This film explains why its not only immoral but also bad policy to keep invading foreign countries, to torture prisoners, to suspend civil liberties etc, as this only feeds the resentment in the Islamic world. After this film one gets a desire to join the Libertarian Party.

Great documentary, encourage everyone to watch it to open a dialog with all.

Watching this i don't know who frustrates me more.... the radicals or the radicals.... (think about that statement, i mean both the American and the middle eastern radicals).

All i do know is people are dying needlessly, but i don't have any answers (apart from slicing the nuts off the guy who maimed the bear - i'd be first to line up).

I think we are all at fault, how can we reset the clock is my question.

I read the other comment here and wanted to suggest to anyone reading these comments check out the movie for yourself and make up your own mind.

I think that all education is good for you, but it's up to you as to how you use it.

Very well made documentary well structured on the motive and evolution of terrorism.It gives a number of interesting reasons and explanation of the world and the history and the social problems that produced the individuals that participate in such organizations.It almost gives a real and human aspect to them.The idea of how a human being is transformed into becoming such a type of murderer.

Although it must be said that it leaves out a very important aspect.The responsibility of the Western countries on the creation of the circumstances leading to the rise and influence of terrorist organizations.Granted of course that the subject of the movie is not centered on that aspect, so it is quite understandable that it is not analyzed that much.One though has to explore Western intervention, alongside the events depicted in this movie, to have a more complete picture on the subject.

Lastly I don't really see why some see this as giving a bad name about Islam...It just analyzes the motive of RADICAL Islamists.It never even crossed my mind that this movie attacks Islam, before i actually saw someone commenting on it.And I still think it is not.It comments on RADICAL movements and I don't really think anyone in the right mind can really confuse typical Muslims with the radical sects of Islam that are depicted here.Unless of course he is a complete idiot....