Isis is the supreme Egyptian goddess that is often associated with good will and knowledge; this is in contrast with the modern terrorist group that shares the same name. The Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) has become an increasingly known group throughout the world.

A splinter faction of the iconic terrorist group, al Qaeda, ISIS has an extensive record of misconducts. That list includes, but is not limited to, kidnapping, murder, and forcing people out of their homes.

The terrorist group has even gone so far as to directly provoke a response from military powerhouses such as the United States and Britain. On August 19th of this year, the group posted a video on YouTube of the decapitation of James Foley, a United States journalist. Similar videos would be released on September 2nd and September 13th, both depicting the murders of captives Steven Sotloff (US) and David Haines (Britain).

In response to these atrocities, the United States carried out an airstrike on September 23. This was directed to Raqqa, Syria where ISIS was allegedly stationed. Since then, the United States has received approval from several nations to spearhead the movement to oppose the group.

Despite the initiative cooperating nations have taken, certain individuals express their incredulity. Army Lt. Gen. William Mayville comments, “In the immediate areas where we have focused our strikes, we’ve had a very temporary effect and we may have blunted some tactical decisions to move in those directions, further east to Irbil.”

The involvement of Western powers in Middle Eastern affairs has sparked not only a conflict with the terrorist group, but also with the natives of the Middle East and the citizens of the Western powers.

Of course there are two sides to each group. In recent pictures released by the Saudi Government, Prince Khaled bin Salman has been shown in the cockpit of a Tornado jet allegedly returned from partaking in bombings against ISIS. This sort of publicity is in correlation with the idea that Middle Eastern nations like Saudi Arabia do not and will not support the group that is ISIS.

On the other hand, some U.S. citizens have shown an averse attitude towards the development of the U.S. involvement in the Middle East. Some claim that it contradicts the policies Obama established. Involving the United States in a conflict that is not domestic, certain critics claim is counterintuitive to its growth and well-being.

The sudden prevalence of the group and their viral status is due to their recent radical actions. However, their newfound fame is not without some credit to the severity of danger that they represent. Even President Obama has admitted to having underestimated the group, “…they were able to reconstitute themselves and take advantage of that chaos.”

ISIS represents not only a terrorist group that endangers the lives of innocents, but also a revival of cultural injustice. Besides taking lives, the group has thrust upon the Middle Eastern community, an identity that it has worked to get rid of for years.

Isis, a true threat, can only be matched by the cooperation of the collective good will of people.