With all that’s going on in the world today, it’s easy to be overwhelmed by the overflow of shocking news headlines. ISIS has been an all-too-common subject in the past few months, and their Middle Eastern destruction can be hard to comprehend. As a teenager in high school, it can also be hard to understand why anyone should care. Here are six reasons why.

1. They Are a Threat That Continues to Grow – Sure, they might be in the Middle East now, but that doesn’t mean we’re safe an ocean away. ISIS has been recruiting through social media platforms since day one. If you think we can keep a terrorist group an arm’s length away, you’re in for a reality check.
2. They Are a Threat to Our Bill of Rights – That’s right. Under Islam’s Sharia law, you can forget about every right you’ve ever been given as an American. Sharia law deals with every aspect of day-to-day life, including meals, prayers, and finances. It is a way of government for several Middle Eastern countries.
3. They Are a Threat to Women – Feminists, unite. Islam is outspokenly misogynistic. Women must wear veils and be chaperoned in public, and they cannot drive cars or testify against a man in a court of law. These are just a few examples; rest assured, it gets worse.
4. They Are a Threat to the Free World – ISIS will not be satisfied until they have taken over everything. They do not care about borders. The plan is to establish a Muslim caliphate that literally envelopes the world.
5. They Are a Threat to History – Every time a city has been taken over, the historical artifacts within have been destroyed. Thousand-year-old and other ancient religious sites have been leveled without a second thought. ISIS wants only their history.
6. They Are a Threat to Humanity – I know, this one’s a bit vague, but here’s what you should know. ISIS have taken their so-called “credit” for the beheadings of more than one hundred Christians. These graphic deaths have been video-taped and posted on social media as a means of recruitment.

The blatant, ongoing horror in the Middle East is enough to make anyone feel hopeless. It’s easy to ignore the news of more bombings and more threats to American security because we are so removed from it. We can turn off the TV, ignore the Twitter feed, and stay in our little bubble of protected social media. But as soon as we realize ISIS will continue to be a threat, we can arm ourselves with the greatest defense: knowledge.

Do yourself a favor and stay informed.