How Not to Become a Terrorist

[BasketCase]

Sometimes life is a bit like a metal detector. At complete random you suddenly find a diamond ring in the sand. I wasn't looking for anything about terrorists today--I was hunting for some JPG's of soldiers to use in a little Photoshopping project I'm in the middle of. And out of the blue I find a little nugget of insight into how people can turn into terrorists.

Everyone should at least see one of those videos to be aware of what's going on in Iraq. The reason nothing was done for so long is because people are so clueless about what's happening in Iraq. And how could we? We have never been in a situation of war, we don't understand the stress of hearing gunshots when we try to sleep, when we try to rest, we don't know what it's like to fear the near bombings around us. And most of all, most of the people out there don't know ANYTHING about the opposing party! The videos about the Iraqi kids being repeatedly beaten with what is at best large sticks makes ME want to become a terrorist! How can this possibly make anyone ( the gov't, the soldiers, or civilization) believe that this stupid invasion is going to bring about something good in the end? I don't think the soldiers should be to blame either, they didn't chose to be in Iraq and be messed up by the rage of war. All I can say is, you reap what you sow. If there is another attack on this country, don't act so surprised...

It's just some random post on YouTube or MediaShift or some site like that. The important bit is boldfaced, but I figured it best to post the whole thing for the sake of context. For all I know, it may not even be genuine--perhaps just somebody venting his anger using badly-chosen words, or somebody deliberately tempting the CIA to try and arrest his ass ("see what I typed, and they didn't arrest me!! HA HA!!!"), or someone's little sister hacking their account and doing prank-posts, or who knows what.

But it demonstrates pretty clearly the kind of trap one can fall into on the way to becoming a suicide bomber. If this guy's words can be believed, he's so angry about innocent kids getting beat up and shot that he's willing to beat up and shoot other innocent kids. That kind of screwed-up thinking is a sure sign that somebody's transmission has slipped a gear.

And, it's the basis behind one of my most basic personal tenets: terrorism cannot be justified. Period. That's one of the very few times you'll ever catch me making a blanket statement......


I was going to write something about how one should make sure not to lose sight of the things they truly hold dear, but--bah, what the hell, I already did. But then, nobody in here is at all likely to actually turn into a terrorist, so there was no need.

 

[El_Machinae]

The writer could also be defining 'terrorist' differently than you are. There have been hosts of people playing loosely with that word these days.

 

[Stylesjl]

Terrorism is a practice resorted to by very angry and desperate people. One has to analyse what can drive people to that position. Mind you, I hate terrorists so they can die for all I care, but it doesn't hurt to stop or slow the production process

 

[punkbass2000]

The writer could also be defining 'terrorist' differently than you are. There have been hosts of people playing loosely with that word these days.

Indeed. This conclusion seems a bit of a stretch:

If this guy's words can be believed, he's so angry about innocent kids getting beat up and shot that he's willing to beat up and shoot other innocent kids.

 

[ParkCungHee]

He also seems to be speaking for effect, rather then literally.

 

[silver 2039]

My friend met a terrorist. He lives in London and he was riding the bus and someone sat next to him and they started talking to each other about stuff like the US and the war in Iraq and stuff. And i dunno the details but the guy gave my friend some contsct info and said 'call here if u want to jon us or somethin' and the next day the london bomb thing happened and it was the same guy my friend spoke to...

I dunno the details but its somthing like that i'll ask him about it.

 

[Tee Kay]

Terrorism is the use of terror to achieve an objective. But, terrorism does not necessary have to be against civilian targets.

 

[plarq]

My friend met a terrorist. He lives in London and he was riding the bus and someone sat next to him and they started talking to each other about stuff like the US and the war in Iraq and stuff. And i dunno the details but the guy gave my friend some contsct info and said 'call here if u want to jon us or somethin' and the next day the london bomb thing happened and it was the same guy my friend spoke to...

I dunno the details but its somthing like that i'll ask him about it.

These filthy terrorists should be disqualified. They spilled out the beans!

 

[Shylock]

It's simple, I should know. I'm frequently not a terrorist.

 

[silver 2039]

These filthy terrorists should be disqualified. They spilled out the beans!

heh they proabaly thought my friend was Muslim or something.

 

[plarq]

heh they proabaly thought my friend was Muslim or something.

They trust some stranger who looks like a Muslim? Too gullible and naive!

At least they should find someone in some mosque, who is murmuring anti-US things, and try to probe his leaning and sympathy towards terrorism.

 

[Yoda Power]

Ofcause terrorism have a logical reason. Although becomming a terroist may be a choice, a lot of people are put in a position where it might seem as the best thing to do.

Suppresion.
Discrimination.
Poverty.
Indoctrination.

That's basicly what creates terrorists. The war on terror should focus much more on this stuff than just invading countries.

 

[plarq]

Ofcause terrorism have a logical reason. Although becomming a terroist may be a choice, a lot of people are put in a position where it might seem as the best thing to do.

Suppresion.
Discrimination.
Poverty.
Indoctrination.

That's basicly what creates terrorists. The war on terror should focus much more on this stuff than just invading countries.

Suppression: Why should you fight against third-party country when you're exploited by local authority? Iraqi insurgency excluded.

Discrimination: Same as above.

Poverty: One viable reason, however, why not feed your stomach instead of buying high explosive?

Indoctrination: My choice of being a terrorist. If I'm brain-washed, I would blood-wash others.

 

[Tee Kay]

heh they proabaly thought my friend was Muslim or something.

This shows that they're amataurs. So governments should be able to stop the threat easily. They did not. Why?

 

[Yoda Power]

Suppression: Why should you fight against third-party country when you're exploited by local authority? Iraqi insurgency excluded.

Discrimination: Same as above.

Poverty: One viable reason, however, why not feed your stomach instead of buying high explosive?

Indoctrination: My choice of being a terrorist. If I'm brain-washed, I would blood-wash others.

I'm not sure I get your first point, sorry.

Being poor has more to it than just a lack of food.

Indoctrination deifently plays a large role, but it's actually not a reason stand alone. We have to find out what leads people into indoctrination, and then fight that. Remove the cause.

 

[plarq]

I'm not sure I get your first point, sorry.

Being poor has more to it than just a lack of food.

Indoctrination deifently plays a large role, but it's actually not a reason stand alone. We have to find out what leads people into indoctrination, and then fight that. Remove the cause.

First point: If I'm oppressed in my country, I wouldn't go a long way to another country and suicidal bomb them. Those Saudi terrorists are not living in the host country for too long.
Discrimination=Suppression, only weaker.

 

[Yoda Power]

First point: If I'm oppressed in my country, I wouldn't go a long way to another country and suicidal bomb them. Those Saudi terrorists are not living in the host country for too long.
Discrimination=Suppression, only weaker.

Weren't the London bombers actually living in the UK ofr most of their life?

 

[Brighteye]

Although the people here may see the fallacy in killing other innocents because your innocents have suffered, the mindset of a terrorist is much more a 'them and us' type. All Americans, be they civilians or soldiers, are one great target, since they are America.
It's the same process of thought that makes people think that nations or companies can be culpable for the slave trade, and should apologise now and pay reparations. It's forgetting that people are all individuals and responsible for their own actions, and only their own actions, and it happens in our countries too.
We can lament that such a simple thing causes such terrible consequences, but if we can't even agree amongst ourselves about the principle, it's understandable that others pick the wrong opinion too.

 

[Swedishguy]

So now we all know How Not To Become a Terrorist. Or do we?