by Pileated

Created on: May 02, 2008

Almost anyone who watches the news is shocked and horrified by the seemingly senseless acts of brutality and violence occurring around the world. We call these acts "terrorism" and are repulsed. Those who perpetrate these acts are labeled "terrorists" and their acts considered illegal, immoral, unethical, and cowardly. Few could view the sight of dead innocent civilians and conclude otherwise. But is it that simple? Is it simply that some societies have lost all sense of respect for human life. I don't think the answer is that easy.

Terrorism is not new nor are the causes necessarily evil. Examples of terrorism exist throughout history. The work zealot comes from Jewish terrorist of the Roman Empire. Many would be surprised to learn that some of the early colonists prior to the American Revolution were, by definition, terrorists. The "Sons of liberty" was organized across the colonies to oppose new taxes without representation. Under the liberty banner, colonists conducted acts of violence, ranging from minor agitations such as tar and feathering to extreme acts of violence such as hanging. Today, we call these early Americans "patriots", but in 1773, the British had a much different perspective.

So what is terrorism? There are many definitions. In a March 17, 2005 report to the United Nations, terrorism was defined as "any action intended to cause death or serious bodily harm to civilians or non-combatants with the purpose of intimidating a population or compelling a government or an international organization to do or abstain from doing any act". Terrorism is not about achieving a military victory but rather influencing political, religious, or social change. Key components of terrorism are violence and resistance to the current status. Its desired outcome is fear and intimidation.

There are many reasons that terrorism exists. Nazi terrorism emerged out of restrictions placed on Germany after World War I and the economic hardships of the 1930s. Terrorism was also the tactic utilized by the French to bring down the monarchy and black Africans to end apartheid. It appears from these examples that a primary cause of terrorism is a lack of political or social influence and a sense of oppression.

Understanding the roots of terrorism does not condone it. But understanding some of the root causes may help to develop effective actions to reduce it. Prior to the American Revolution, most colonists really did not want independence from England; they wanted a voice in issues such as taxation and exportation. Many have speculated that, had the English taken an approach of inclusiveness towards the colonists, the American Revolution never would have occurred. It was only after many colonists lost hope of fair representation in English parliament that the seeds of independence sprouted.

Take a good look at the countries where terrorism is occurring today. Most have experienced some form of oppression in the recent past. The challenge in overcoming terrorism rest, in part, in our commitment to and defense of basic civil liberties such as freedom of speech, religion, and lifestyle.

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