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get revenge for events that happened in the past. Something inside the person says it is time to take a stand. Only instead of improving self-esteem, internal anger builds and releases in a physical form. It could be a bomb from one man, angered by the FBI's interference in a nearby town, or a shooting by a student, tired of school bullying.

Every person, whether experienced firsthand, by family and friends, or through media broadcasts, has been touched by a terrorist attack. Terrorists see great purpose in what they accomplish. They want victims and witnesses to feel saddened as that misery creates satisfaction on the part of the terrorist. Instilling fear in others puts the terrorist in control. In opposition, victims call these events useless - random acts of violence performed simply to kill or otherwise harm innocent people.

To Fulfill Fate

In a Christian view, the world has been doomed since the Fall of Man. When Eve was tempted by the snake, and Adam by Eve, God was angry and administered punishments to not only the first humans, but to all humans afterward. Women would experience painful childbirth and men would toil over caring for the land. The Fall of Man marked the start of sin in the world.

Later, when God commanded Noah to build an ark, He had become disgusted by the corruptness of the world. He planned to send a flood to wipe out all living creatures on the earth, except those whom Noah allowed on board following God's specifications. When the flood waters receded, God made a covenant with Noah, saying, "'Never again will I curse the ground because of man, even though every inclination of his heart is evil from childhood(2).'" All people are sinful by nature, but in some, it develops into more than a cruel thought or single wrong-doing. Although it is not an excuse, terrorists are often considered branches of this fateful existence.

Defining Terrorism

In examining terrorism, we must be careful to not confuse war with terrorist attacks. War is an action carried out by the armed forces of countries or geographic areas as a last resort for resolving difficult situations. Fighting is geared toward military or political parties. Terrorism, on the other hand, is "unlawful use or threatened use of force or violence against people or property to coerce or intimidate governments or societies(3)" and, for that reason, is focused on innocent citizens.

George Bush said, "We do not create terrorism by fighting the terrorists. We invite terrorism by ignoring them." Whatever your stance, whatever your beliefs, terrorism certainly exists and will probably never disappear.

REFERENCES:

(1) English translation from http://quod.lib.umich.edu/k/ko ran/browse.html

(2) New International Version of the Holy Bible (1973), Genesis 8:21

(3) from http://www.globalsecurity.org/ military/library/policy/army/f m/100-20/10020gl.htm

Learn more about this author, Marisa Hefflefinger.
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