by Christine Zibas

Created on: December 02, 2008

Terrorism exists as a tool to be used by those who feel they have no power to bring about change through normal channels. Although today we largely think about the terrorist threats from groups like Al Qaeda, terrorism has existed for centuries, used by groups that are so far outside of society and so desperate to bring about change, they will use any measure available to them. With the advancement of weapons, communication, and transportation, today's terrorists can travel anywhere to conduct their warfare.

In the past, terrorists were those who made up Mao's army to bring about Communism to China, Sandanistas who were once outsiders now run a Central American government, Irish Republican Army members who inflicted casualties on British cilvilians now work alongside the government of Northern Ireland, the French Resistance who secretly battled Hitler were crucial to winning World War II, and even those Americans who battled their British rulers in New England in America's own War for Independence were once considered terrorists.

Terrorists use the tool of fear and intimidation, death and destruction to bring about the political ends they seek. While we focus on the bombing done by Al Qaeda, they focus on bringing about a Middle East free of Western influence, based on the law of Islam. Is terrorism justified? That is another question for another day. This question is why does it exist? It exists because those who use terrorist tactics see it as their only opportunity to achieve the change they desire. They will stop at nothing because they have nothing to lose.

The foot soldiers of terrorism are the uneducated, the disaffected, those who have lost all hope in having a good life. They are willing to sacrifice their own lives for the good of their family, community, and cause. They don't see how to change the world except by violence, largely a product of their ignorance. Or worse, mind-numbing propaganda they are subject to in their communities or schools (like madrassas). While those who run terrorist organizations make the choice to commit evil acts, for the foot soldier, there may be little choice. Indoctrinated to adopt these distorted beliefs, it may be nearly impossible for them to even act in their own best interests (or surely they would not agree to act as suicide bombers).

To stop terrorism, one must offer hope and education. To understand that there exists another way to live, another way to achieve change, and a way to value human life, there must be an alternative. There must be another way to learn, another way to see the world and events that impact potential terrorists' lives. While the West battles the problem of terrorism by doing battle with the leadership of terrorist groups, it must also learn to engage the hearts and minds of potential terrorists at every level of society. Without learning new lessons, the pattern of the past will be doomed to repeat itself.

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