by Raqi Haas

Created on: January 14, 2009

Before any of us can jump into this topic, and pass our opinion, we have to remember how sensitive and biased (yes, biased) the word 'terrorism' is. It's easy for the outside world to take two sides, pick one and say that's the 'civilized' side trying to 'just protect' themselves, and point fingers at the other side and accuse it for being 'terrorist', following 'terror tactics', and insert 'terror' in one way or other for every description relating to that side. We tend to take the civic values, some sort of vague human code of conduct and morality that is considered a norm in our society and then use that as a measuring stick for people from other races and cultures.

The fact is, it is very hard not to be biased in some way, or pass the wrong judgement. After all we are not there where it is all happening. And what do we have to give us atleast an idea of what is going on? The media? Yes media works upto a certain extent. But once again, it is hard to find unbiased media reports. And anyone who disagree with the fact that all big name media broadcasters are not biased in their own way is ignorant and living in a very deceitful reality, either by choice or by default; similar to the red and blue pill from the Matrix. (Non Matrix fans click here to read what I am talking about).

We always tend to look back into the past, and talk about societies and civilization and compare contemporary times with ancient times. We purr thinking how lucky we are to live in our 'civic', 'advanced', and 'rational' modern times and not those 'barbaric' and 'uncivilized' times. In reality, human beings as a species are still very much the same as they were thousands of years ago, the sole difference being we mask our animality with 'technology' and other 'advances' in various 'fields'. All our major religions have bloody roots, or they are atleast blood-smeared somewhere along in their history. And religions are supposed to be quite literally guides for our lives, to show us how to live life properly. It is barely a coincidence that most terrorism activities are in one way or other related to some sort of religion.

So to the core of the topic now. Can terrorism be justified? For me the answer is, who's side are you on? Who will you sympathize with? Let's look into some seemingly non-terrorist and outright terrorist incidents during contemporary times. Let's start with the liberation and independence of Bangladesh. The people of then East Pakistan thought they were being oppressed,

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