3 of 38

Write now Article Tools

Terrorism is one of the most commonly misunderstood methods of political activism. That sounds odd to hear I'm sure. Activism? Really? But it is, if you take the term not quite literally. In the end, the point of terrorism is to bring about change, generally political in nature. Terrorism is simply a method used to accomplish that end. The true question, when deciding responsibility for terrorism, is whether its the group causing the conditions that terrorists are trying to change, or the terrorists themselves for choosing such barbarous tactics.

There is no question than in many countries where terrorism is a part of daily life, you have people truly living at the brink of endurance. Palestine, Sri Lanka, Kenya, Somolia, these are not places most people would take a vacation to, nor live in, and its not difficult to see why. Many of these places are rife with corruption, social injustice, prejudice and some sort of persecution of a minority. This is not to pass judgement on the governments of those areas, but it is a fact that these locations, and many others that it would take too long to name, are subject to terrorism in part because of the conditions in which people live. It has been positted that terrorism is nothing more than a response to having no other possible recourse. While a look at some of the locations it exists might make this seem to be true, intellectual honesty demands we reject such apologism.

Terrorism is a choice. It is a set of tactics and a way of thinking that a person needs to consciously decide to employ. In order to be an effective terrorist you need to turn your concious thoughts to inflicting harm on innocents in ways that are not only violent, but eye-catching. You need to become a conductor of a macabre orchestra of despair. You must think and ponder how best to kill small children and helpless women so as to shock and appaul all who even hear of such an attack. Yes, the conditions that drive some people to terrorism is terrible, but you cannot escape the fact that despite how horrible conditions are, millions of people live in them and do no respond by blowing up the local discoteque.

Terrorism is the fault of the terrorists, nothing more. Perhaps they have legitimate grievances. Perhaps the social problems of thier lives are truly so terrible that no other alternative seems viable. That excuses nothing. They choose, instead of trying to make the world better, to add even greater suffering to people already barely surviving. Such a choice in one of an animal, and a coward.

Learn more about this author, Bryan Jennings.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

Add your voice

Know something about Deciding who's responsible for terrorism?
We want to hear your view. Write now!