by Dr Stiprox

Created on: February 09, 2008

Since times immemorial, terrorism has been the oldest weaponry in the hands of oppressed against his or her oppressor. The oppressed chooses this weapon only when he realizes that justice will remain denied to him. In the language of Law and Order, he is supposed to be a " criminal ". However, in the terminology of a sociologist, he is an anxious person looking for justice and equity.

The powerful wrongdoers, who somehow exercise total control over the state affairs, have so conveniently devised that ordinary people like us hardly differentiate between an act of common crime and terrorism. The states directly or indirectly exercise substantial control over media. Mind in the modern era has become more vulnerable. It is easily influenced by media. We have been made to believe that among all types of violent acts, only ones directed against the state amount to terrorism. It clearly suggests that a crime against an individual, how heinous it may be, doesn't amount to terrorism. A government mobilizes its armored gear, and goes all out to crush the criminals when violence is targeted at the establishment.

The government hardly reckons abduction of an ordinary man an act of terrorism. How an upright person is terrorized is of no consequence to the state machinery. In their estimate it is a common crime. If a president's or a prime minister's son is abducted, it is instantly declared an act of terrorism against the state.

For an act of crime to amount to terrorism it must create an unbearable fear in the mind of the person terrorized. Lets loosely categorize terrorism.

State terrorism: A state considers it a legitimate right to crush terrorists engaged in violent acts against the government. The affected state openly employs its might against them. Such acts of one government are appreciated and supported by other states faced with the similar problem. It is no more a secret that the states too indulge in terrorist activities against its own people who maintain independent views and aspire for freedom of expression. The states do not digest criticism without nurturing grudge against the critics. The writers, poets and the journalists are abducted. They are threatened with terrible consequences in case they did not amend their ways. The adamant amongst them are subjected to physical torture. The mentally tough are exposed to mental torture.

Economic terrorism: The concept of New World Order doesn't promise a world without conflicts. Saturated with numerous ideologies,

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