What a world we live in. Terrorism has been around for a very long time, but it’s really popular now. A war on terror may on it’s face seem like the thing to do. After all terror is …terrible. All good people want to live in a world free from the horrors that terrorism rains upon innocent people. We all were mortified by the nightmare of 9-11, the bombing of the Federal building in Oklahoma, car bombs in the Middle East. All of us hate terrorism and it’s affects…at least all of us decent people. However a “war on terrorism” is a dumb idea.
Before you get upset with me, let me explain. (I hope I don’t go too far over my head) Terrorism is a tactic. Basically it involves violence against innocent people with a desire to bring about some some political, religious, or philosophical net result. Terrorists are by definition unbalanced. They are most certainly not impressed with our war on terror…especially the ones who blow themselves up with their victims. Terrorists are filled with hate, and hate is a very powerful and infectious force. I am inclined to believe that we cannot kill enough of ‘them‘ to make them stop hating us.
Once again…we cannot kill enough terrorists to make them stop hating us. Think about gang violence…the ‘Crips’ kill some ‘Bloods’ and the ‘Bloods’ are gonna get even. You kill one of ours we kill two of yours. So now the ‘Crips’ have to “re-get even” and the cycle NEVER STOPS!!!!!!! Every single time we kill a terrorist we reaffirm their reason for hating us. More young men sign up for the cause because the bomb we dropped killed somebody’s mama…so now they REALLY have to get even. As long as we’re in the cycle the cycle will never ever end.
Now…before you call me a crazy pacifist wimp, I do not believe that we can just sit back and allow ourselves to be brutalized. However for this horrible merry-go-round to stop someone has to get off, and put on the brakes. This is what I believe…the terrorists aren’t evil just for it’s own sake. I really don’t think that they care that much about Americans wearing Nikes and eating at McDonald’s. I think they perpetrate the evil of terrorism because they don’t know what else to do. They want something and they don’t know how to go about getting it. In and of itself these terrorists get no thrill from killing us and themselves…at least I don’t think so. They want something…and you know what? I think that what they really really really want is real close to what I want and what you want.
You want to end terrorism Mr. President? Find out what they really want. Step outside preconceptions and justifiable rage at their violence and find out what they want. If we can find a way to help them to see how they can get it (God knows terrorism hasn’t worked) maybe we can spend some of that Iraq and Afghanistan money on a proper economic recovery plan…ya know what I’m sayin??
Stay Fly and Fly High!
KLH
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