Salem High School
Salem, MO

Teacher: Mr. Hendricks

Jacob Heithold

What’s terrorism? Can it be stopped? Are we guilty of terrorism? Many problems have been laid before us, in this, the time of war on an unseen evil that wants to destroy the very foundation that we were built upon. In this essay I hope that I can answer these questions and bring some understanding of our current situation.

We can start by first defining the word terrorism. The dictionary says that terrorism is "the unlawful use or threatened use of force or violence by a person or an organized group against people or property with the intention of intimidating or coercing societies or governments, often for ideological or political reasons". This is partly true of the people that we are calling terrorist. They use violence and force to get what they want, which is to get rid of us. What they don’t do is make any demands such as for money, land, or freedom. They just want us swept off the earth so they don’t have to worry about being tempted by our so- called evil ways.

We can look at it from a different angle to maybe better understand. The word terrorism comes from the base word terror which means intense overpowering fear. By looking at photos and videos of the World Trade Center attacks, we can see the faces of the people as the fled from the falling debris, the look of anxiety as husbands tried calling home to their families, and the many other instances let us easily see that terrorism definitely occurred.

Now we look for a way to prevent such vile acts, but is there? We have tightened our airport security, beefed up our home land defense, and imposed tougher regulations on many other areas that we might be at risk from. Even with all these new securities we are still vulnerable to attacks from outside the country and even in our country. In 1996 the U.S. was shocked by the bombing of a federal office building in Oklahoma by an American citizen. We have little in the way of protecting ourselves from the people that live within the country, so how are we suppose to be protected against the suicidal terrorist that has waged a holy war on us. First, we all have to be alert to the reality that we may also become victims. Finally, we need to be willing to change and accept our new responsibilities without hesitance. We’ll never completely shut down terrorism.  There will be jealousies towards us for as long as we are the wealthiest and most powerful nation in the world, but hopefully will be able to eliminate the attacks on American soil.

The final question is one that not many people agree on or like to talk about. Have we committed terroristic acts before? To answer this we need to look back through history. There were the World Wars. Lets look at the word war and see what it implies. It’s defined as a state of open, armed, often prolonged conflict carried on between nations, states, or parties. The word open is the key. We bombed and killed many people in order to succeed, but these people knew they were in danger of attack because they were supporting the governments that were our enemies. Terrorism is done in secret. The other side doesn’t expect anything, not like in a war. There was the Vietnam conflict that many have considered to be a war, but there was never a declaration of war by congress. It was a supposed police action that Lyndon Johnson implemented, but again the opposing side knew and could expect the danger.

We can look at many of the other wars in the same way so lets move away from them. The Bay of Pigs would probably be the closest thing to terrorism that we’ve done. We supported men to go into Cuba and overthrow Fidel Castro, but it was stopped by the massacre of the men by the Cuban government as they were landing on the shore. This could be considered terrorism or it could be considered as the beginning of a revolution that was shot down because the men that were killed were actually native Cubans wanting reform in their government.

Though out history the U.S. has supported citizens and groups from a multitude of countries that wanted to reform their own government into a free democracy like that of the United States.  Some may feel that this is terrorism, but would a terrorist help people to better themselves or help to bring peace?  No, they wouldn’t but the U.S. is constantly helping people to be able to live a better life.

            The U.S. has probably done some things in response to the attacks that some people of the world might consider as fighting terrorism with terrorism, but terrorism isn’t a defensive action.  It’s an offensive action, and the U.S. is using these measures to help protect ourselves and the other countries that the terrorists might be targeting.   Also through these different tactics we are sending the signal the United States of America will not be terrorized, and if it does happen there will be grave consequences for the people that do. 

            We can argue back and forth whether the U.S. has committed terroristic acts or not, but the truth is that the U.S. doesn’t train suicidal extremist to carry out their personal vendetta like Osama has.  If the U.S. has a problem with you, your going to know it long before any attacks happen.  There will be discussions and attempts at resolving the matter in a peaceful way long before any consideration of war or organized attacks.

            In this essay I’ve done what I can to define terrorism by looking at it in different ways.  The topic of how we can prevent and stop the terrorism was addressed.  Finally, I did my best to show that the United States of America doesn’t terrorize.  The people that fall victim are aware of the danger and won’t agree on the matter in a peaceful way. 

Questions

0Q1- Why, in your opinion, was the United States attacked?
I feel that the U.S. was attacked because of the different jealousies that  poorer countries hold toward us. They feel that we are undeserving of our wealth and prosperity, and consider our Christian religion to be in fearer.

Q2- Why is the first question so important to resolve and agree upon?
The question is important to resolve and agree upon because everyone would have the same view and each side would know who was in the wrong. To agree on this though is probably impossible, for each side feels that they are in the right. 

Q3- What action or inaction by the United States and its allies, in the author's opinion, increased the likelihood of chemical and biological attacks?
The U.S. and the United Nations have quit demanding that Saddam's laboratories be screened for the production of biological and chemical weapons. 

Q4- Why does the author believe the United States is a popular target for terrorists?
The Muslim people feel that we are devils and we should be punished for showing off our wealth.

Q5- What motivates terrorists, in the author's opinion?
They feel that by killing the Americans they are doing Allah's work, so they think they will be rewarded in the after life. 

Q6- What reasons does the author give for the intense hatred of the United States by people like Osama bin Ladn?
They follow Allah, but live in a poor country in bad conditions. We don't follow Allah and we live in the most prosperous nation in the world. Their response is that we are devils here on earth displaying our great wealth, so they want us destroyed. 

Q7- How does rule by divine right preclude the reasoned debate that occurs naturally in a democracy?
There is no debate in a divine right state. If you think something isn't right and you voice that you will be punished. In a democracy everyone is allowed their opinion. 

Q8- What evidence does the author offer that the terrorism visited upon the United States on September 11, 2001 was based on religious rather than political fanaticism?
The people died for the cause, if it was just political fanaticism they would have left a bomb or something so they wouldn't get hurt. 

Q9- What is a fatwah?
A fatwah is a religious order issued by the higher ups in the Muslim hierarchy. It tells all Muslims that something is their religious duty to perform.  

Q10- Why does the author think new attacks are likely and how does he/she suggest we stop them?
He says that more are to come because of all the attention that the World Trade Center attack received. He doesn't say how the terrorist should be stopped because there are no demands and we don't know who to attack. 

Q11- Why does the author claim that declaring war is futile? What two historical examples does he/she give to back up this claim?
We can't identify the enemy and we can't fight a full-fledged war. We have to find the enemy one at a time and take care of them. The author uses the war on drugs and the Vietnam War as examples of when the U.S. couldn't identify the enemy and when the U.S. fought on a limited basis. In both there was no clear winner. 

Q12- Complete this sentence using the author's words: "A declaration of war implies . . .
a conflict of limited duration in which one side eventually surrenders or capitulates and the other side wins.  

Q13- What does the author suggest we do?
We have to defend ourselves with a initial onslaught followed by constant vigilance to keep it from sneaking up us again.

Q14- Explain the significance of the Coventry story.
The story shows that the World Trade Center attacks might have happened with the CIA knowledge, so their agents ,that are working to stop a much bigger attack, could be protected.

Q15- Suppose you were a general in a combat situation. Could you "consort with evil to prevent larger evil"? Why or why not?
It's not a matter of could or couldn't.  You would have to whether you liked it or not, so you could protect the people from the larger evil.  If this cost lives, it would be a tough decision but it'd have to be done.  

Q16- The author says something is unAmerican. What is it? Do you think the author is correct? Please write out your own definition of unAmerican.
Turning our anger on the Islamic people because of our frustration in being unable to get at the real villains is not only bad strategy, it's un-American.  The author is correct.  Without freedom of religion, the U.S. would never have lasted and probably would never been founded.  Being unAmerican is doing anything that goes against the ideals that the founders of the U.S. had when they created this country.     

Q17- Do you agree that terrorism must be defined adequately in order to be stopped?
Yes, without knowing what exactly terrorism is how are we going to know what actions and threats we should take seriously and in turn defend ourselves from.  

Q18- How important do you think it is for you to research, discuss and consider the definition of terrorism? Are you willing to spend the time it takes to give your definition your very best effort? Why or why not?
I feel that it's very important to have full understanding of terrorism, and through my research and reflecting I'll put forth the best effort that I can.  This is important because I'm a part of the future that will have to deal with these problems in the future.

Q19- Were you able to define terrorism in your essay without admitting that the United States has been guilty of terrorist acts?
Yes I was because the U.S. hasn't committed terrorism in my view.
 

Q20- Are you optimistic about the future? Will you pledge to do your part in pursuing mutual understanding? Why or why not?
You have to be optimistic about the future or what's the since of even living if life is going to get perpetually worse each day.  You'll never have complete understanding with all the different opinions and views that people think are the right ones, but I will strive to help people to understand how I feel about terrorism and about the new threats that have been established since the recent attacks.

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