Rockridge High School
Taylor Ridge, Illinois
Teacher: Barb Downey
Terrorism: Can it be stopped absent a
valid definition and can it be defined?
By Sarah Onken
12th Grade
Terrorism-- a word that will strike fear in the hearts of American people for centuries to come. In light of September eleventh, people have been asking questions that cannot be answered as they look for hope, redemption, and an opportunity to heal. Americans have rallied with a sense of patriotism, faith, and support in our government where it has been recently lacking. People have been turning to books and other information sources to find the answers to their questions about terrorism and have come up short. Terrorism is such a complex concept that many have yet to truly understand how it can be defined and, in turn, stopped.
Because of the nationality of the suicide bombers, I will use Afghanistan as my first investigation of terrorism. First, Americans need to understand why Islamic people feel hatred intense enough to resort to terrorist activities to bring us down. It has been my understanding that Taliban leaders have relatively brainwashed their people through their caliphate government. By having a leader who claims to be a direct descendant from Allah, they have been able to bestow outward thoughts and beliefs in their followers to suit their purposes of ridding the world of Americans. By causing the Muslim people to believe we are evil “because Allah said so," they are less likely to look at us and consider why we are so prosperous while they remain in a state of poverty. The leaders of Afghanistan need not fear being overthrown because their people would not dare to turn against Allah. In addition, by bombing Afghanistan in the past, we have given them no reason to believe otherwise. Also, trying to explain this to any devout Muslim would likely be interpreted as denouncing Allah, which would cause them to hate us even more.
So how can we get past their rancor-filled minds to encourage them to trust us with their welfare? So far we have attempted to drop crates of food from airplanes to the Afghanistan people without success. Many of them were undoubtedly too afraid it was poisoned by “the devil Americans” to eat it, or that they would be caught doing so by the Taliban and be severely punished. Next, we passed out fliers of Osama bin Laden with an altered appearance that made him seem happy, hoping to show the Islamic people that their leader had defied them and was relieved to be rid of them. I am not sure that I agree with our attempts to instill their trust in us by this method. This could ultimately come back to haunt us. Americans need to understand that the Muslim’s deep distrust in us has lasted for many years and will not be dissolved overnight. We need to ensure our support of them as they overthrow the Taliban and try to show them that if they trust us, we can provide them with a brighter future. If we start teaching the Islamic children that we are good people, and can be trusted, they, and future generations of Afghanistan people, will slowly understand that we will back them so long as they give up their terrorist ways.
However, after Americans mend relations with Afghanistan, another terrorist will strike and the process will begin again. Terrorist strikes against America will never completely stop because there will always be a country, group, or person who feels they are being held back by, or just plain hate, Americans and our technology, economy, etc. Next, we may be facing China’s nuclear weapons currently being prepared on armies of trucks to be pointed at the United States. Then another pro-Taliban terrorist group will pop up and attempt their own 9/11, or more Osama bin Laden supporters will follow the suicide bombers’ lead and crash into buildings as did the flight student in Tampa. After all, not all terrorist activities are from foreign countries. Consider Oklahoma City, the anthrax attacks, and our numerous school shootings. American leaders are trying to build this great society for people of my generation, and those to come, and we thank them by murdering our classmates? Admittedly not the best outlook for the future. How can we demolish foreign matters when domestic issues continue to shock our society?
So what should the United States do to stop terrorism? I believe the key is to increase global awareness. We need to start teaching about foreign cultures and beliefs in schools with hope to gain a better understanding of others and decrease racism. We can broadcast more international news on the airways to keep all of America’s eyes on foreign affairs. In addition, we can turn to using more domestic goods instead of imports. Would our relations with the Middle East improve if we were not fighting them for oil? Besides, there are hundreds of farmers trying to promote newly created corn and soybean products that can be used in much the same ways as foreign products. By gaining a better comprehension of how other societies tick, we may be able to increase foreign relations and visualize why they are upset before their anger results in terrorist actions.
Last, we consider the issue of defining terrorism. Perhaps if we understood exactly what terrorism is, why it happens, where it stems from, and how it began, we could learn how to stop it. But how can something that occurs in so many different forms for so many different reasons be defined, especially when the reasons given for it are both good and bad? And on that note, how do we draw the line between good and bad? The Islamic terrorists believed they were doing the world good by ridding it of Americans. We thought we were doing good by bombing Hiroshima, Nagasaki and many others over time. I, too, believe these bombings were necessary, but how could we explain the difference between good and bad bombings to a twelve year old boy being put through terrorism training in Afghanistan? Defining terrorism is virtually impossible without incriminating ourselves, so I will stand by the author’s opinion to describe terrorism as “violent acts against the United States absent a formal declaration of war”.
So what does the future hold? Will our intelligence be able to completely prevent future attacks, or will terrorists continue to be one step ahead? Will our world become a nuclear war ground, or will peace prevail? Will Americans learn to accept cultures different from our own, or will racism continue to hold back the creation of world peace? Whatever it holds, Americans need to hold their heads up high and support each other, however possible, because if we can accomplish that, we can take down any force that stands in our way.
Questions
Q1- Why, in your opinion was the United States attacked?
The Islamic extremists believe it is their duty to destroy nations that do not follow Allah. We are the most hated of all because of how outwardly prosperous we are. I also believe we were attacked because our arrogant feelings that we are untouchable, that because we take care of every other country's problems, nobody would attack us. This makes us even more despicable in the eyes of a terrorist.
Q2-Why is the first question so important to agree upon?
It is important to agree upon why the United States was attacked because, as the author said, “Until we know that, we don’t understand what we’re up against. And if we don’t know what we’re up against, anything we do to combat is going to backfire.”
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 United States and its allies backed down from Saddam Hussein’s refusal to allow inspections of suspected Iraqi weapons manufacturing facilities.
Q4- Why does the author believe the United States is a popular target for terrorists?
The author believes that we are a popular target because we do not appear to care about other’s opinions of us, and because of our current status in the world, any blow to us is seen is as a motivation for other terrorists.
Q5- What motivates terrorists, in the author’s opinion?
Terrorists are motivated by the fact that we refuse to bow down to any outward force and any successful attempt to hurt Americans and our economy encourages others to continue our “rightful” punishment.
Q6- What reasons does the author give for the intense hatred of the United States by people like Osama bin Laden?
The author believes people like Osama bin Laden hate us because we are the most visibly prosperous and powerful nation on Earth, while others are poor and starving. Also, our successes were achieved without faith in Allah in mind, which further angers a people who stand by their faith despite poverty.
Q7- How does rule by a divine right preclude the reasoned debate that occurs naturally in a democracy?
Rule by a divine right eliminates consideration of basic human rights. As the author explains, a leader can convince his subjects of anything if they are young enough, and the penalty for disobedience is severe enough.
Q8- What evidence does the author give that the terrorism visited upon the United States on September 11, 2001 was based on religious rather that political fanaticism?
The first clue given by the author was the terrorists’ lack of demands. Because they are asking nothing from us to desist the bombing, we can assume that their agenda is not political. Next are the Islamic beliefs that Allah wants Americans to be destroyed and anyone who accomplishes this is guaranteed a place in heaven. The people who bombed the World Trade Centers believed that they were carrying out a holy war under the direction of Allah.
Q9- What is a fatwah?
A fatwah is an explicit religious order. In the case of September 11, 2001, Osama bin Laden issued a fatwah making it the holy duty of Muslims to kill American civilians.
Q10- Why does the author think new attacks are likely and how does he/she suggest we stop them?
The author believes that because of how clearly the American media and political members showed how deeply damaging the terrorists’ attacks were, future terrorists will be motivated to create equal damage so their successes, too, will be advertised.
The author suggests we stop terrorists by ensuring that America’s leaders understand that annihilating terrorist forces will not accomplish the punishment they deserve. He/she suggests we counterattack the terrorists in a fashion that does not allow them to reach their goal of joining Allah.
Q11- Why does the author claim that declaring war is futile? What two historical examples does he/she give to back up this claim?
The author uses the Persian Gulf War and Vietnam as examples to show that we do not have the experience or the understanding necessary to declare war on the terrorists with a positive outcome.
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?
The author suggests that the United States does whatever it takes to defend ourselves and put an effective stop to terrorist activities, including consorting with terrorists to infiltrate their plans of attack before any further damage is done.
Q14- Explain the significance of the Coventry story.
The significance of the Coventry story is to give the reader an alternate view of the attack. Many Americans refuse to believe that our CIA had no knowledge of the impending attacks, and thus lost faith in, or blamed, the CIA for having not prevented them. The author introduces a theory that we should not scorn our CIA because they may have saved us from the trauma of an even greater attack.
Q15- Suppose you were a general in a combat situation. Could you “consort with evil to prevent larger evil”?
I would because insider information that would give me the option to prevent innocent American deaths would be worth it.
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.
The author says that turning our anger on decent Islamic people because of our frustration in being unable to get at the real villains is unAmerican. I agree because I believe being unAmerican is being a traitor to the free country to which we belong. People need to learn to support anyone within our borders no matter what color or race. They need to understand that whatever country a person may have come from, once they sign our citizenship papers, they are as much an American as the rest of us.
Q17- Do you agree that terrorism must be defined adequately in order to be stopped?
I do not agree because terrorism can never be adequately defined. People will always create new ways to hurt each other stemming from unstoppable feelings of racism. I believe racism is the ultimate opponent that we must face in our battle to stop terrorism.
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 believe that it is very important for all Americans to do their best to understand terrorism and attempt to define it, despite the possibility that to do so may not be possible. I would be willing to put forth my best effort to understand terrorism because until we know all we can about terrorism, we have no methods to stop it.
Q19- Were you able to define terrorism in your essay without admitting that the United States has been guilty of terrorist acts?
I believe defining terrorism is impossible without incriminating ourselves, because before we can define terrorism, we would have to define the differences between good and bad terrorist acts. I will, instead, stand by the author’s opinion to describe terrorism as “violent acts against the United States absent a formal declaration of war.”
Q20- Are you optimistic about the future? Will you pledge to do your part in pursuing mutual understanding? Why or why not?
I am optimistic about the future because the United States has been through many trials throughout its existence as a country and managed to come out ahead, and I believe we will always continue to do so. How could anyone destroy a country to which people from all over the world flock to to follow their own American dream. I will pledge to do my part to pursue mutual understanding because I want to protect that American dream for the generations to come, and ensure that they may experience the opportunities that I have been privileged to as an American citizen.