Valley Springs, Arkansas
Terrorism: Can We Stop It?
12th grade
Many horrific events have taken place within the “safe” boundaries of the United States over the past three months. These tragedies have been labeled as terrorism. However, terrorism has not only been experienced in the United States but has been occurring in other countries for many years. Terrorism dates back to at least the first century when the Zealots, a Jewish religious sect, fought against what is now Israel. In the late 1940s, radical Jewish groups resorted to terrorist acts in their struggle to bring an end to British rule over Palestine and to reclaim it for the Jewish people. Terrorism spread beyond the Middle East in the 1960s where “transition from authoritarian rule to democracy after World War II had been rapid and traumatic”. The United States has experienced terrorism many different times by the Ku Klux Klan, the Unabomber and several other terrorist groups. The destruction of the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, was the most devastating terrorist attack in United States history. There have been many attempts at finding a true definition of terrorism and why terrorism happens throughout the world. There are also helpful possibilities that provide ways to combat terrorism.
Many people have tried to come up with definitions that qualify as terrorism. According to journalist Charley Reese from the Conservative Chronicle, "Terrorism is not an ordinary crime, nor is it the work of madmen. It is a political act in response to other political acts. To end terrorism, we will have to revise the political situation that creates it”. A general definition of terrorism is that it is the use or threat of violence that targets religious groups, governments, political parties and innocent civilians in order to create fear among the people demanding certain political or religious changes. Terrorist acts are generally based on moral and religious issues. Some religious beliefs justify destroying lives and property of those who don't believe the same way as they do. The radical Islamic terrorists believe this. They consider it their duty to rid the world of the "evil" people, those who are not a part of their religion. They also teach that all those who die while destroying people of a different race or religion have found favor with God and have reserved a place in heaven.
It is difficult to determine what acts qualify as terrorism and which acts are considered crime. The main difference between crime and terrorism is the purpose for the act. Many criminals bring terror on and/or kill people in order to fulfill their purpose of personal gain, i.e. money or valuable possessions. However, the purposes of terrorists are much more complicated. They try to force people to transform their beliefs, such as political or religious beliefs, by destroying people, places or things in hopes of gaining attention and achieving the effects they desire. The Unabomber and the Ku Klux Klan are good examples of this. The Unabomber “claimed an allegiance with radical environmentalists and others opposed to the effects of industrialization and technology” and targeted professors, corporate executives and computer merchants. The Ku Klux Klan used “violence and intimidation to keep African Americans segregated and to promote white supremacy”. It is unfathomable why people would create these horrific acts. However, if we evaluate the purpose of their actions, it allows us to gain a better understanding of how to deal with them.
There are many different opinions about why terrorism occurs. This has been pondered for the last three months and there are many responses to this confusing problem. The terrorists that attacked the United States on September 11, 2001 are said to belong to a terrorist organization known as Al Qaeda. President Bush states that Al Qaeda "is to terror what the mafia is to crime. But its goal is not making money; its goal is remaking the world--and imposing its radical beliefs on people everywhere". These certain terrorists practice a form of "Islamic extremism" that has been rejected by Muslim Scholars and the majority of Muslim clerics. President Bush tells how they are ordered to "kill Christians and Jews, to kill all Americans, and make no distinction among military and civilians, including women and children". How could people heartlessly destroy so many innocent people? One reason could be because the United States is the most visible and powerful country on the planet, "strutting our wealth in countless ways, not the least of which is by erecting mighty symbols of it that seem to stretch toward heaven itself". We live in a country with many luxuries and seem to take all of our freedoms for granted. These terrorists "hate our freedoms--our freedom of religion, our freedom of speech, our freedom to vote and assemble and disagree with each other", relays President Bush. Many countries do not have these wonderful freedoms that we are blessed with and, therefore, want to take all of them away from us. In 1998 bin Laden issued a "fatwah, an explicit religious order, making it the holy duty of Muslims to kill American civilians". The people who flew into the World Trade Center thought that they were "carrying out a holy war under the direction of Allah's representatives on earth against godless infidels". This explains why negotiating with these people is not a choice, because "there isn't anything to negotiate".
Most likely, the biggest problem we face is how we can combat terrorism. This may seem like an impossible problem to fix, but it can be resolved if the situations are ideal. "One way to defeat terrorism," Bush declares, "is to show the world the true values of America through the gathering momentum of millions of acts of responsibility, decency and service". The citizens of the United States need to practice tolerance, courage and patriotism. By applying the first two Commandments into our lives, there would be no chance for terrorist violence to survive. The first Commandment says, "Thou shalt have no other Gods before me". If everyone looked to God for guidance and direction in their lives and to no other person, for example, Osama bin Laden, then we would all carry the same basic Christian beliefs and would not desire to harm our brothers and sisters throughout the world. The second Commandment states, "Thou shalt not worship any graven images". Whether it is the image of a golden calf or an image of wealth, it still causes people to become greedy. An evil image which Osama bin Laden is seeking to have is power. If we have values such as these taught, it is nearly impossible for terrorism to exist within our country today.
There are several practical, concrete ways to stop terrorism. Military action is an important part in the fight against terrorism. There are many courageous men and women
who have dedicated their lives to the military to work for this country and help protect the people of the United States. They are currently hunting down Osama bin Laden, who is responsible for the attacks on the United States, and are risking their lives to put an end to this problem. President Bush states that they have “called up Reserves to reinforce our military capability and strengthen the protection of our homeland”. At the request of President Bush, “many governors have activated the National Guard to strengthen airport security”. The improvement of air safety, the expanded number of air marshals on domestic flights, and the new measures taken to prevent hijacking are needed improvements that will contribute to the safety of the American people. Bush exclaims, "Patience will be one of our strengths--patience with the long waits that will result from tighter security; patience and understanding that will take time to achieve our goals; patience in all the sacrifices that may come."
This could be the beginning of the definition for terrorism. Terrorism may not even have a valid definition or a specific reason for happening; however, that is not necessary when actions are put in its place. Everyone can play a part in combating terrorism. Bush declares, "Terrorist attacks can shake the foundations of our biggest buildings, but they cannot touch the foundation of America. These acts shatter steel, but they cannot dent the steel of American resolve". Our great country has definitely been scarred, but it does not diminish the spirit of America in any sense. These attacks that the United States of America has faced have only brought everyone closer together and will not allow any terrorists to interfere with our "nation under God."
QUESTIONS
1. Why, in your opinion, was the United States attacked?
ANSWER: I believe the United States was attacked because of the jealousy that was felt by our attackers. If the U.S. was not free and prosperous, and had the same beliefs as the rest of the world, I do not think that this tragedy would have occurred.
2. Why is the first question so important to resolve and agree upon?
ANSWER: It is so important because there is no way for love and peace to prevail if our world is filled with bitter hatred and jealousy.
3. What action or inaction by the United States and its allies, in the author’s opinion, increased the likelihood of chemical and biological attacks?
ANSWER: The author believes that the action that increased the likelihood of chemical and biological attacks was when the U.S. and its allies backed down from Saddam Hussein’s refusal to allow inspections of suspected Iraqi weapons manufacturing facilities.
4. Why does the author believe the United States is a popular target for terrorists?
ANSWER: The author believes that it would make no difference what the United States did to other countries, such as all of the places that we have bombed and the planes, which we shot down; we would still be a popular target for terrorists.
5. What motivates terrorists, in the author’s opinion?
ANSWER: The author states that most terrorists attack or take people hostage in order to get money, some else’s freedom or other material possessions. The scary thing about these recent terrorists is that we are not sure what they want and they haven’t told us yet.
6. What reasons does the author give for the intense hatred of the United States by people like Osama bin Ladn?
ANSWER: Many reasons explain why the U.S. is hated so much by people like Osama bin Laden. We are the most visible and powerful country of the planet, always “strutting our wealth” very freely. We are also hated because those kinds of people believe that Muslim is the only true religion and do not accept people otherwise.
7. How does rule by divine right preclude the reasoned debate that occurs naturally in a democracy?
ANSWER: You can pretty much convince your subjects of anything if you catch them young enough and make the punishments for disobedience severe enough.
8. 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?
ANSWER: It is a Muslim belief that whosoever dies in an attempt to destroy some part of the United States automatically receives a place in heaven. Those terrorists who attacked on September 11 honestly believed that they were doing an act in honor of their religion.
9. What is a fatwah?
ANSWER: A fatwah is an explicit religious order.
10. Why does the author think new attacks are likely and how does he/she suggest we
stop them?
ANSWER: The author thinks that new attacks will occur because of the
“success” that the terrorists had on this last one and all of the glory which was
given to those who caused the disaster on September 11. The author claims that there is no way possible for us because we have nothing that we can work with in order to bring angry terrorists to their knees.
11. Why does the author claim that declaring war is futile? What two historical examples does he/she give to back up this claim?
ANSWER: Declaring war would be futile because we don’t know enough about the enemy that we can identify. Two historical examples he/she gives are the War on Drugs and Vietnam and the Persian Gulf.
12. Complete this sentence using the author’s words: “A declaration of war implies….”
ANSWER: “A declaration of war implies a conflict of limited duration in which one side eventually surrenders or capitulates and the other side wins.”
13. What does the author suggest we do?
ANSWER: We have to defend ourselves. The author basically believes that, in order to pull ahead of the enemy, we have to fight evil with evil and this is the only way it can be done.
14. Explain the significance of the Coventry story.
ANSWER: The Coventry story creates an unfavorable question in which none of us prefer to ask ourselves: “How would we handle the news if we discovered that the CIA knew about this attack before it occurred?” This story tries to give hope and put our faith into the people serving in the CIA and how we hope they really do do what is best for the American people.
15. Suppose you were a general in a combat situation. Could you “consort with evil to prevent larger evil”? Why or why not?
ANSWER: I suppose that I would contend with evil to prevent a larger evil if it was in the best interest of the people that I would be defending. It would definitely have to be a desperate attempt to keep as many of my people safe as possible.
16. The author says something is un-American. What is it? Do you think the author is correct? Please write your own definition on un-American.
ANSWER: The author believes that turning our anger onto Islam because of our frustration in being unable to get the real villain is considered un-American. I believe the author is right on this definition. I consider any situation that is handled without care or without keeping in mind the best outcome for all involved is un-American because our country is based upon God and I believe it should be run according to God’s will and not man’s will.
17. Do you agree that terrorism must be defined adequately in order to be stopped?
ANSWER: No, I believe we all have some idea of what terrorism is and we do not need to have it specifically spelled out for us in order to know how to improve our situation and get along with other countries.
18. 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?
ANSWER: I believe it is important to deeply consider the definition of terrorism. I am willing to put much time and effort into searching because it can give good insight to be reflected within my essay.
19. Were you able to define terrorism in your essay without admitting that the United States has been guilty of terrorist acts?
ANSWER: Yes. I focused on attempting to explain why certain terrorist actions occur anywhere within the world and how we can try to combat those unfortunate events.
20. Are you optimistic about the future? Will you pledge to do your part in pursuing
mutual understanding? Why or why not?
I am very optimistic about the future. The future can be, for me, whatever I choose to make of it. If I go about situations with a positive viewpoint, then I can make the best out of any situation I may be in. I will do my part in pursuing mutual understanding because I believe that it is important for everyone to become involved in all nation or world affairs. Everyone has the opportunity to improve their problems with the world and now is a perfect time to start.