Terrorism is an awesome word particularly in today’s world. It is something that always was associated with other people of the world, never Americans, and never on US soil. If an alien spaceship landed on the White House lawn, our lives and living in the world would be changed forever. On September 11, 2001, we might as well have had such an event for on that day our society and how we live was changed forever by terrorism. Orson Well’s “War of the Worlds” is the perfect metaphor.
And, Irony of ironiesthere are actually those among us, Americans, no less, who would suggest that terrorism is both legal and ethical and that somehow we all need to be punished for the alleged excesses of our own political grand design over the past couple hundred years. Frederic Bastiat, the 19th century French philosopher, so enamored with the freedom philosophy wrought on the world by America, has to be rolling over in his grave.
I often wonder if these folks are not communist sleeper cells plucked down all over the world for eventual Soviet world domination and put here by them in the 50’s and now emerging at just the right time to sow these anarchist thoughts. But even this fantasy does not take us far away from the fact that these terrorist sympathizers are among us. They are Americans or perhaps a dissatisfied member of another free society, all of whom are enjoying the right to think freely and concluding we need to be punished for it. This self-loathing gives them the benefit of the doubt in a free society and thus their definition of terrorism evolves into a politically correct description of what people do, in their minds, when they become “freedom fighters”. If their objective is to tear down anything influenced by America and by whatever means, even if it involves killing the infirm, the old, women and children, they conclude – so be it.
Let’s look at what terrorism really is. Terrorism in its basest form is indiscriminate intimidation, indiscriminate death. Certainly, every bully in the world understands the basic concepts and probably thinks that they make and write the ethic. In a relativistic world, this is possible. Only trouble is that today’s modern terrorist don’t believe in a relativistic ethic yet use the relativism to justify their morality in a free society.
Terrorists believe in their ethic and if that ethic is not yours, even though our society permits you to adopt whatever ethic you desire, watch out. You either convert to their morality or you die. Can’t get much simpler than that. How convinced are they that they are correct in their single-minded morality? Well, do you need much more proof that they are willing to blow themselves up and everyone around them to prove it and that there are no shortage of volunteers? Not only is it possible, it is the ultimate justification among the terrorists to morally approve their terrorism and terrorist tactics in the Middle East, Africa, Afghanistan, America, Indonesia, Spain, England and all other points on the globe.
So, let’s borrow a phrase. “What’s the bottom line?”
Ethical conduct engenders the worldwide accepted concept of “do no harm”. Note too that this universally accepted maxim is not an obligation to do good, it is just is an obligation to “do no harm.” Blowing oneself up is one thing. Blowing oneself up with a whole bunch of innocents around is quite another. Therefore, if this is the concept of modern terrorism then it is absolutely unethical on its face and a major Cancer for any society that wants self-determination and the right to choose their own direction and beliefs.
How do we rid ourselves of this malignancy? “Simply” as my neighbor suggests, “you cut it out.” That pretty well summarizes the thinking of most of the citizens of free societies everywhere.
About the Author: Fred DiUlus is the CEO & Founder of Global Academy Online and a frequent contributor.
…Nowday we can se in newspapers, magazines, blogs, news information ’bout terrorism, becoming the “must” word for these days, feels like it’s the only thing everyone talks about: cities turned into ruins, kids becoming criminals, inocents people everyday dying everyday, bombs and explosives hidden in somebody’s car or house, desagreements between people, cultures, religions, countries, cities.
This kinds of problems are created cause nobody want to hear others points of views, if medicine and technology are developing so fast why na’t we develop a little of common sense and inteligence to resolve problems with our brains and no with our fist.
But being a terrorist is no longer someone who kills and destroys lifes to make a point, you can’t find them anywhere: the kids in school who bothered you, the mean co-worker who hates you, the ignorant neighbor who discriminate you ’cause you are “different”, so being a terrorist it’s like being a bully but meaner and more stupid.
these kinds of terrorist only knows violence as the way to resolve problems, wich it’s sad maybe ’cause nobody to tought thm how to use their words and braind to do something instead of insults and figths, they have a point to make ” turn you life into a living hell” and they have a “work”-etihc too: “if they don’t like something or someone they destroy it” it’s easy if they hate you they harm you.
There’s nothing we can do but two thing: teach them how to be reasonable or shoot them, it thikn it’s better the first one.
xoxo
“Live and let live.” I think whomever said that was, quite possibly, a very wise person. Revolutions are supposed to help the innocent and the oppressed, not to used them in order to gain power.
This is precisely why I think that allowing people to go to extremes is incorrect. People should be allowed to have their own set of beliefs and values, yes but, there should be also a bit of open-mindedness in order for there to be tolerance, and therefore, as much peace and prosperity as the world can get.
Terrorism is a problem amongst governments. If there exists terrorism in the world is because governments are going against people’s beliefs and wants. Since the government isn’t hearing people out on what they believe in then they leave no choice than to be heard by harming society. They call up attention in order for the government to hear what they want to say or understand what they really want.
Among all the centuries, people have been fighting and harming others to get what they want. They go to war to defend what they own or their values. This is the only way to solve problems just harming others.
There is a lack of communication between the government and the society and it is very hard to please every individual. People who become terrorists are just defending their beliefs and don’t think that what thery are doing is bad. They just want to be heard and get what they want.
The Terrorism being seing in the 21st century is awful and people go through horrible things. Terrorists don’t care how many people get hurt or die every day. They are selfish people that just want to get what they want. There is a lack of judgement and moral and this must change.
the article says that some people think that americans should be punished for
what they did in the past, wrong!. what was done in the past, leave it there,
you have to look forward and worry about the future, trying not to repeat what
you did wrong. You can just regret of your mistakes, and do something to improve,
not hurting yourself because of the past.
i dont agree with how the article defines “terorism”, “doing no harm?”. what about
doing no harm, but doing good?, isn´t is a better phrase?, yes! it sounds much
better and its right!
Ethics is to do not harm to other people so if terrorist are following their ethics and hurt people their ethics is wrong. The bottom line is that they must accept the fact that not all the people agrees with their “ethic”. One person’s freedom ends where another’s begins, so that is the bottom line for them.
How does one cut out terrorism? I only wish it were that simple. I am amazed, and at the same time horrified, that someone can believe in something so strongly that they would be willing to kill themselves and thousands of others just to send a message. These people don´t even see what´s wrong and how unethical they are being. To them their actions are justified…relative ethics. It makes me wonder, is it even possible to set a standard universal set of ethics that everyone can agree to follow? Most agree on ¨do no harm¨. But it´s obvious the terrorists don´t agree. Do we try to change their way of thinking, make them change their beliefs? Is that ethical? So how do we stop terrorism? Do we get them before they get us?…well that would be unethical too.