|
|
| UNDERSTANDING TERRORISM August 15, 1997 |
|---|
Return to this forum's top page.
Questions asked
in this forum:Isn't "terrorist" a relative term? What sort of values do terrorists teach their children? How much popular support exists for terrorists in their homelands? What's the difference between American and Middle Eastern terrorism? Could anyone be capable of a terrorist act? Viewer comments on Middle Eastern terrorism.
NewsHour Backgrounders
August 1, 1997:
A report on the attempted bombing of a Brooklyn subway.
July 30, 1997:
Clinton reacts to the Jerusalem bombing my militant Islamic group Hamas.
March 13, 1996:
A report on the international summit on terrorism.
March 12, 1996:
A report on terrorism and how to prevent it.
An Online backgrounder on terrorism.
John Marschang of Freeport, Il writes:
How much longer can we, as civilized people, allow a few fanatics, whatever their origins, dictate to us their mad demands? To be held hostage by these murderers is not the answer. They must be hunted down and brought to justice at whatever cost. They have declared war on all civilized countries, the U.S.A. in particular! We, the U.S.A.,and all civilized countries, should respond with all our combined legal and military forces to smash these organizations flat.
Also, we should let the countries that support them and finance them know that we will no longer tolerate their participation of terrorist funding, training, or other support! We have showed terrorists that we are weak, and are cowed by their actions. Our public has demanded action, but our public wants action cheaply and quietly! We can no longer be cheap or quiet. We must go full out to stop this madness. Are we to live like this forever? My answer is "NO." The answer is simple, we must all work together to stomp out this parasite that has afflicted us!
Ron Thomas of New York, NY writes:
To understand terrorists -- that is, ourselves -- we should start by tossing out the idea of evil. When people do something, such as blow up a bus of children, they do it, not because they're evil, but because they want something. Often they'll claim they want to overcome an adversity such as economic or political oppression. Of course, just as many who are poor don't resort to armed robbery, not everyone who feels oppressed resorts to terrorism.
The terrorists may be following a primitive instinct to protect their tribe or colony, as a bee might sting an interloper -- or perceived interloper -- even if the attack is suicidal. This instinct is to help ensure that one's own tribe has enough territory and safety to propagate and preferably dominate all other tribes...
It's easier to think of overcoming "evil" than overcoming the natural state of man. How can we hope to overcome something that is just part of our nature? The answer, I'm afraid, is to become supernatural, that is, above the natural order of things. The supplanting of "an eye for an eye" with "turn the other cheek" is considered impractical. It goes against all that is natural. But, whoever has the courage and strength to embrace it, has, I believe, the key to breaking the cycle of terrorism, no matter what form it takes...
Return to this forum's top page...
 |
    
|
|
| Support the kind of journalism done by the NewsHour...Become a member of your local PBS station. | ||
| ||
| PBS Online Privacy Policy Copyright ©1996- MacNeil/Lehrer Productions. All Rights Reserved. | ||
| ||
