The Scourge of Terrorism

We live with the scourge of terrorism, and, it seems, we must live with it for some time yet. Whether or not this could now be otherwise, had a different approach been taken by the West (lead by the US and the UK, in particular) in the years following 9/11 we will never really be able to tell. But, for the present, we must live with it.

            Unfortunately, we have now got to the stage where attacks by lone “terrorists” seem to be on the rise. It seems, too, that a number of cases are those in which a psychologically disturbed, or socially isolated. It almost seems to be the case that such attacks are becoming a “fad”, and an incident in one location encourages others elsewhere. Lone terrorist attacks are particularly difficult to detect and to guard against.

            It is possible that the online activity of groups like ISIS is fuelling some of this. But I suspect that some individuals who have carried out attacks simply plan these on their own initiative and then claim allegiance to ISIS. ISIS, too, will want to claim that such attacks are carried out on their direction in order to continue to boost their profile, and further the sense of their threat to world. Nowhere is beyond their reach.

            The authorities, in responding to these atrocities, are becoming more cautious (it seems to me) of immediately identifying such attacks with the influence of, or connection to, ISIS. This, I think, is wise: and I think that the general populous must be ready to examine the causes of such attacks in similarly cautious and careful way. It is easy to see things in shades of black and white, rather than gray. To do so – and especially to attack or blame Islam and Muslims as a whole – is not only to misrepresent the situation, but to play into the hands of ISIS, and to support their ideological warfare.

            For to blame Islam as a whole, is to permit ISIS to paint the situation as a war between Islam and the rest. It is also to help fuel the sense of grievance amongst disgruntled young Muslims. It is to help to raise the stakes of fear and mistrust.

            Not all recent terrorist activity, of course, has its roots in Islamist terrorism, of course. Some of the attacks (by ex-miliary men in the US, for instance) have been fuelled by other issues, such as police brutality against and shootings of African Americans. That is another matter for another time. Then there is the terrible attack against disabled residents of a home in Japan.

            The causes of terrorism may be multiple. The effects are the same: misery, heartbreak, broken bodies, fear. But, I do believe that ultimately the seeds of its destruction lie within the mentality and practice of terrorism itself. It has a relatively short shelf-life: people cannot abide destruction and death for long. Time and effort to address the root causes: and especially attention to the conditions that breed resentment and despair that drives many young to take up extremism are important ingredients to combating terrorism. And a refusal to be terrorised.

         I don't mean to downplay the fear and the distress experienced by those who have lived through terrorist attacks, or live in places (such as Paris) where such attacks happen, and seem all too real a threat. It is natural to be afraid and anxious. I mean to say that we cannot, and should not, allow terrorists to frighten us into abandoning our values, or our essential sense of what is right and wrong, or our humanity towards those different from us. I think those who live through terrorist attacks understand that. But sometimes, it seems, we can allow the fear to drive our responses and our thinking. When that happens, the terrorists win.