Terrorism: just another household word
Davidson Falade
Terrorism. OK, it’s a given that you’ve seen this word before; I know it’s nothing new. But before you roll your eyes, bear with me a moment. I’m going to ask you for a small favour and I promise it will be quick and painless. If you must, call it your good deed for the day. OK, ready. When you see that word, “terrorism,” what is the first image that flashes through your mind?
Now wait! Don’t tell me. Let me guess. You envision, I’m willing to bet, a brown-skinned man fully equipped with a turban, a dark, thick, unkempt beard, an AK-47, bombs strapped to his chest and a rocket launcher across his shoulders. Perhaps even a set of horns, accompanied with a barbed tail and a forked tongue? Am I close? I mean that’s what I thought of, personally. Of course I’ve also been told I have an over-active imagination, but I figure I can’t be the only fickle, media-influenced mind out there.
Just recently, in fact, I realized how degrading, defamatory and judgmental this image really is. But to stereotype a terrorist as a kind, warm, friendly and moral individual would be no less than insulting. If I’m going to give them a mental picture, I’m sure that any terrorist would much rather be wearing a balaclava, ballistic vest, cargo pants and a nice pair of black paratrooper boots. And an AK-47. Everyone knows those are for rebels, not professionals.
The fact is, my mind has been warped by what I hear and see on a daily basis, whether it’s on the television, in a newspaper or the topic of discussion among friends who all deem themselves experts. Short of hiding deep inside Afghan caves, how do you avoid forming an opinion (and an ill-informed one at that)? It’s almost impossible today to speak politics without bringing up terrorism. I’m afraid to consider what it means in today’s world when “terrorism” is a household term right next to “Osama Bin Laden.” (Or maybe that’s just my house.)
Isn’t it strange, though, how accepting we are of this? How we just absorb what we are told? Do we even question anymore? In fact, just recently a BBC journalist in London reported that a man wearing a suspicious-looking brown winter jacket was shot dead by police who mistook him for a suicide bomber. Did we not think to question this? I mean, we all know brown is so out this season. After all, what else is there to doubt? A brown jacket couldn’t be worn for anything less than concealing a bomb, right?
The media never lies and our informed politicians are upstanding, truthful, honest and straightforward individuals. When they tell us something, we know it’s the truth. We know there’s no need to question. We know that these brown men with beards and turbans are the devil. Aren’t they?
We are told about all the horrendous acts they commit. The bombings they cause, the innocent lives they take, the random acts of violence they condone, their hatred for life and for the good righteous people of the West. How could we even think to question this? It’s all spelled out for us. We are good, they are bad and their lies are ugly.
Never mind that we have killed countless innocent civilians. Never mind that we storm their homes and tear apart everything for which they have spent a lifetime working. Never mind that we torture their civilians. Never mind that we occupy their country by force of arms. Never mind that we are forcing our culture and ideals on them. Never mind that we condemn their religious beliefs and desecrate their holy treasures and sacred books. They are the devil. Who are we to disagree? The media said it, the politicians seconded it and John Doe down the street made it conclusive.
Forget that these are human beings we are talking about here. As a matter of fact, is it not well known that these terrorists are most definitely not human? Indeed, they are faceless creatures devoid of emotion, thought and intelligence. They commit such acts of violence with wild abandon and without reason. After all, what possible reason could this species of inherent hatred and malice possibly have to act out? Defending themselves and their way of life? Now that’s laughable.
Since 9/11, we’ve been shocked, dismayed and overcome with a sense of vengeance. How dare anyone attack the West? How dare they commit acts of violence in protest of western interference in their lives? How dare they commit themselves to a holy war against us? It’s for those indiscretions they must pay the price. Their families, their friends, their religion and their very way of life could be affected. Justifiably so. At least that’s what I am led to believe. After all, we never did anything against them to deserve retaliation. It is the West that is calm, reasonable and righteous. It is the West that defends itself. Isn’t it? Well, who am I to question anyway? I mean, I wasn’t given this mind to think. Being told is so much easier.
Davidson Falade is a third-year political studies student.
