Do you think 'terrorist' also has a human side?

Question

That somewhere deep down he must be a human being?
That something must have driven him to such violence and hatred?
That you cant be suicidal for no reason?
That some logic however faulty is operating in his head?
That one needs to undertand psychology and economy of violence if one is to actually eliminate it?

(The above applies individual, religious as well as state terrorism.)

Hey whip up your imagination!! When we kill in a war like WW2 and such is it with a similar high that we kill people just because they belong to the enemy side???

Answer 1

Absolutely!

You are referring to something that I sometimes make what seems like a failing attempt to get across to ppl. It seems like the American ppl are so quick to jump up and yell terrorists... and think that it is perfectly ok to kill them. They don't stop to think of what we have done to cause those ppl to hate us. And they don't stop to think that those ppl are humans also and obviously are motivated by something that they are willing to believe we are so evil that they will die for their cause. AND NOT BUSH and his stupid..'they hate freedom'.. That is just insane.

I sometimes use the example of the militias we used during the American Revolutionary War where we could not beat the British head to head on the battlefield. Instead we have to ambush them and not wear uniforms...

Would that not classify as terrorists today? Yes it would.

I think you already understand that argument so I will jump to the other point I wanted to make: I have come to the conclusion that the reason the masses choose violent means to solve a conflict is that it is easier.

I know that sounds bizarre but I really believe that the majority have such a lack of understanding about foreign affairs that they see this as easier. I once had a friend say that he agreed with nuking Hiroshima because it ended it quick. I was shocked at such an apathetic answer.

It's times like this and answers like that guy I knew when I start realizing that no matter how powerful we are or how many nations we conquer, we are the real losers in the end.

Answer 2

Well, the first answer is half right. They are uneducated and taken advantage of. Terrorists do not want what is best for the people. They teach and spread hate and violence because that is all they know, and the next generations are being taught the same things. They cannot be negotiated with. They have no honor to themselves or the people they are trying to "save". These people have to realize there is a better way. And I don't just mean Democracy either. They just need to stand up for themselves and not allow themselves to be taken advantage of anymore and the media spreading all these negative details of the war and no positives is only hurting the worlds efforts against terrorists. Hopefully you are not attacked too bad by the simple minded of this site as you have asked a very good question. We need to focus more on the youth of those nations and stop the hate and violence that is being taught. The problem we are having is we want it to be our form of government which simply will not work for small, underdeveloped, uneducated countries and that is a fact.

Answer 3

I think that this is why it is so difficult to fight terrorism......

They ARE human beings with very real issues. Have you ever thought about what would drive a person to crash a plane into a large building.....I do not think it is something irrational. Misguided perhaps...but not irrational. How much do people have to passionately dislike what they are up against.

Perhaps we need to LEARN from what these people say. WHY would people do the things they are doing? Why do people hate capitalism----perhaps there is some sick contrast in a world where people are starving to death and yet in the USA we have commercials on our TV where cats eat out of crystal dishes.....

Many arab nations do not want the perverseness of Western society to infultrate their lives.....sex, drugs and rock and roll.....not such a great thing in many peoples eyes. How do you combat that?

Answer 4

Human beings are just that. human.
And being human means you are capable of the best and the absolute worst. We are all a product of our environment and upbringing. if you are brought up to be intolerant of other views and taught hate and killing is the only avenue open to you by religious mullahs who only care about the control and power they have. Then chances are your personality allowed you to be duped into believing the only path open to you is Thu acts of terror. Healthy, rational people, who have free will and free thought know that there are other avenues to rectify situations that don't include violence.... Look At dr King here in America... A man full of compassion and non violence lead they way to freedom for many people. For rational people there are always ways to change society non violently.

Answer 5

What do YOU think?? A terrorist is defined as "one who instills fear in his or her victims". Do you really think the guys that hijacked those aircraft and sailed them into the twin towers had a "human side"??? What about the ones who sailed the aircraft into the pentagon? How many THOUSANDS of INNOCENT folks died at the hands of these "human sided" individuals? I say "Not just NO; but HELL NO!!! The human rights people would like you to think that these people must have had a bad childhood. I say they are JUST PLAIN EVIL!

Answer 6

Yes, they are human. And so was Hitler, Lenin, Mussolini, Mao, etc. Unreasonable people that controlled their people to seek more power. And yes, many of the people in terrorist organizations are "brainwashed" by a cult of personality. Unfortunately, this is their perspective. So we can reason with a faulty logic? This their total perception, their world vision without exception is control over everything. Religion, people, law, basically the world. Islamo-terrorist are fascists. Please look up Sharia Law and Fascism on wikipedia. Compare them side by side and tell me what you think.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sharia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fascism

This is an invitation to discuss this.

And I can't believe people compare The Revolutionary War to terrorism. Please look at the reasons, the methods and the goals of the war. Multiculturalism and historic revision rear their ugly heads again.

Answer 7

I would like to answer that question with a question. if to kill some one is to cause death then why is the method so important, if I kill 100 people with a gun in the USA I am a serial killer, If I kill 1 person with a bomb and just happen to live in the middle east then I am a terrorist

Answer 8

You place yourself at great risk of criticism for your question but I applaud your having the courage to ask it. Yes, they have a human side. I am sick of hearing people say that people who would stoop to terrorism must be low lives or animalistic. Who has had their foot on their throats to keep them that way so how can you blame them when they fight with the only tools available to them. We applauded the young man who stood before the tanks in Tienanmen Square but we stand in judgment of the young man who stands before Israeli tanks and throws rocks. How hypocritical. When someone fights for something we believe in or think is right for them we call them hero, but when they have their own ideas of what is right for them we call them terrorist. I don't like their tactics at all - they are desperate and deadly but if it is to be stopped then maybe just once someone should spend as much time devoted to ending the forces that perpetuate oppression as they do in trying to support and defend oppressors.

Answer 9

Of course they have a human side, but are more animal because htey choose to ignore the higher self and what a sane individual knows to be right or wrong.

It doesn't need to be an airplane in a building or a bomb in a temple, it can be a mugging or rape in any little town.

Answer 10

One man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter. The people who formed the 13 colonies were terrorists and it would do us well to remember that.
Terrorists believe in something so passionately that they would die for it. This has occurred throughout history in many different forms.
Creating education, respect, peace and critical thought in all countries (not just "democracy") could lead us to world peace.