Terrorism and Peace?

Question

As an individual if you display and exhibit peaceful understandings of the world and people around you,

will it eventually change the world?? could it reach terrorists and stop terrorism

Answer 1

Good question. I sent my response to similar question Asked by the President of India, Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam a few weeks ago in Y!A “What should we do to free our planet from terrorism?”. I think it is still open for “Answer”. I am appending below a few paragraphs which reflects my point of view:

Sir, please look back to the Indian struggle of independence and see how the British would term the undivided Indian freedom fighters as bunch of ‘terrorists’. Another instance is that of South Africa where legendary great leader Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for more than 30 years along with his party-comrades for their crime of 'terrorism' which they committed and now do confess after their release from the prison and liberation from the unjust apartheid system of rule imposed upon them by the whites.

We in Bangladesh do acknowledge with gratitude that your country India helped us during our struggle for the liberation from the occupation by the West Pakistani military forces back in 1971. The then West Pakistani government termed our freedom fighters (Mukti Bahini) as ‘terrorists’ but your the then PM Mrs. Indira Gandhi was sympathetic to our cause as it suited India if Pakistan could be broken into two pieces, and gave us material, moral, military and diplomatic help and we the Bangladeshi people of 75 Million (now 150 Million) gained our victory on 16th December 1971. The so-called 'terrorists' in the eyes of Pakistani military government of 1971 became leaders of the legitimate country- Bangladesh; and at a later stage Pakistan grudgingly had to recognize existence of Bangladesh after making a lot of dilly-dallying to subvert the emergence of Bangladesh as free country when they were snapping diplomatic relations with countries who would recognize Bangladesh at that time during early 1970s.

About the burning issue of 'terrorism' that is going in Kashmir region right from 1948 with loss of lives and properties of both Pakistani and Indian government, by extension people of Kashmir, for which you probably felt the urge to take your concern among the world public through this Y!A forum. You sir may think deeply and decide after evaluating above mentioned freedom struggles and come to your own conclusion if these are to some extent similar to the decades of guerilla fighting (terrorism) in Kashmir or not? If so, then what is your Answer to solve Kashmir problem?

Similar question may be posed to the Israeli government too in respect of Palestinian struggle for self-determination. Now the reality on the ground is that both India and Israel are in upper hand in their respective places when dealing with these so-called 'terrorists' of Kashmir and Palestine. The debate and fight could easily be minimized if the respective leadership could possibly see the root causes for the sustenance of these terrorists’ activities and do something positive to solve them. And at the same time refer how tactfully similar 'terrorists' problems were resolved as the British and such other intelligent people have done in the past by freeing the USA and India in the lifetime of our modern history.

Our recent history in Bangladesh is that India advised our the then PM Sk. Hasina (1996-2001) who happens to be President of her party Awami League (and a great friend of Indian politicians), to settle the insurgency/dispute between tribal 'terrorist' Shanti-Bahini guerillas of the Chittagong Hill Tracts Districts of Bangladesh bordering India and see to it that a peace deal is signed even at the cost of violating the provisions of integrity as set in the sacred constitution of Bangladesh. Our AL government of that time had to swallow its pride and sacrifice part of the constitutional provision just so that we can live side-by-side with this ‘terrorist’ Shanti-Bahini and their tribal hill people, who were harbored, trained and armed by the Indian government. The calm in our Chittagong Hill Tracts districts has been achieved by about 95% since a few of the clauses of the peace deal could not be implemented due to some technical reasons, as alleged by the leaders of ‘terrorist’ organization- Shanti-Bahini; who are accorded state minister’s status and inducted as ministers of subsequent government of Bangladesh to pacify them.

Now, can you see light at the end of the tunnel and devise your country- India's own plan to accommodate the legitimate demand of the people who are fighting for their own different causes for many decades now? If peace deal with rebels of Bangladesh is a good idea as per Indian prescription then similar deals with Indian rebels would definitely be a good idea to solve their problems too. I do hope that the answer from you would not be like generations of leaders worldwide would prescribe: "Give them a good beating and the terrorism would be wiped out from the face of this world”!

I do not know why you have doubt when you ask here Quote: “As an individual if you display and exhibit peaceful understandings of the world and people around you, will it eventually change the world? Could it reach terrorists and stop terrorism?” Un-quote.

Why question this sane logic that we the general populace of the world are fighting proxy-wars at the behest of our corrupt leaders. So, why not we as an individual stop adding fuel to the terrorists by way of spreading hatreds? In this Y!A forum there are some of the users who are also behaving like any ‘terrorist’ by way of inciting and/or spreading falsehood, agitation and jingoism which only creates more confusion and divergence rather than bringing the common people together to hate the crimes and minimize terrorism to its pre WWII level, if not be able to completely annihilate it?

Answer 2

You see there is a misconception about the word terrorism ....
Terrorism the act of a terrorist equal pain inflicted by poor country or poor peoples soldier , we call it as such " terrorism " because we can't seem to put our finger on them , they are elusive , they strike and gone they are , mixed between regular people or blow them self's up either way we cant ' stop them , they display their anger the best way they can , albeit is cowardly but which other way could they fight a country as powerful as the USA ???
We will never stop them until we can recognize their purpose and the purpose they stand for . We are led to believe that they are extremists and for sure they are but the notion that they want to kill us just for the pleasure is absurd , it is part of fear mongering and I bet you if we can find a settlement with them they will also embrace peace , Each country the same as each individual wants to pursue it's own doctrine and custom and the freedom to be left alone , and until the west decides to live them alone , we will continue to suffer their attacks or be terrorized by terrorist ...

Answer 3

From seeing your posts constantly about the US, I don't think you'd have any idea what exhibiting 'peaceful understandings of the world and people around you' means. You incite hatred purposely.

Answer 4

That's an excellent question - somewhat idealistic, but excellent.

The terrorists apparently equate this type of policy with weakness. I don't think any recent leader exhibited the traits you describe any better than Jimmy Carter - and his handling of the hostage situation probably cost him his re-election.

The reality is that the radical Islamic agenda must be stopped. History has shown that negotiations and diplomacy only led to more terror, finally culminating in the events of 9/11.

If this demented ideology can be stopped without violence and war, we need to pursue these avenues - but until such policies are proved effective, it seems the only alternative is military force.

Answer 5

I will answer a resounding YES and I am sure I will be a minority.

An analogy that might be useful is if your glass of water is clean and you friend's is dirty is it better to get in a fistfight about which is cleaner or put your glass next to his and let him see for himself?

Look, I am not saying terrorism is not evil, our war on terror is wrong, we should not defend ourselves, any of that. But are we going to go on like we are (which is essentially banging our heads against the wall) or try to analyze and understand what is making people feel like they need to walk into a crowded market and blow themselves up? Americans don't do that. Why do they? We need to understand. And folk's let's get a little deeper in that understanding than just saying "they're evil". We know that. But there are thousands or maybe millions of them, and civilization is at stake here.

Answer 6

When figting terror, one must look at the root causes of terrorism. Those root causes must be addressed properly and peacefully.

The way Bush is going will never reduce terrorism. There were no terrorists in Iraq until Bush invaded it.

People look at this too much as a black and white situation, good versus evil.

If that view is maintained, terror won't stop.

Answer 7

Well, if you display peaceful understandings of the world and the people around you I do doubt it'll change the mind of terrorists. Terrorists are ruthless, they don't give a damn about anything and they probably won't stop until they get what they want.

Answer 8

Will ignorant people ever stop asking for us to protest against terrorism when we already DO!!!!! Do some research and stop being a bigot!

Answer 9

Terrorism is just a biased word....one person's terrorist is another person's freedom fighter...

You could be loving to others...but if someone feels that there's something to fight for...they will...someday I hope there will be peace...

Answer 10

Well,Muslims are killing Buddhists (and they are very peaceful). Recently they killed a Buddhist man in Indonesia who wandered into one of their villages selling ice cream. They shot him 3 times and then beheaded him. They left his headless body upright on the bike seat.