Brenton
Righteousizing Terrorism.
June 16th 2008 05:50
Student and teacher in the room. Teacher is having a bad day. So what happens is this; the student is a real smart arse pain in the neck. Always mucking up and being rude. And on this particular day, the teacher has had ENOUGH.
The student slumps into the room. He doesn’t want to be there, and he wants the teacher (and the world) to know this. The teacher, straight away, singles him out.
“What are you doing”
“Nothing.”
“Well you’re meant to be doing something, aren’t you!”
“Dunno?”
“You don’t know, huh? You don’t know what your doing. You don’t even know your work. I’ve seen your stuff, you don’t know how to spell huh!”
“Bullshit!”
“DO NOT USE THAT LANGUAGE TO ME! I’M going to call your parents, and we’ll have a chat. And what’s more, you can forget about sport for the rest of the semester!”
“I hate you sir!”
And pause.
…
…
…
So. Who did you like more in that sequence? The teacher or the student? I expect it will be the student. Which, in a logical sense is kind of odd because the student was doing the wrong thing. What’s more he had previously done the wrong thing many times before. And we KNOW our teacher antagonist had an explanation for their behaviour.
The reason we tend to side with the student is not because of their behaviour so much, as the behaviour of their teacher, whose unreasonable ranting and nastiness essentially legitimises the students own misbehaviour.
My question is; do we see th same thing happening with Terrorism?
In Freedom Next Time, John Pilger talks about the prominence of Suicide Bombings in Palestine, and indicates that the problem is one that is generally (and perhaps, he indicates, intentionally) caused by the circumstances under which many Palestinians find themselves at the hand of the Israeli Government.
He also recalls a conversation asking about the purpose of the walls. The walls, he was told, are to prevent suicide bombers. He points out that the walls predate the bombers.
A policy of systematic discrimination against the Palestinian people means terrorism against Israel seems more justified.
Attacks from extremists in Palestine means Israel’s policies of discrimination seem more justified.
The Western government’s reaction to terrorism is in general; hit them hard, take them down. Which seems reasonable enough until you look at the dark underside attitude of ‘and the consequences be damned.’ The consequences are the unintended death and injuries of civilians. Like the teacher, we loose respect of those we are trying to help, by looking like arrogant idiots. By looking like we don’t care. Every day, on the train you hear kids say how their teacher is an idiot who deserves to get yelled at. Every day we hear victims of conflict calling for the deaths of those who have harmed them.
The question I ask; are we, in the fight against terrorism, giving these acts of malice and desperation, their very justification.
The student slumps into the room. He doesn’t want to be there, and he wants the teacher (and the world) to know this. The teacher, straight away, singles him out.
“What are you doing”
“Nothing.”
“Well you’re meant to be doing something, aren’t you!”
“Dunno?”
“You don’t know, huh? You don’t know what your doing. You don’t even know your work. I’ve seen your stuff, you don’t know how to spell huh!”
“Bullshit!”
“DO NOT USE THAT LANGUAGE TO ME! I’M going to call your parents, and we’ll have a chat. And what’s more, you can forget about sport for the rest of the semester!”
“I hate you sir!”
And pause.
…
…
…
So. Who did you like more in that sequence? The teacher or the student? I expect it will be the student. Which, in a logical sense is kind of odd because the student was doing the wrong thing. What’s more he had previously done the wrong thing many times before. And we KNOW our teacher antagonist had an explanation for their behaviour.
The reason we tend to side with the student is not because of their behaviour so much, as the behaviour of their teacher, whose unreasonable ranting and nastiness essentially legitimises the students own misbehaviour.
My question is; do we see th same thing happening with Terrorism?
In Freedom Next Time, John Pilger talks about the prominence of Suicide Bombings in Palestine, and indicates that the problem is one that is generally (and perhaps, he indicates, intentionally) caused by the circumstances under which many Palestinians find themselves at the hand of the Israeli Government.
He also recalls a conversation asking about the purpose of the walls. The walls, he was told, are to prevent suicide bombers. He points out that the walls predate the bombers.
A policy of systematic discrimination against the Palestinian people means terrorism against Israel seems more justified.
Attacks from extremists in Palestine means Israel’s policies of discrimination seem more justified.
The Western government’s reaction to terrorism is in general; hit them hard, take them down. Which seems reasonable enough until you look at the dark underside attitude of ‘and the consequences be damned.’ The consequences are the unintended death and injuries of civilians. Like the teacher, we loose respect of those we are trying to help, by looking like arrogant idiots. By looking like we don’t care. Every day, on the train you hear kids say how their teacher is an idiot who deserves to get yelled at. Every day we hear victims of conflict calling for the deaths of those who have harmed them.
The question I ask; are we, in the fight against terrorism, giving these acts of malice and desperation, their very justification.
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Comment by Doug Pollard
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Turn the other cheek, love your neighbour, reach out to your enemy?
And it has to be the Israelis who do it, because they are the interlopers in the region, and they are the ones with the greater firepower.
Otherwise we remain stuck in the current 'eye-for-an-eye' nonsense. Vengeance isn't a sane response - it only makes things worse and perpetuates the situation.
Comment by Brenton
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Love to see it.
Comment by Damo
Good post.
Terrorism is the glamour subject of the post 9-11 electioneering.
Unfortunately I get the impression that half the politicians watch 24 and look to Jack Bauer for all the answers.
I also get the impression that few even have the slightest concept of what they are dealing with and how to tackle the causes. They are focused upon the spectacular but forget the basics.
First understand what you are dealing with; Then what they want and what you can give?
You cannot understand the solution without knowing the genuine grievance from the unreasonable demands.
You cannot know the size of the fight unless you fully understand how motivated both sides are.
Comment by Brenton
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Thanks.
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Kneew I'd missed soemthing.
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Comment by Brenton
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Comment by S.L.
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My point is that excusing bad behavior only encourages it, whether its a student or a terrorist, or anyone else.
Comment by Brenton
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What worries me is that you equate recognising the consequences of your own action as siding with your enemy or attacker.