Stick it to them till they’re done!

(Terrorism de jour)

 

It seems not much time passes before another act of terrorism makes the news.  In an unscientific observation, it seems the number and frequency of these heinous events are increasing.  Why?

 

Certainly, there is injustice in the world; noble causes are being fought.  Yet, the violence, as it is said, seems to beget violence.  Eyes for eyes, teeth for teeth, we are decimating body parts to prove – what?   

 

There is no single simple answer to that question, but there are a few common causes, some negative like greed and power (a form of greed), and some neutral or positive like security and justice, whether personal or business.  Large governments and, frankly, large corporate interests have a strong hold in most places, while the fractured or disenfranchised countries and people are battling for some form of equity.

 

We live in a world that is far more black and white than I feel it needs to be.  We are brought up to fight for what we believe in.  Fight for what is right! Yet that immediately creates the problem I want to address.  What is right?  I could say what I think is right, but what about someone who does not agree with my right?  Are they wrong? Well, in my myopic opinion and anyone else’s – yes, they are wrong.  But where does that leave them and us, polarized?  Unless they are the only ones that have that option, then others agree with them and therefore are part of the “wrong” that I see.  

 

However, if we take a look from their perspective, then they look right, and therefore I, and other like mined are wrong.   I am not saying there is no objective right or wrong.  Some beliefs are held so widely that they are not debated as “wrong”.  However, I am saying that one person's right may be another’s wrong.  Obvious, of course, but if it is so obvious, why are we not working hard to see a way around this ongoing dilemma?  Because they are wrong and that is just that!   It seems that way.

 

For example, in the world of terrorism, the terrorist is the hero to fellow terrorists.  Their cause and acts justified, but some great “good”. Yet these violent good deed doers are the enemy to those being terrorized, and why are they terrorizing? Lots of reasons like the ones listed above.  However, unless either they win, in which case there may be another terrorist

 

In Gaza, those who vow to destroy Israel are terrorists with supporters.  Hama has its reasons; for them, they are right, Israel is wrong.  For Israel, the tables are turned, right is wrong, and wrong is right.  For any observer, taking a side will only create an impossible position. It is only when no side stakes a position to defend that we can begin to see peace.  I can only hope, and hope I do that humanity can come to its senses, not everyone will agree, but all can respect and tolerate another's belief.