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Editorial Archive 2004-05 NO. 06
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Reader's Forum: Terrorism not just about extremist Muslims
by Reader's Forum
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Former Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres held a question and answer session with roughly a dozen diplomacy students last week. I was fortunate enough to attend.
All the questions asked were about Israel, but most addressed the Israel-Palestine conflict. It was an honor to hear the thoughts about this conflict from a world leader.
However, this discussion sparked more questions than answers. I left the discussion thinking of broader issues like terrorism itself.
Peres’ comments were about the Israel-Palestine conflict and terrorism in the Middle East. Peres has personal experience. His country is at war.
Using the specific conflict between Israel and Palestine, some might conclude that most terrorist acts are carried out by Islamic extremists, and it is easy for some to generalize terrorists as Muslims.
But it’s important for students to think about the meaning of the word terrorism.
Terrorism does not identify with one religion but with an ideology. Terrorist acts are conducted to instill fear in a group with an ultimate goal of coercing action.
People are struck with terrorist attacks by computer hackers sending viruses into our computers. America was struck with an act of terrorism not only on 9/11, but also when Eric Robert Rudolph bombed several abortion clinics in this country.
The definition of terrorism does not just include Muslim extremists. Terrorism has a much broader meaning that spans many beliefs, values and cultures.
Kevin M. Ward Kilgore
Academic teaming assistant
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