Toefur
October 5th, 2001, 09:59
I know everyones getting sick of this stuff, but this is a rather good piece I think. So I shall post it here. 'Tis written by this chap I know, who is an American citizen.
Far from me to claim expertise in this field, but as a person who has lived in Europe at the height of a tremendous terrorist wave in the 70s, I may have a few words of advice on how to combat terrorism. Terrorism cannot be fought solely at the governmental level. It must be countered by every citizen and person of good will and intention. This does not mean turning us into a nation of squealers or denunciators. It means keeping our eyes and ears open to the world and be aware of who our true friends and enemies are, and who truly can become our ally even if he sists in the neutral sidelines. Again this cannot be based on something as superficial as someone's nation of origin or religion or ethnicity. It must be evaluated on a case by case basis, and be founded on behaviour and acts, rather than just words. So how do we do it? Here are some suggestions:
1. Learn another language. Better, learn two or three languages. It may seem trivial but much of what is said about the US by others (friends or enemies, in good or in bad) is said in another language than English. Not knowing French, Arabic, German, Hebrew or Chinese puts Americans at a distinct disadvantage with respect to any other person in the world.
2. If you want to know what is truly said and thought about the US, do not solely rely on what the US media tells you. Read other newspapers from the world. Suggestion #1 will help, but many newspapers relating what the rest of the world says or feels are written in English: BBC online, International Herald Tribune, Palestine Chronicle, Haaretz Daily, Taiwan Times, etc... are papers which can peel the veil from our eyes and make us realize what Europeans, Asians, Arabs, Africans, and so many others really feel and why.
3. Learn to understand another culture. Do not visit other countries as tourists, but as full-fledged members of the same world, seeking to fully immerse yourself in the frame of mind and worldview of another country or religion. This does not mean you need to agree with everything you see and hear, but seek to at least understand their view and walk in their shoes so you truly see how others see us and why. This will also allow you to better defend your views and break the temptation of ignorance and self-absorbtion and isolationism and fear, which are the true friends of terrorism.
4. Read and study another religion or faith. Not simply to debunk or deride it or feel superior to it, but to see the world momentarily as those who follow that faith do. This will allow you to distinguish extremists from moderates, fanatics from thinkers, true representers of the faith from impostors, loving members from hate-filled members.
5. Read and study very attentively the History of the World. The History of the World is extremely complex, bloody and does not always have clear heroes or villains, but people who work in the twilight somewhere in between light and darkness and make pacts with the devil for better or for worse. Learn from past mistakes and past victories and make the appropriate inferences and conclusion to be derived from the past.
6. Learn the Psychology of the Terrorists. Terrorists act on fear. To react strongly on Afghans shows fear and tells terrorists they succeeded in scaring us. They seek strong disproportionate reactions, so that their extreme ideologies may be accepted when and where they would never be. Terrorists are not beaten through brute force but underhanded tactics. Terrorism can only be curbed through a moderate but ferocious, patient but relentless policy of resistance. Nazi Germany was beaten first through the acts of Resistance (passive or active) of a few courageous individuals. Communism eventually imploded because of refuzniks and economic reasons, through threats, but not missiles. The War on Terrorism can be a decisive one, but not a hot one. It must be extremely cold and long-winded and patient and hidden and it must strike as unexpectedly and pinpointedly and strongly as we were stricken.
7. Be patient, steadfast, and unyielding while maintaining a cool head. Make many friends from a wide variety of cultures and faiths. Engage dialogue and expand your knowledge of the world. Know your neighbours (street and country) and listen to them and their issues. In such an environment, terrorism will have an extremely small breathing room and eventually cannot survive for very long.
Far from me to claim expertise in this field, but as a person who has lived in Europe at the height of a tremendous terrorist wave in the 70s, I may have a few words of advice on how to combat terrorism. Terrorism cannot be fought solely at the governmental level. It must be countered by every citizen and person of good will and intention. This does not mean turning us into a nation of squealers or denunciators. It means keeping our eyes and ears open to the world and be aware of who our true friends and enemies are, and who truly can become our ally even if he sists in the neutral sidelines. Again this cannot be based on something as superficial as someone's nation of origin or religion or ethnicity. It must be evaluated on a case by case basis, and be founded on behaviour and acts, rather than just words. So how do we do it? Here are some suggestions:
1. Learn another language. Better, learn two or three languages. It may seem trivial but much of what is said about the US by others (friends or enemies, in good or in bad) is said in another language than English. Not knowing French, Arabic, German, Hebrew or Chinese puts Americans at a distinct disadvantage with respect to any other person in the world.
2. If you want to know what is truly said and thought about the US, do not solely rely on what the US media tells you. Read other newspapers from the world. Suggestion #1 will help, but many newspapers relating what the rest of the world says or feels are written in English: BBC online, International Herald Tribune, Palestine Chronicle, Haaretz Daily, Taiwan Times, etc... are papers which can peel the veil from our eyes and make us realize what Europeans, Asians, Arabs, Africans, and so many others really feel and why.
3. Learn to understand another culture. Do not visit other countries as tourists, but as full-fledged members of the same world, seeking to fully immerse yourself in the frame of mind and worldview of another country or religion. This does not mean you need to agree with everything you see and hear, but seek to at least understand their view and walk in their shoes so you truly see how others see us and why. This will also allow you to better defend your views and break the temptation of ignorance and self-absorbtion and isolationism and fear, which are the true friends of terrorism.
4. Read and study another religion or faith. Not simply to debunk or deride it or feel superior to it, but to see the world momentarily as those who follow that faith do. This will allow you to distinguish extremists from moderates, fanatics from thinkers, true representers of the faith from impostors, loving members from hate-filled members.
5. Read and study very attentively the History of the World. The History of the World is extremely complex, bloody and does not always have clear heroes or villains, but people who work in the twilight somewhere in between light and darkness and make pacts with the devil for better or for worse. Learn from past mistakes and past victories and make the appropriate inferences and conclusion to be derived from the past.
6. Learn the Psychology of the Terrorists. Terrorists act on fear. To react strongly on Afghans shows fear and tells terrorists they succeeded in scaring us. They seek strong disproportionate reactions, so that their extreme ideologies may be accepted when and where they would never be. Terrorists are not beaten through brute force but underhanded tactics. Terrorism can only be curbed through a moderate but ferocious, patient but relentless policy of resistance. Nazi Germany was beaten first through the acts of Resistance (passive or active) of a few courageous individuals. Communism eventually imploded because of refuzniks and economic reasons, through threats, but not missiles. The War on Terrorism can be a decisive one, but not a hot one. It must be extremely cold and long-winded and patient and hidden and it must strike as unexpectedly and pinpointedly and strongly as we were stricken.
7. Be patient, steadfast, and unyielding while maintaining a cool head. Make many friends from a wide variety of cultures and faiths. Engage dialogue and expand your knowledge of the world. Know your neighbours (street and country) and listen to them and their issues. In such an environment, terrorism will have an extremely small breathing room and eventually cannot survive for very long.