--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "Patrick Gillam" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > --- curtisdeltablues wrote: > > > > I agree with your point that blending crazy > > beliefs and explosives takes the whole discussion out of the > > theoretical and into the world of "holy shit! > > > > --- Dave" <bikemaster@> wrote: > > > > > > with people strapping on bombs and blowing > > > themselves up in coffee houses because they believe that 70 virgins > > > will greet them in paradise, it hits a lot closer to home. > > A short time before 9/11/2001, I read or heard > somewhere that terrorism arises from a deep sense > of hopelessness and powerlessness. But I'm surprised > that with all my reading, I haven't run across any kind > of compelling discourse as to why terrorists kill civilians > and themselves. Has anybody run across a cogent > essay somewhere that has some insight into terrorism? > Or do you have some insights yourself? Anyone. Thanks. >
I don't think you are giving the hopelessness and impotence the 'credit' it deserves when spawning terrorism. It is not the hopelessness and powerlessness borne of individual circumstances, or a run of bad luck, such as most of us in the wealthy and powerful US might imagine. It is a culture of generations of no hope, no power and no change. A culture that has grown to mistrust any authority or have any possibility for personal redemption, socially, culturally or economically. This situation is fertile ground for religious extremists, seeking power, who then trade the offer of meaning in the form of zealotry to these hopeless people in return for their lives. Hence terrorists are born. ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Something is new at Yahoo! Groups. Check out the enhanced email design. http://us.click.yahoo.com/SISQkA/gOaOAA/yQLSAA/UlWolB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> To subscribe, send a message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Or go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FairfieldLife/ and click 'Join This Group!' Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FairfieldLife/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
