Inspiring Terror
Think of all those restless young men, hardly knowing how to respond to the urgency of their thoughts and emotions. Oh, yes, their hormones. They're ripe for adventure, for a sense of purpose, somehow eluding them in the barren existence of their ordinary lives. While everywhere around them, outside the normal sphere of their pedestrian experience there are other men whom geography and birth have gifted with opportunities denied them.The excitement they crave is to be had, in some small part, through participation in popular public sport, each country's national devotion to encouraging its young to excel in athletic pursuits, in physically demanding team efforts. Much as previous generations in far earlier times were exposed to the need to become skilled in armed combat, as nations marched in determined warfare against one another.
It was ever thus. All the energies and the restless dissatisfaction of young men harnessed to the machinery of war and conquest. Of which present-day national aspirations lodge themselves in a country's winning team. The hard physical team sports like soccer elicit the most interest, the most support, the most violent reactions where it's almost permissible for the thug in the citizen to express itself.
Sometimes, however, it's just not enough. Other outlets, however frowned upon by civil society, are sought. From criminal activities and gang affiliations to organized crime intent on perverting all of society's values for their economic gain. Well, that's an avenue, and there's a long tradition in all societies that host their fair share of young malcontents and social outcasts.
And then, of course, more latterly, there's the advent of the angry young male radicalized by events abroad construed as attacks against their shared past, a culture, a religion, traditions they know little of, but identify with for the purpose of exhorting themselves to grievance and revenge. Now there's excitement for you. A covert activity that absolutely tingles with promise.
This relatively new group of activists aspiring to terror, to inspiring terror in others, for the powerful uplift it provides them with, can now depend on far more than casual contact with others in community centres or fundamentalist mosques for support and affirmation. There's a whole world out there accessible on the Internet; sites that encourage and instruct and define terror in unmistakable terms of bloodshed and international coverage.
It's quite boring to succumb to all the platitudes of middle-class life, as privileged citizens in free and democratic countries. It's all so predictable, there's no mystery, no excitement, no creative draw at all. But cruising the Internet, finding like minds intent on sowing terror, pledged to create bloody carnage, and that'll show their oppressors, those denigrators of Islam. That's powerful, that's inspiring.
Under the clever guise of "religious awareness" and the encouraging attention of respected and experienced jihadists, troubled youth are given the opportunity to gravitate into the company of fundamentalist Islamism, intent on pursuing an agenda of hatred - religious militias intent on creating murderous mayhem. The better to see their message is well understood by target communities.
Islamist radicals know well how to nurse the sense of moral outrage against the West. Their targets for radicalization are ripe for the adventure, prove fairly amenable to twisted logic and inspiring opportunities to prove their dedication to the global jihad. As potential martyrs whose embrace by their Maker will ensure their blessed memory will be held in high regard in perpetuity.
They plan, conjure up scenarios where their carefully laid and organized events lead to their inspiring fear among the target population, and respect among their peers. While the ignominy of capture and incarceration, the failure to achieve jihad and martyrdom, haunts them, encourages them to strive mightily for success. Failure of purpose is the ultimate demoralization.
Any and all efforts to destabilize the government of the enemy, to destroy its infrastructure, to victimize its population represents noble efforts in the name of Islam. For Islam's greater glory, homage to the Prophet Mohammad, honour to Allah. There is nothing quite as inspiring as heroic religion-inspired fantasies. Truly transcendent.
Labels: Realities, Religion, Terrorism
posted by Pieface @ Wednesday, July 09, 2008
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