terrorism

The greatest punishment for martyr-minded people is to allow them to live.
Killing them only fulfills their greatest wish.

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Terrorist’s are made – not born.

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Reacting to terrorism with military and police terrorism, is not defeating terrorism. It Justifies it.

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We create our own enemies through marginalisation, seclusion and economic poverty.

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Fighting martyr-minded people is like trying to heal a heroin addict by giving them cocaine.

Enjoy this scene from a wonderful movie PARADISE NOW (2006) in which the main character, Said, explains why he becomes a suicide bomber.

Sami Yusuf – FORGOTTEN PROMISES

Maher Zain – LOVE WILL PREVAIL

As-salāmu `alaykum

The thoughts listed above are my own. Any similarity to other quotes is purely incidental and accidental.

Some thoughts on recent events:

Has anyone stopped to think that this is exactly what Terrorists want?
Polarization
Solidification
Determination
Reactionary rigidity
A fight

Terrorism CANNOT be prevented
Terrorism CANNOT be fought
Terrorism CANNOT win

Terrorism CAN BE overcome!

Sure people who commit criminal acts should be prosecuted.
But to increase military, police, surveillance is counter-productive.
Profiling an entire group of people under suspicion for the acts of a few is very Hitlerian.
A totalitarian state is what the Terrorists want. Don’t give in to totalitarianism in the name of security.
There is no security in life.

Our politicians, political, military and law enforcement leaders need to completely rethink their
approaches to so-called terrorism.

We need to also ask ourselves about media reporting of these events? Is there bias? How does the media use language that generalizes and therefore seems to implicate a larger group which then seems to make the problem larger than it is?

The biggest problem is that people try to understand (and fight) terrorism as if it were some sort of war between states. But terrorism (as it has come to be known) is nothing more than the criminal acts of a few individuals.

Terrorism by its nature cannot be predicted.
If you try to predict terrorism you end up with a society where people are convicted of crimes before a crime is created. We are getting closer and closer as a society to what sci-fi writer Philip K. Dick called “thought crime” in his excellent story, MINORITY REPORT (also a good movie).

How is terrorism overcome?
I think the best advice (which should be used by politicians, military, law enforcement and prison officials) comes from someone who lived a couple thousand years ago.

“You have heard that our fathers were told, ‘Eye for eye and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you not to stand up against someone who does you wrong. On the contrary, if someone hits you on the right cheek, let him hit you on the left cheek too! If someone wants to sue you for your shirt, let him have your coat as well! And if a soldier forces you to carry his pack for one mile, carry it for two! When someone asks you for something, give it to him; when someone wants to borrow something from you, lend it to him.

“You have heard that our fathers were told, ‘Love your neighbor — and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! Then you will become children of your Father in heaven. For he makes his sun shine on good and bad people alike, and he sends rain to the righteous and the unrighteous alike. What reward do you get if you love only those who love you? ~ Jesus, The Christ (Matthew 5:38-46)

That will be the way terrorism is overcome. Again, terrorism will happen – it cannot be prevented but it can be overcome.
MESSAGES FROM THE FUTURE #42

I’M YOUR HOPE

WHAT YOU’VE BECOME

Sure, everyone is praying for the “victims” which is good. But what about the boys who committed these crimes? Are you praying for them to or do you just think they “should get what’s coming to them”.
I STRONGLY ENCOURAGE you pray FOR the boys who committed these crimes.
Don’t pray about them, pray FOR them.