It is so easy to label terrorists as evil. When we see the bloody, brutal and devastating consequences of actions such as 9/11 or the Munich Massacre, we assume these individuals want nothing more than power and bloodshed. Researching online, I have found this perspective voiced time and time again in articles such as this one. What I don’t see often however is the other perspective; the fact that most terrorists have resorted to terrorism because they have experienced terrible things themselves. Some are in it for control and thrill, but many fall to this level as they feel they have no other options. I’m going to talk about this in my post today and give examples of how terrorism is both the cause and consequence of devastating situations.
FARC
In 1964, a new threat emerged to the Columbian government. A guerrilla group called the Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarios de Colombia or FARC was gaining popularity amongst marginalized communities. As this group gained military and economic power, they waged war against their government in brutal bombings, massacres and armed conflicts with the aim of overthrowing the authority. After decades of terrorizing officials and civilians alike, many aren’t opposed to the fact that ex-members are being increasingly harassed and murdered since this group’s disbandment in 2017. What is missing with in this acceptance of violence however is an understanding of the motives behind FARC and why it was created. It was born from a sense of abandonment among rural communities following the Columbian Civil War of 1948-1958 where the economically disadvantaged were either neglected or, in some cases, violently attacked by the army. The damage inflicted by the government caused FARC members to commit acts of terrorism which in turn led to the modern consequence of ex-FARC brutality. It is unfair to solely blame any of these parties as they all play a role in this cycle of violence.
RAF
Six years after the founding of FARC, another militant group rose to significance half way across the world. They called themselves the Red Army Faction and were some of the most aggressive terrorists Germany had seen. They went from lighting bombs in shopping malls to ambushing and slaughtering members of political motor caravans throughout the late 1900s. By the time of their disbandment in the 1990s, the public’s opinion on RAF was generally negative, especially considering the country had a strong desire to move passed the horrors of WW2. Ironically however, it was this desire that led to this group’s creation in the first place. Young, powerless Germans were so furious that ex-Nazis still held positions of power in their country that they turned to the easiest option for change they could access; terrorism. They desperately fought what they viewed as a noble cause as long as they could, only realizing in hindsight that they had become alike to the very people they sought to destroy. Once again, considering the cause and consequence of these terrorist actions can help us understand the whole story.
The Munich Massacre
Unfortunately for Germany, RAF was not the worst terrorist scare they would face. During the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich, eight members of the Palestinian organization Black September stormed the housing for the Israeli Athletes and took them hostage. Two were killed on the spot, and the rest were taken to the airport and an estimated 900 million tuned in with bated breath. Unfortunately, in those 21 hours the Olympics given the precursory name of “the games of peace and joy” became the games of tragedy as none of the team members ended up getting out alive. Being the first terrorist activity to be streamed live solidified it as a horrific global event and all eyes turned in anger to this Palestinian group. Their motive for this attack, the violent persecution of their people and expulsion from their homeland, was seldom considered as it was a lot easier to hate the consequence of these actions than try to understand the cause.
9/11
Munich was the world’s first example of a terrorist event broadcast lived, but it would not go down as the world’s most famous. That title, at least for westerners, undoubtedly goes to the fatal events that took place on September 11, 2001. When Al-Qaeda terrorists hijacked four commercial jets and flew them into high-profile targets including the world trade centre and the pentagon, thousands were killed, thousands more were injured and millions felt their sense of national security vanish. The consequences of this event have prevailed to this day in the form of increased airport security, committees dedicated to homeland defence (e.g. the Department of Homeland Security) and an international understanding of the threat terrorism can pose. When looking at this impact, it is easy to take the perspective voiced in the article I linked in my intro and focus on a western standpoint. What, once again, is not talked about in detail is the causation of these events. We don’t speak of the years of colonial oppression and poverty that many middle eastern countries face, nor do we talk about how low-casualty attacks like the Dawson’s Field Hijackings were no longer getting the attention of the “The Great Satan” of America.
Conclusion
Terrorism never breeds from nothing; it is always the consequence of fear, anger, violence or hardship being inflicted on individuals who feel they have no other options. Looking at the causation perspective of terrorism is by no means a way to justify it but rather a way to better understand it. If we can recognize the root causes, we can fight terrorism in its early stages and prevent events like Munich or 9/11 in the future. It is a cycle of devastation, and the sooner we accept this the sooner we can end it.
This week has been a thrilling one as terrorism is a relevant and gripping issue in our society. I have also found this week easier as I have gotten better at managing my nightly notes by honing in on important tasks and cutting out useless ones. Another thing that’s been great this week is discovering a new technique to be engaged when exploring in-class media. Instead of just taking it in passively, I repeat what I am watching back to myself in my head and ask internal questions which helps me formulate ideas before we start discussing. I have also found that drawing in class help me focus better, and plan to continue using these techniques in the future.
Sources
https://www.npr.org/2020/02/06/802764177/colombias-farc-rebels-laid-down-their-weapons-but-a-growing-number-are-being-kil
http://100photos.time.com/photos/kurt-strumpf-munich-massacre
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Red-Army-Faction
https://www.history.com/topics/21st-century/9-11-attacks
Bias and reliability check:
https://www.adfontesmedia.com/npr-bias-and-reliability/
https://www.adfontesmedia.com/time-bias-and-reliability/
https://mediabiasfactcheck.com/encyclopedia-britannica/
https://mediabiasfactcheck.com/history-news-network/