9/11 gave birth a new era of terrorism. I say this because we live in a time which isn’t really like any other. Crimes are committed all around the world with no compassion shown to who and what will be affected. From 9/11, 7/7,depletion of white phosphorus, uranium and drone warfare.
We also have a new age of stigmas, prejudice and stereotypes along with this we have desensitised ourselves to those we believe to be ‘terrorists’ or responsible for it. We have our expectations of people we do not know, whether this be based on appearance, faith, nationality or in cases now, even their name. When individuals commit crimes to hurt innocent people there are always intentions and motives that drive the individual to commit such acts to cause ‘terror’. So terrorism. As a nation of wealth, knowledge and prominent global figures, what stigmas, prejudices and stereotypes have we attached to this word.
The word itself I feel has a very loose meaning, it is an act of violence caused to bring terror to nations whilst at the same time it targets innocent people who ultimately also pay a price for it. When I mention this word we all have a rough idea of the race, faith and the appearance. There is no doubt that the media plays a huge role in how we portray a ‘terrorist’ we have a depiction in our head which is created and also reinforced by the media. Should terrorism now, only be viewed through those who feel ‘terrorised’.
Who ‘feels’ terrorised? How can one measure something like this? What has come out of 9/11, when analysing the aftermath do our loses differ much from war torn Afghanistan? Do the images that the media shows us of Afghanistan replicate ground zero?
The Bush administration backed by the Blair cabinet almost immediately responded by deploying troops into Afghanistan. What then happens to the innocent civilians that are massacred by our drones, we reply by giving them a mere title of ‘collateral damage’, individuals soon become civilians and refugees, these are the names we give to human beings that suffer loses. Are they not owed a right to life? Do they have the right to exist within society just like our children, elders and our injured?
Afghanistan paid the price for a handful of terrorists who individually committed a crime driven by their own intentions. What did the nation as a whole do.. breed the men!? This is our justification for raging a war against the entire country and its population. We have torn a country apart, destroying livelihoods leaving scars within the country which may never heal. Saying this now, how do we feel towards a largely; Muslim, bearded, burka clad country? Are we at sympathy with their dead? Are they also just like those who lost their lives on 9/11, do we show compassion and sympathy? During our silences on the anniversaries do we reflect on our dead and also those still dying?
This last week has justified how the stereotypes we have created impacts our trail of thought. The Boston marathon bombing was a terrible act of terrorism but the aftermath was not only embarrassing but a huge fail in American media handling. Instead of addressing the nations diplomatically with ‘we do not know’ it lead to an the unleash over social media of gossip. The race of the individual was never the issue. DNA/genetics however you want to put it, does not explain our actions and behaviour from one ethnicity to another. The question of race is irrelevant and should never have been a top priority in the search for those responsible.
Globally, when incidents like this take place, our first thoughts are drawn to the same stereotypes of a terrorist. If this is the way we think as a developed hegemonic power this needs to be reanalysed. Individuals commit crimes, individuals are therefore responsible. Why do we allow our justifications to be driven by comments such as ‘it was done in the name of Islam’ we are intelligent beings. Islam does not advocate murder of innocent. The basic fundamentals of Islam is that God gives and takes life. Thus contradicting the behaviour of ‘suicide bombers’ and the innocent people that die.
When a nation looks to its leaders and representatives at times of crisis we look for reassurance that matters are being dealt with expertise. Instead we were battling the same song of ‘race’ being the forefront of concern and not forgetting CNN’s John King’s comments. Why so many of us even insist on switching to such channels just to be misinformed with weak headlines and blatant racial hatred. The likes of these news channels and its viewers anticipated the possibilities of a bearded man of colour so the label of terrorist could be fulfilled. Lo’ behold we managed to narrow our search to two male men from a surprise, surprise predominantly Muslim Chechnya. Even this was a difficult concept to comprehend with difficulties of mapping it.
We are so dependant and comfortable by what the media and our world leaders offer us that we not only think they will provide justice but we also turn a blind eye to it. So where does that leave so many Muslim men and women just like me. Are we all merely a depiction of the same stereotypes?
syedawrites 