who creates the terror?
Terror and danger are not the same thing.
Bombs can kill us suddenly and unexpectedly, and are terrifying to those directly involved. The same can be said for car crashes. And natural disasters. And new virulent illnesses. And many other dangers. So why are bombs uniquely terrifying?
Global terror is not natural. Curiosity is. When something bad happens, those directly involved are terrified, but bystanders - after getting to relative safety - either watch or help. But everyone else just goes on with their business. Look at London on Thursday: most people just got back to work, more or less as usual.
So why do we talk about bomb attacks as if they are sources of global terror? The answer is pretty clear from any newspaper or TV report: the idea is encouraged by our leaders. They repeat the words "terrorist" and "terror" at every opportunity. News headlines ask if the bombing will change everything. Politicians line up to say that the terrorists will not destroy our culture and values. The idea of extraordinary terror and extraordinary significance originates with, and is promoted by, our leaders.
Life creates the dangers. But the politicians create the terror.
posted by Chris Tolworthy at 6:52 PM
3 Comments:
Chris, I was thinking exactly the same thing today. While the news reporter flapped his gums, underneath him was the subtitle: "Terrorist Attack in London." Why, oh why, do news media pick up on the buzzwords handed down to them from On High? Bush needs this word "terror" to be flashed on our TV screens on a daily basis to keep up the support for his jihad on Iraq.
Nobody "wins" a "war" against terror. Terror will always exist in the human mind. I'm insulted that people insist on this phrase "war against terror."
Why won't the journalists use the obvious words? "War against Iraq," and "The Bombings in London," and "Scummy, religion-crazed bombers" -- anything will do. Have we lost our common sense? Have we lost our imaginiations? Have I lost my alloted space for a comment?
Excellent post.
Thanks -I'm glad I'm not alone in thinking this. I've been looking at pictures of people from near the bomb scene. They don't look terrified, just surprised. If they do recognize this as terror, why should we?
Unfortunately, the wacko terrorists have declared it to be a war. Also, at least in the U.S., there is a history of declaring "war" on various hard issues--poverty and drugs come to mind. It would be harder for the politicians to get support for even the most legitimate actions against murderers like Al Qaeda without labeling it a "war."
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