Quote by inutaiIn the context of
terrorism, it's effective only if people let it be effective. Granted, it would
take a while and people would have to die before it really stopped being
effective, but that seems to happen anyway.
Judging the morality of a different mindset, as seen by some of the previous
posts, can be tricky. It's too easy to approach an act like this from your own
viewpoint and simply say "it's wrong." Most people from the Western
world would probably take that stance. Especially young people, perhaps. Older
people may remember being in a war where their country was under attack. If
that's the case, some people will figure that the chances of their surviving may
not be great, and if you're going to die, then you try to take as many of the
enemy with you as possible. Or perhaps they think that, if their lives are given
up for the good of their homeland, then it's not a wasted effort. (The
motivation is NOT to make a country hate them.) Soldiers have done this for
centuries -- be wiling to die for what you believe in. The only difference is
how. A quick suicide or a potentially longer death. Either way, you try to take
out as many of the enemy as possible. I don't condone the suicide bombings, but
I can see the sense of desperation and pride the bombers have. In a way, it
makes them brave. Let's not forget that the Japanese whose anime and manga we
all love so much also had suicide bombers.
And nearly every major religion in the world has gone out and killed in the name
of their beliefs. Crusades, anyone?
I point out these things simply as a reminder that no one should say,
"Well, I would NEVER do anything like that." You don't really know
what you'd do until you're put into that situation. And folks that say, "My
country would NEVER do anything like that!" Well, most countries have. It's
a matter of remembering history and learning from it.
I realize that I left out a lot of details and nuances, but I don't want this to
get TOO long. I also realize that because I stated a viewpoint other than
"Those stupid killing heathens! They should die!" I won't exactly get
any fanmail. I just hope that I encourage some thoughtfulness about reactions
instead of blind emotionalism. If people really want wars to end, it starts with
less being judgmental and more understanding.
Hello! I just noticed that you were very clear on some of your arguments, haha,
interesting...you kinda sound either like my Grandpa or my History teacher,
well, at least your opinions do...^_____~
I don't fully understand all of the things you said, but, yep...I think you
really can't judge someone if you don't really know them. Maybe even the
terrorists? I mean, they weren't born that way, right? I don't know if Spain
would be considered as "the western world", maybe...I just remember my
Grandpa( he's pretty radical and weird sometimes lols ) was irritated when the
Parliament( Madrid parliament that is.. not the Barcelona parliament...I think
they were against it...) supported the war in Iraq, he was always commenting on
it being a mistake or something...
From what I've read of American History, ummm, your civil war was long ago,
right? Maybe that's the reason why people there have forgotten about such
things...because it's not recent? The Guerra Civil was just like sixty or fifty
years ago here, so my abuelos and my other relatives still have a lot of
memories about it. My Grandpa told me something about the sindicalistas( umm,
union members? ) fighting to the death against Francisco Franco's soldiers, even
in almost suicidal situations. Maybe, the suicide bombers feel the same? I can't
say it's right, but that does make them more...human?
Anyways, hope I made some sense, and please don't think that all young people
are narrow-minded, well even if most are...I'm only thirteen but I try to be as
open-minded as possible...just, try to understand things better, something like
that...^____^
Well, see ya later, and thanks for your eloquent argument. Hasta luego, saludos
desde Barcelona.:)
***From Emilia***
merged: 01-07-2008 ~ 04:32am
Quote by inutaiThanks for the lovely and
well-thought-out response in my guestbook! I know I sound old, but I promise I'm
not as old as your grandpa. He
sounds like a wise man. You're absolutely right. Terrorists aren't born that
way. When they're kids, and still have dreams of what they want to be one day,
no
one says to themselves, "Gee, I want my life to end early by blowing myself
up." I don't know if Spain is considered the "Western world" or
not, but it's good (?) that people there still remember what an in-country war
means. Many people in America, young and old, seem to be good at passing
judgment on people in wars, but most have no reference for it themselves. Like
you said, too much time has passed since the Civil War and there hasn't been a
real war on American soil since. I didn't post my comments in the forum to make
the bombings seem right. I don't think it's right to take innocent lives. But
you're right, those people are just human. And as long as I hear wonderful,
thoughtful comments like yours, I will continue to believe that young people
(are you sure you're only 13?) can be open-minded and rational. Thanks again for
the great comments!
Awww, don't worry you don't sound that old...^_____~ And, oh, I just noticed
that you're female, sorry, I called you a "he" on the thread lols!
Hmmm, you could say Gran is wise, just a bit radical and usually, he doesn't
agree with majority opinions, anyway...I love what you said about them being
just kids once and having their own dreams, I was thinking of that but well, you
had the words to say it, ne?^o^ I mean, who dreams of killing himself and other
people, that's just...not possible. It's kinda sad, whatever that happens to
them is enough to make them forget those and how to live...
Well, apparently not all people there passes judgment, because you're here and
you said what you said. It's kinda nice to read stuff like what you wrote, maybe
we need more of those to stop these things, ne? Believe me, here we aren't
clueless about people being divided by beliefs or religion or whatever, Spain is
very regionalized and there are people who..well, they want a country of their
own maybe...I'm a Catalan, but I don't consider myself non-Spanish like some
people here do. I know it's naive, but hey, I'm allowed to be naive,
right?^___^
And yep, I'm thirteen, just last December, do I sound old? Haha, it's my turn to
ask...^o^ Anyways, I'd love to be able to say things as you do, I love writing,
actually, if I don't end up being a nun like my aunt, that is. Thankies for
continuing to believe in the young people...lols, well, at least
some...
Ok. I now know how to submit reviews. ^^!
First, click browse *upperpart...*
Then, look for the manga or anime you want to make a review on. After that,
click the link. Once the page finishes loading, scroll down a litlte. look on
the left side of the monitor. You will be able to see the "submit
review"
There.. Finished! ^^
Np.
Hi! Thanks for the post on my thread
Ya, the weather that we nvr experience before is normally a person's fav...hahaha
Cya around in MT
Thanx 4 the fav and the comment hope u have a great day
:D
Hey there! thanks for your comment on Violent video games and movies VS fairy tales
interesting quote you got there from the economist..
You are welcome.
Hello! I just noticed that you were very clear on some of your arguments, haha, interesting...you kinda sound either like my Grandpa or my History teacher, well, at least your opinions do...^_____~
I don't fully understand all of the things you said, but, yep...I think you really can't judge someone if you don't really know them. Maybe even the terrorists? I mean, they weren't born that way, right? I don't know if Spain would be considered as "the western world", maybe...I just remember my Grandpa( he's pretty radical and weird sometimes lols ) was irritated when the Parliament( Madrid parliament that is.. not the Barcelona parliament...I think they were against it...) supported the war in Iraq, he was always commenting on it being a mistake or something...
From what I've read of American History, ummm, your civil war was long ago, right? Maybe that's the reason why people there have forgotten about such things...because it's not recent? The Guerra Civil was just like sixty or fifty years ago here, so my abuelos and my other relatives still have a lot of memories about it. My Grandpa told me something about the sindicalistas( umm, union members? ) fighting to the death against Francisco Franco's soldiers, even in almost suicidal situations. Maybe, the suicide bombers feel the same? I can't say it's right, but that does make them more...human?
Anyways, hope I made some sense, and please don't think that all young people are narrow-minded, well even if most are...I'm only thirteen but I try to be as open-minded as possible...just, try to understand things better, something like that...^____^
Well, see ya later, and thanks for your eloquent argument. Hasta luego, saludos desde Barcelona.:)
***From Emilia***
merged: 01-07-2008 ~ 04:32am
Awww, don't worry you don't sound that old...^_____~ And, oh, I just noticed that you're female, sorry, I called you a "he" on the thread lols! Hmmm, you could say Gran is wise, just a bit radical and usually, he doesn't agree with majority opinions, anyway...I love what you said about them being just kids once and having their own dreams, I was thinking of that but well, you had the words to say it, ne?^o^ I mean, who dreams of killing himself and other people, that's just...not possible. It's kinda sad, whatever that happens to them is enough to make them forget those and how to live...
Well, apparently not all people there passes judgment, because you're here and you said what you said. It's kinda nice to read stuff like what you wrote, maybe we need more of those to stop these things, ne? Believe me, here we aren't clueless about people being divided by beliefs or religion or whatever, Spain is very regionalized and there are people who..well, they want a country of their own maybe...I'm a Catalan, but I don't consider myself non-Spanish like some people here do. I know it's naive, but hey, I'm allowed to be naive, right?^___^
And yep, I'm thirteen, just last December, do I sound old? Haha, it's my turn to ask...^o^ Anyways, I'd love to be able to say things as you do, I love writing, actually, if I don't end up being a nun like my aunt, that is. Thankies for continuing to believe in the young people...lols, well, at least some...
Talk to you later, can I call you sis? ^_____~
***From Emilia***
Ok. I now know how to submit reviews. ^^!
First, click browse *upperpart...*
Then, look for the manga or anime you want to make a review on. After that, click the link. Once the page finishes loading, scroll down a litlte. look on the left side of the monitor. You will be able to see the "submit review"
There.. Finished! ^^