The Decline of Civilization

The other day, I was watching one of the TV panels discussing the Ft. Hood massacre and terrorism in general and a common comment was made. It was about the goal of terrorism being to frighten us. That isn't the goal, that's the weapon. The goal is to make us lose our cohesiveness, our trust of anyone and everyone around us.

This was the real goal of of Maj. Hasan. To spread that particular fear among soldiers, to make them less effective when they are on the battlefield. To create a mindset which would allow mistakes in judgement to occur. Mistakes like Abu Graib, like killing civilians purposely (and, ironically, without purpose), and encouraging a prejudice against Muslims.

The purpose of the Islamic fanatic is to fan the flames of prejudice. That he also fans the flames of prejudice within his own religion is unimportant to him but is also part of the purpose.

The greater goal of terrorism is to de-civilize us. That makes us weak, it makes us look ugly, it makes us less human.

Not all Muslims are terrorist or terrorist supporters. I know that. You know that. Just as you know that not all Jews are bankers and cheap, that all Blacks are lazy or criminals or worse, that all the Irish have quick tempers and love to drink to excess, that all white people are racists... you can add as many as you like.

The problem is that enough are. And that number, however small, feeds those prejudices. In the case of Muslims, there are supposedly 1.5 Billion of them. If only 1% are willing to engage in terrorism, that means there are 15 Million terrorists out there looking for targets, learning to kill and die without regard, becoming (or have become) less than human to non-Muslims, greater than human to their supporters.

Non-Catholics cannot rid the Church of pedophile priests who comprise such a tiny minority, it must be done within the religion. Until there is an anti-terrorism movement within Islam, until a counter-movement to terrorism arises within that religion, nothing will change. All we can do is try to protect ourselves and those around us.

And things will only get worse. I fear we are standing on the edge of civilization and are peering into the Abyss.