03-26-2017
Terrorism is an
evolutionary step in a political movement's process to achieve their goals.
Terrorism arises when a political movement is not going the way a significant
portion of the group wants. When a group is being oppressed for a long period
of time, eventually, some, or most of the group will resort to violence to
achieve their goals. This can be observed with the PLO and the rise of HAMAS.
Political movements start out as nothing more than murmurs. Individuals talking
to each other about an idea or problem in the society. Eventually, this evolves
into speeches, small protests, books, and media advocacy. However, there are
many times when this peaceful process does not work out, or works out fast
enough for some members in the group. This is when terrorism arises. Violence
and controlled, directed chaos, to shift the balance of the issue and eliminate
the other sides support for political issues.
This can be seen in
groups such as the PLO, The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO). The PLO is
an organization dedicated to the liberation of Palestine from the country of
Israel. They are a self-declared governmental, Islamic religious group.
Although they have a standing military that has the capability to cause war,
conflict and terror, the PLO is not a terrorist organization. Founded in 1964,
the PLO is the self-declared government of Palestine with specific goals to be
internationally recognized as a state, and are recently supportive of the two-state
solution. However, there is another group, very much like the PLO that takes a
much more violent, and drastic approach.
HAMAS is a terrorist organization that does not support the two-state solution. Currently the self-declared government of the Gaza Strip, HAMAS commits violent acts of terror throughout the region. Regularly launched rocket attacks kill multitudes of military and civilians in Israel and the Gaza Strip every year. These attacks are designed to cause as many casualties as possible, to destroy infrastructure, and to incite fear in the population.
HAMAS however has only existed sense 1987. Over 20 years after the PLO was founded. It is my belief that over time, individuals in, and outside of the PLO, became aggravated with the PLO for not achieving its goals after 20 years, and formed a more aggressive, violent group to achieve a free state. The PLO was not successful in freeing Palestine, and HAMAS took aggressive action in the hopes to change the tides. The belief that violence achieves what you want is not unheard of. Anarchists were not always violent. In the early 19th century, when Anarchism formed, it was not a solely violent form of protest, but an ideology, that turned violent over time. Terrorism is just another step in the evolution of a political movement, and should be addressed as such. HAMAS rose from the PLO as the next step in the political process. Perhaps terrorisms complete prevention is possible if we address political issues when they first arise, rather than wait, until many see violence as the only answer.
HAMAS is a terrorist organization that does not support the two-state solution. Currently the self-declared government of the Gaza Strip, HAMAS commits violent acts of terror throughout the region. Regularly launched rocket attacks kill multitudes of military and civilians in Israel and the Gaza Strip every year. These attacks are designed to cause as many casualties as possible, to destroy infrastructure, and to incite fear in the population.
HAMAS however has only existed sense 1987. Over 20 years after the PLO was founded. It is my belief that over time, individuals in, and outside of the PLO, became aggravated with the PLO for not achieving its goals after 20 years, and formed a more aggressive, violent group to achieve a free state. The PLO was not successful in freeing Palestine, and HAMAS took aggressive action in the hopes to change the tides. The belief that violence achieves what you want is not unheard of. Anarchists were not always violent. In the early 19th century, when Anarchism formed, it was not a solely violent form of protest, but an ideology, that turned violent over time. Terrorism is just another step in the evolution of a political movement, and should be addressed as such. HAMAS rose from the PLO as the next step in the political process. Perhaps terrorisms complete prevention is possible if we address political issues when they first arise, rather than wait, until many see violence as the only answer.
Brady I liked reading your post and thought it showed a great progression and the actual evolution of terrorism through the examples you used of the Plo and Hamas.
ReplyDeleteYou mention in the last paragraph that "Terrorism is just another step in the evolution of a political movement, and should be addressed as such." What do you think will be the next step after terrorism? Is terrorism the end and new terrorists will form from here on out because essentially the "war on terror" will never end because new groups will continue to form.
I like how you mention "Perhaps terrorisms complete prevention is possible if we address political issues when they first arise, rather than wait, until many see violence as the only answer." I think this is a possible solution as well as education so radicals can see the opposing side. I also think minimal military force and violence should be used by us as a country when dealing with terrorists because I think when it is used it just makes us the evil that terrorists think we are.
I think that eventually, terrorism will ether work and the opposing side or sides will succumb to their demands, or the "war on terror" will go on forever. As of now, the latter looks more likely.
DeleteI also agree with you that we should try to fix political issues before violence breaks out. This is sometimes difficult to achieve because there may not be much, if any support for the political change that is attempting to be made. However, in cases like Syria, it is clear that a large portion of the nation wanted the Assad Regime to come down, yet, there was pretty much no international help, until it was to late. I think this problem can be addressed, but it will defiantly take time, and unfortunately, I do not think we will see much change in the near future.
I enjoyed reading your post. I also thought that you brought up very interesting points about how an organization splits into a terrorist organization due to lack of progress and frustration. I also liked your point discussing the priority of addressing political issues before violence occurs.
ReplyDeleteIn relation to the PLO and HAMAS, what do you think the PLO did wrong that made people (ie future members of HAMAS) so aggravated and inclined to use violence? Why do you think the PLO wasn't successful in achieving its political goals?
I think they did nothing wrong, it is what they did not to right. Although they did not cause more problems, they never succeed in making their own state, there original goal. I do not think they were successful because Israel did not listen to them, and ignored them until violence erupted.
DeleteBrady, I really liked your post and think you hold many interesting ideas! For starters, the idea that protesters who do not achieve change fast enough are likely to turn to violence, and therefore terrorism, for change. Similarly to what i commented on Anfei's post, I want to know how you think we should address this issue. For example, should we make change easier in societies? Democracy makes change difficult sometimes, at the expense so a faction does not rule entirely, and minorities have a say. However, if these minorities do not see change fast enough, they resort to violence. How do you think we should make society easier to change, or sway people away from violence to make change faster?
ReplyDeleteYes, I think when a minority reaches out, the majority needs to listen, not even act yet. The small act of listening could prevent the minority from turning to violence. I think, if representation in a congress lets say dose not work, then the minority should be allowed to make a speech or statement a few times a year to outline their wants, needs, and concerns.
DeleteGreat post Brady!
ReplyDeleteI liked that you mentioned that violence usually occurs when a group has been oppressed for a long time. This relates back to class, and how we discussed the role that desperation has when it comes to terrorism. I also liked how you mentioned terrorist prevention. You made some really great points.
Thanks Wendy!
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