Who does not agree that the perpetrators of the horrible acts of last
Tuesday must be stopped and punished?But more is necessary to combat
terrorism.Feelings of injustice,disregard,deprivation,and humiliation
are significant roots of terrorism.When people with deep grievances are
unable to get any kind of redress,a breeding ground for terrorism exists.
Such people will not necessarily turn to terrorism.They may turn against
each other or even against their families.Or they may simply suffer.
But the possibility of taking action in their own behalf or the behalf
of their family or group will be very appealing.And violent actions are
often framed by “leaders,” whatever the leaders' motives,as expressions
of higher ideals,such as the welfare of their people,serving justice,or
the will of God.People in pain and others who identify with them can
replace helplessness with a sense of meaning and purpose by striking out
against those they see as their enemies,or the enemies of these higher
ideals.
I believe the United States is a special target for terrorism for several
reasons.One is that many people see some of our actions as a nation and
some of the actions of U.S.corporations as contributor to their own and
others' suffering.Another is that we are a source of and a symbol of great
changes in the contemporary world.As the foremost and most successful
practitioners of capitalism,and as a source of many contemporary cultural
trends that contribute to change,overturn tradition,and thereby create
confusion about how to live life,both people whose lives are difficult and
those whose lives have been deeply affected by circumstance and change
see us,or can be led to see us,as responsible.