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Possibly the Hardest Thing to do After Boston

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Like me, you are probably angry after the events in Boston. You want justice. You want someone to blame.

Perhaps the hardest thing to do is understand the other point of view why these two young men did what they did.

Update:

I got some emails that were asking if I was trying to use this video as a way to excuse the recent Boston bombing. The video was about Iraq, what did it have to do with Boston?

When I watch that video, I see is a Professor of Sociology making the point that to understand someone you have to see things from their point of view. I suspect that the perspective of many people round the world towards America, especially Muslims, is not an especially favorable one.

Who knows about these two guys. It seems that they were not part of an organized terrorist group, time will tell. But they certainly lived in the milieu that millions of Muslims perceive every day. The video attempts to understand and describe what that perception might look and feel like. Many of its examples can be extrapolated beyond Iraq (or Chechnya).

Terrorism can never be stopped by dealing with its “how”. Ultimately, that leads to fear and restrictions on those being terrorized. It has to be dealt with by trying to understand the “why”, and that means governments and countries holding up a mirror to themselves and their actions at home and abroad.

I grew up with 20 years of IRA terrorism:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chronology_of_Provisional_Irish_Republican_Army_actions_%281980-1989%29
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chronology_of_Provisional_Irish_Republican_Army_actions_%281990-1999%29

The IRA killed over 600 civilians. They certainly saw themselves as freedom fighters. The British (and American) governments saw them as terrorists. Yet many individuals in those countries supported the IRA’s actions. Take Peter King (who was later chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee):
“King was one of the most zealous American defenders of the militant IRA and its campaign to drive the British out of Northern Ireland. He argued that IRA violence was an inevitable response to British repression”

Ultimately the British and the IRA made peace.

To try to understand terrorism is NOT the same as condoning it. To try to understand a terrorists perspective and point of view is NOT to agree with or validate it. It IS, however, the first meaningful step on a path to try and stop it.

A war on terrorism will never work. Only a war on the causes of terrorism.

  • mkhpd

    I find it interesting that so much press has been given to the Boston bombing. From where I live in Australia, I find it fascinating that similar angst hasn’t been made of Democrat rally in Tuscon where Jared Loughner seriously wounded a US Congress member. In 2012, James Holmes killed 12 people in a cinema. Also in 2012 Adam Lanza shot 20 children and 6 staff at Sandy Hook Elementary. Like Frank Smith (of Kew (Melbourne) who brought these to my attention see ; http://www.theage.com.au/national/letters/whats-to-celebrate-20130427-2iliq.html ) I too am curious why this tragedy seems to outweigh the above three examples, where many more people died.
    From this distance, the failure to act on gun laws in America have killed many more people than any bombs planted in the streets. Guns are as deadly, and their use can be just as random.

    So while it is good to try to see the others perspective, (with which I agree incidentally) controls on the means of mass violence (ie guns,bombs making materials etc) is surely the only way to reduce the mass violence.

  • _garth

    To understand terrorism against the West you must understand Islam. An understanding of Islam, results in a realisation that irrespective of what the West does, the aim of Islam is simply political, religious and economic domination. These naive bombers who do it for their families or for whatever reason are in every sense of the word bloodthirsty killers, willing to sacrifice other people’s lives and hope for their own ends – just as Islam does.

    • yuda

      Exactly so. The answer to this simple “why?” question is one: Islam, and religion in general. Coming from Israel, I suffer terrorism from 2 religions. Luckily for us, modern Christians do not use these tactics over here…

    • mark simko

      You see the same will to dominate politically in some Christians as well. It is unfair to blame Islam. It would be more accurate to blame radical fundamentalist religion.
      What is really at the root of this is a clash of cultures, and an overpowering domination on one side. The other side is getting it’s shots in at the weakest points it can find. A free and open society is our weakness. We’ll have to suspend freedom to toughen up.

    • I think that’s a somewhat narrow viewpoint

  • John Woods

    My deepest sympathy goes out to all those affected by the Boston Marathon tragedy. I cannot imagine the grief and suffering of those people.

    I am glad you made this post, because we can see things very much one sided. I look at the images of those two young men responsible and don’t see murderers or terrorists. They could be someone’s brother, coworker or student. If I had passed one them on the street, I would not have any concerns about their intentions. I would like to know why they decided to do this.

    I recall reading a storing of a Jewish survivor from a Nazi concentration camp. When he was facing one of the leaders responsible for his torture, he began to cry. When asked why he was crying, he replied “I expected to see some kind of monster, but he is just a man. If he is capable of such deeds, then we all are capable of such acts.” This is very much paraphrased, but the idea is there. Given the right (or wrong) circumstances, we could be much different people than we are now.

    • I have heard that reference too, it certainly gives one pause for thought….

  • Thank you Barry. I agree with you. Try to understand each other is the best way to freedom, love and peace. <3

  • zaridan

    Thank you for writing this Barrie, it’s very much inline with what I’ve been thinking about since last Friday.

    “A war on terrorism will never work. Only a war on the causes of terrorism.” ….

    If only people would get this, but sadly as evidenced by the huge outpouring of ignorant comments on this matter, it’s not looking good for progress.

    Must keep hope that brave people such as yourself continue to speak out and educate … hopefully over time it can make a difference.

    • Thanks TJ. It was hard to write this after Boston, but I still have hope like you!

  • James

    My deepest sympathy to the people of Boston to suffer such a horrible act of cowardice by the Terrorists. My description of them ( Messengers of Death) is that they have no hearts and neither a brain.