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What is terrorism?

Terrorism is not something we normally think about defining. It is thrown at us in a certain context. A context which we just accept. But what if we are asked to question it? No one approves of terrorism. Terrorism is defined by the people on the other side, say the US Administration. We are currently waging "A War on Terror." Terror defined by us. Defined and in so many ways created by the government. I just heard a quote which made me really think. It went something like this: Why should terrorism be defined by 9/11?

Terrorism has been happening all over the world for so long, but when 9/11 came it meant something, not because the US is superior but because we are the most powerful nation. The reality is that it has been happening around the world on much greater levels than it was performed in the US.

Now let's look at what dictionary.com defined terrorism as...

I want to examine the second definition. "The state of fear and submission produced by terrorism or terrorization." What does that mean? I was always told not to use the word in the definition.

Look at the third definition: "a terroristic method of governing or of resisting a government." So that is to say that a government cannot be partake in terrorism. What about a dictatorship or an authoritarian regime--or say a democratic one? If the government of any state is able to define terrorism as something that is against them, then it would seem we have a problem. This is a problem because if you put the power into the hand of one person and they cannot be questioned in some way or another it becomes oppression. Oppression is never responded to well, and it shouldn't be.

In the US media we are told day after day they there are terrorists in Iraq and throughout the Middle East. It has become a scare tactic for this administration to get the country to follow. I am aware that there are bad people out there, but we are not living in a black and white world. We are living in a vibrant, colorful world where the definition of right and wrong is indefinable by just one nation or one group of people. It is a world where context is everything. Right now, we are occupying Iraq. Many will disagree and even call me Anti-American for saying such a thing. Anyway, the thing is that the so-called terrorists who are blowing up things and killing people are not necessarily completely different than then our soldiers. I know that I am unaware of what it is like to be living in an occupied state. I am unaware of why these people are fighting against us. I do not know how I would react if someone walked into my house and started trying to control me. Now I know comparing an American solider to what our government has defined as a terrorist is beyond what I should be doing. But they are each fighting for a cause which they think is right (and in some cases the Iraqis may have a better idea of what they are fighting for).

I want to mention something about the military for just a second. There is this idea throughout the United States that we are supposed to support the troops regardless of how we feel about war. Now let me say that I admire what the military in an ideal way is meant to be: A group of people who are willing to put their lives on the line for you or me. That is amazing thing, but I am not a fan of war. I don't think it is necessary 99.9% of the time. We learn as children that we are not supposed to fight, we are supposed to learn to use our words to fix our problems, yet militaries are still a needed thing for most countries. Works shouldn't have to fail. I am not only critiquing the United States but the world. I respect the military for what they are willing to give up, but I think that it is silly for them to do so. There is so much they can do with their lives and bringing honor to killing is just not the way to go. It is unacceptable to kill, unless an individual is about to kill you and there is no other way to injure them in a nicer way which would allow you to get away. I am one of those people.

I was not able to stay for whole documentary because I had leave for work but what I saw of Arabs and Terrorism brought up this question. It was really interesting and I hope to get a hold of a copy to watch the rest of it. This is such a difficult to discuss this topic because it is one that is not questioned for the most part. It is controversial and a touchy subject for so many. But that is what makes it so important. Not every Arab is a terrorist and Americans can be terrorists.

Ok so get this....my ex right lol is only the best. one of his friends asked me out and i said no because i didnt like him and i dont want a boyfriend right now. but my ex's friend told my ex to make out with me in front of the guy that asked me out to piss him off. Of course that was my ex's friend so he didnt cuz that would be mean. But after his friend left we totally made out...lol it was kinda funny though becasue somehow his friend must have found out cuz now he is being a totaly jerk to me and im like what is his problem...but whatever my ex will stick up for me now!! lol

See, just like that photo i have in entry 5. Things might seem to hurt me alot. But I'm just gonna put a big smile on my face like nothing happened, and keep goin on with my life.

活得更自然，更艺术一些

What you are you do not see, what you see is your shadow.

The bird wishes it were a cloud. The cloud wishes it were a bird.

I cannot choose the best. The best chooses me.

我和敦敦都喜欢读泰戈尔的诗，诗拉进了我和孩子的距离，因为孩子的脑子很纯，对美的东西领会比我快。敦敦读诗时就明白了诗的含义，我还得想一想。

多数人在照镜子时，都看到了自己的影子，但始终搞不懂自己是猫还是豹。很多猫都羡慕豹，猫在努力变成豹的过程中更忘记了自己本来就不缺人爱。最适合我们的才是最好的。猫本来是抓老鼠的英雄，对着舍了半条命抓来的兔子，它还真没食欲。既浪费了体力，又得挨饿，还冒着触犯'法律'的危险。

很多人到老还不知道自己是谁，也自然不知道自己想要什么。对我们大部分的俗人来说，这并不为过，文字的进化到现在，也间接地告诉我们，人字就只有一撇和一捺那么简单，我们跟很多低级动物都一样，只有一对眼睛，四个肢体。做人无需过分地为所谓'生活的高品质'而奋斗。关键是要生活的自然，自然的东西才有美感。也许在后现代社会中选择活得'原始'些反而会显得更'高雅'。