Cam muses on terrorism in Europe and the meaning of blood

[misscam]

(Disclaimer: This is completly based on my own opinion and I claim no special knowledge of how counter something as terrible as this latest attack. Terrorism has no easy answers and I have always been better at asking questions, anyway. I just know how I feel and what I fear, and this is an expression of it.)

I'm sure most of you have seen the scenes from Spain after the bomb attacks there - it's now reached two hundred dead from eleven different countries. And we don't even know who is to blame. If it's ETA, it does not bode well for Spain, and if it's Al Queada, it does not bode well for Europe.

*shakes head* Either way, it's a tragedy. For Spain firstly, but all here in Europe feel with them, their anger, their grief, their search in the shadows for someone to bring to justice. My heart goes out to anyone affected by this tragedy and all Spaniards who feel the loss.

This is not the first terrorism related tragedy to strike Europe, of course. There's been worse, but nevertheless, this is an ill omen. With the attacks in Turkey not long ago, there was a sense that Al Queada was moving closer to Europe and now they may have taken the step here.

I'm a horrid cynic for hoping with every fibre in my being that this is ETA. I don't want the 'war on terror' (what's with that idiotic name, anyway? As if war isn't terror...) on our front lawn. It's a terribly selfish thing to wish for, but there it is. Europe's had (and have, I suppose) enough troubles with homegrown terrorists and extremist groups to be straddled with Islamic extremists as well. It would do nothing good for the racism problems Europe's already struggling with, either. I was so hoping that all the blood shed in Europe this last century, would be blood enough for this century as well.

But I guess there is never enough blood shed - not in Europe, not in Asia, not in any part of the world - for there are still those whom blood have no meaning for. It's just means to an end.

Sometimes, that is true of non-terrorists as well. And every time that happens, the terrorists win. Let us not have a war on terror. War is a negative word, implying death and blood, that your opponents are soldiers. These people are no soldiers. They are criminals.

Is it not better to call it something like a placification of terror? With a pledge - to stand strong in the face of fear and never let fear weaken the principles of human rights; to let terrorists know justice for blood shed; and to honour the blood lost by never giving terrorists what they want. I don't want to give them a war. And if Al Queada has come to Europe, I hope Europe will give them nothing but disgust and calm, unbiased justice for crimes committed.

Anything else will be giving them more than they deserve. There's been enough wars in Europe already. Let us not make another one.

(Of course, what I'd really like to do is to get a hold of the people responsible for this atrocity and tear them limb from limb. But engaging my worst instincts is probably not a great idea. I mean, if I did that on a daily basis, I probably would have done griveous bodily harm to John Howard and the Shrub long ago.)

Comments

[(Anonymous)]

I hope this isn't a loaded question, but I always enjoy hearing what you have to say, so I'm going to ask. If *you* were in charge, Miss Cam, and these murderers were brought before you, how would you punish them? What, in your mind, would be the appropriate meting out of justice?

[misscam.livejournal.com]

*gets a blank look* I probably sat myself up for that one. But boy, that is a hard question and I'm not a whiz of law. But it has to be by law, in my opinion. Not some Guntanamo Bay sort of human rights violation, no matter what crimes are committed. The rule of law cannot be disregarded. I would have them tried and sentenced in a court of law, as criminals should. And since I'm opposed to the death penalty, it's not the option I would chose. Of course, if they were tried in a country with the death penalty, it would be a hard struggle within me between my own conscience and what the law would dictate. I'm not sure what I would do.

To stand judge over people who have committed such crimes - I don't know if I would have the capacity to truly give justice. I don't know, quite simply, because I never been in such a position. It would be so tempting to just deal out revenge, to give them as much pain as Spain has suffered. But that is not justice. If you commit a crime, the punishment is usually prison. That is justice today. And perhaps it seems poor compared to the horrid crime here, but it is probably in the end what I would decide to deal out. I don't know Spain's laws very well, but I guess it would be life imprisonment (most European countries have no death penalty).

As tempting as it would be to roast these criminals and make them shed blood for the blood they shed... I could not do that without violating the principles of European rule of law, and in the end, I fear that would hurt Europe more than the criminals. And the principles of law must stand. So if I were to judge them and manage not to engage my lower, vengeful instincts - it would be by the law I would seek justice.

[armeniel.livejournal.com]

I cried the night of the Madrid attacks. I cried because of the news footage shown on BBC was so horrific- bodies everywhere, blood, you could almost smell death. But mostly I cried, and this is incredibly selfish of me I'm sure, because I suddenly realised that, living in London, if these attacks are by Al Queada, the people I love aren't safe anymore. I don't suppose they ever were safe as such, what with the IRA and other terrorist groups in London, but I've grown up with these European terrorist groups. They don't terrify me like Al Queada does, mainly because they are known for trying not to take civilian lives and giving warnings etc., whilst Al Queada doesn't seem to care about massacaring innocents.

Like you, I hope it's not Al Queada. I really hope it isn't.

That's just my view on it all, I'm sorry if it offended anyone, and I hope I'm not being too selfish.

-armeniel xxxx

[beautyid.livejournal.com]

Selfish? How is that selfish? You're worried about the people you love. My friends are in France/Spain right now, and I'm worried sick about them. I can only imagine how the people who *live* there feel.

I live in Canada, and even though I'm only about five minutes away from a big American city, I feel pretty safe. But I know all too well that that safety could be shattered at any second. I *know* there are a lot of terrorists around in this country because of the light immigration laws. And this may sound prejudice, but my city has a very large Arab community, as does Detroit. They could attack Detroit (the terrorists, by the way, not the Arabs - I don't think my friends would blow anything up), they could attack Toronto, they could attack Windsor if they really wanted too.

Anyway, the point is, Al Quaeda doesn't give warning and you never know what they're going to do. How many people thought that planes were going to be crashing into buildings on 9/11? Any sort of madness could start up at any time, anywhere.

So, yeah. I'm rambling. I'll just stop now. The point is, you have every right to be worried and hope it's not Al Quaeda.

[armeniel.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the reassurances, I needed them. I hate being selfish, although I am sometimes without thinking- it always makes me feel bad.

I really, really hope your friends are okay. I didn't have any relations or friends in Madrid, but someone I know's brother was on the train behind one of the trains that was bombed. I can't imagine how the people there feel either- it must be complete and utter agony, especially if someone still doesn't know whether their friend/relative is alive or dead.

Yes, that's one of the reasons Al Quaeda terrify me so much- they could do anything, anytime, anywhere and it's extremely likely that no one will have a clue until the attack.

Rambling is fun ^_^ See, I just rambled too. Let's all ramble together :-D Ahem, okay. I should really cut down on my diet coke intake. :S

[maureenlycaon.livejournal.com]

I will admit to having a bundle of complex feelings about this, just as I did to the Sept. 11 attacks here in the U.S. From what I can separate out at this very moment: on the one hand, I can imagine, if only very roughly, the anger, fear, outrage and revulsion Spaniards must feel, and sympathize with it. I hope -- as I imagine they hope -- that the criminals behind this act, whoever they are, will be caught and brought to justice. On the other, I can only hope and pray that Spain, and Europe in general, will show more wisdom and foresight in their long-term response to the bombing than the U.S. has.

Liberty, justice, democracy, the rule of laws instead of men . . . these are things not lightly to be cast aside.

[puredeadthingy.livejournal.com]

The newspaper is claiming that an Al Queda broadcast has been made, saying that they instigated it. I really, really, really hope they're wrong.

[buttercup87.livejournal.com]

*attempts to cheer Miss Cam up a bit*

I found an amusing thingy in MAD magazine last month and knowing how you feel about Bush . . . Well anyway, I hope it makes you giggle a little. (It was even better with pictures, but I don't have a scanner so I just had to type the words.)

MAD's Handy Glossary to the War on Terror

Chemical Weapons - Something the Iraqi devils probably used on US troops during the 1991 war. (However, Pentagon doctors want to remind all veterans reading this that any symptons of "Gulf War Syndrome" are 100% imaginary.)

Cynic - The administration's term for anybody who'd kind of like to see even one bottle turn up from that massie Iraqi supply of "25,000 liters of anthrax, 38,000 liters of botulism toxin, and 500 tons of saran, mustard, and VX nerve agent" that Bush trumpeted in his State of the Union address.

"Another Vietnam" - A ridiculous asserion made by the war's opponents, who don't comprehend the significant differences between the Middle East and Southeast Asia: you can sell a barrel of oil for much much more than a barrel of rice.

Collateral Damage - The official military explanation as to why there are so many empty seats lately in Umm Qasr's 4th grade classroom.

Freeing the Iraqi People - White House catch phrase #3, when it turned out "weapons of mass destruction" and "link to Al-Qaeda" didn't work so well. ((The picture shows a white house person pointing to a list with the first two crossed out, #4 is "It's fun blowing things up!"))

Acceptable Losses - Attorney General John Ashcroft's stance on the Bill of Rights, except for #2 and #10.

Broadbased International Coalition - 130,000 US troops and a guy from Bulgaria.

"Mission Accomplished" - The White House definition of knocking down a statue.

Small Pocket of Protesters - The continent of Europe

Increased Chatter - Endless background noise heard on CNN or FOX News and talk radio from thousands of pundits who apparently think that "No blood for oil!" or "I support the troops!" are exceptionally deep statements.

Embedded Reporter - A professional journalist who will report fully, fairly, and without bias on the same people he's dependent upon to keep his ass alive.

Intelligence Failure - Calling the war a "crusade", declaring the fighting "over", inviting motivated killers to "bring it on", or whatever boneheaded thing Bush says next week.

"Bring It On" - The Shrub's taunt to America's enemies, apparently meant to intimidate the sort of people who already blow themselves up with a smile.

Nation-Building - Something you sort of have to do after bombing a nation into a jillion teeny pieces.

Democracy - A hypothetical form of government promised to the people of Kabul, Baghdad, and Miami.

Mass Surrender - What the Media does at every Bush press conference.

Preemptive Warfare - A brand-new US policy, apparently thought up after seeing Mike Tyson weigh-in.

"Hearts and Minds of the Iraqi People" - That stuff CNN and FOX don't show you, splattered all over the Iraqi rubble.

[misscam.livejournal.com]

Well, you have to take into account that Europe's already had to deal with terrorism over a few decades. The Lockerbie bombing claimed more lives than this, and Spain, the UK, Germany, France and Italy have all had terrorist organisations operating and striking on their soil. What this will change, I don't know. But I don't think it will have the same impact on Europe as September 11th had on the US.

And it is possible this will not strike out well for already growing anti-American sentiments in Europe. If this was indeed Al Quaeda's 'revenge' on a US ally for supporting the Iraqi war - a war that was already highly unpopular in Spain - it may very well only increase such sentiments. It's hard to say. I noticed one banner on the footage from the Spanish voting polls (they're having an election now) and it said ' Your war. Our dead.'

Perhaps this attack will lead Europe further away from the US and not closer. It remains to be seen. I for one, am not sure at all where this will lead.

[misscam.livejournal.com]

Yes. But alas, Al Quaeda links are looking more and more likely. And if so, a great deal of Europe may be at risk of being striked at next. Particulary those countries who (often against the public opinion, though) supported the Iraqi war. Hell, even Norway could be at risk. We did not support the war, but we have helped in the reconstruction process.

It's not a happy thought.

[misscam.livejournal.com]

*sniggers* Thank you. That did amuse me. Particulary 'Small Pocket of Protesters - The continent of Europe'. Small, indeed. I guess population greater than that of the US makes us smaller. Yep yep.

Thanks for bothering to type that up. I greatly enjoyed it, even though it's rather hard to lift my spirits at the moment.

[misscam.livejournal.com]

The devil you know is better than the one you don't know, eh? And IRA you can at least see clearly what caused it and how to combat it. Find a solution for Northern Ireland, and you're halfway there. But these rising Islamic terrorist organisations - much more complex situation. Terrorists are never the cause, they're a symptom. You have to find what is behind it if we ever are to prevent the growth of such organisations. And that is no easy task. (And it isn't just a matter of giving Middle East countries democracy, like the Shrub thinks. Democracy is a process that takes time to intergrate into a society. It's not just a gift you hand someone.) Maybe that is what scares us about the likes of Osama bin Laden. Maybe it's the scale of it as well. IRA did many horrid things, but I doubt they would ever have the stomach for some of the things Al Qaeda have done.

But Europe has been strong before. Britain stood strong in the face of Hitler, alone and scared but not concquered. Have courage. Fear is not an evil unless it overcomes us.

[misscam.livejournal.com]

Part of the damage Al Quaeda have inflicted upon the world is villification of the Arabs. Such a damage will take decades to make right. It doesn't help that many of countries in the Middle East region are under dictatorial rule, either.

But just like all Germans are not bad just because Hitler and his companions were, not all Arabs are terrorists who want to blow the West up. I suppose it's easy to forget in the face of fear and uncertainty, but we have to try.

*sighs* Life's a bundle of joy sometimes, isn't it?

[puredeadthingy.livejournal.com]

On a different subject, may I friend you please?

[armeniel.livejournal.com]

Yep. The IRA has done awful things, but never anything on that sort of scale, because their aim wasn't to take civilian lives. Lives were lost, but nowhere near as many as have been lost when Al Quaeda attacks.

It's always going to be hard work to get to the bottom of why people turn to terrorism. There's no easy answer, either, I don't think (unless someone wants to enlighten me). There certainly will be a less easy one if the western world doesn't start looking more at the cause rather than focusing its attention solely on condemning the effects. Not that condemning the effects is wrong, but maybe more attention should be focused on what causes people to act in this way. 'Cos, let's face it, it would have to be something pretty damn radical to make someone think that killing theirselves and a whole load of innocents is a good idea.

'Fear is not an evil unless it overcomes us.'
I couldn't agree more. I really hope fear doesn't overpower Europe or Britain- if Al Quaeda hits Britain, I sincerely hope that we will react in a quietly dignified manner, i.e. not go and start another war, because that's the last thing the world needs right now.

[sweill.livejournal.com]

I said it to friends when the towers fell, and I say it will all the sympathy in my heart to the folks in Spain...

Well, the folks in Israel have found a way to go on... its our turn.

[misscam.livejournal.com]

But of course.

[misscam.livejournal.com]

But I sincerly hope Europe will *not* deal with it the way the Israeli government has.