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TERRORISM AND ITS VARIOUS FORMS
Kathlyn Q. Barrozo
Class of 1991, University of Santo Tomas
B.S. Medical Technology
Terrorism has remained a serious threat to many countries in the world today. It could come from within, as
when a certain group within a country decides to launch cyber attacks on government websites. It could come
from outside, as what happened during the September 1, 2001 terrorist attacks on the world’s most powerful
nation: the United States. Unfortunately, terrorist attacks are carried out under cover of secrecy, where only
those directly involved are able to know precisely what will happen when. Even those who are still involved,
albeit indirectly, often do not have enough information on each and every stage or step in the attack. For them,
it is sufficient that they are part of something big, no matter how destructive it may all be in the end.
Then there are those individuals who get involved without their knowing it.
Take for instance the recent news report that told of a group of foreign nationals who put up a call center in my
country. The unsuspecting agents at the call center were instructed to make cold calls on credit card owners in
the country where the foreign nationals originated from. Important information on the credit card owners
were extracted, later to be used in credit card scams and frauds. The agents had to pretend that they were
calling to prevent just such schemes, when all they were doing was actually setting the environment for evil
acts of economic terrorism.
Then there are the spiritual terrorists, like those who instigated the Video The Innocence of Muslims. Although
the video sharing site where the offensive video was posted has issued a warning as to the inappropriateness
and offensiveness of the video’s content, the said video still exists. In a world where freedom of speech and
expression continue to be a mantra among freethinking people, the video is severely lacking in respect and
proper perspective. Despite the fact that Muslims and Christians have long been at odds with one another,
there’s still no acceptable reason to empower those who hate one group to play around with the religion of the
other group. To poke fun at another group’s uniqueness is nothing less than religious or spiritual terrorism.
Nuclear and verbal terrorism, such as the one being waged by a communist country in Asia, is also not to be
simply overlooked. Although that nation’s generations of leaders have been known to engage in malevolent
threats and saber-rattling just to get their points across to the world, the kind of terrorism they inflict on their
neighbors is not going to be amusing for very long.
Terrorism only makes losers out of people. Terrorists may derive great pleasure at inciting fear. But the anger
that their acts bring out will most likely be like a force that could crush them someday.
Questions for Discussion:
1.
What other acts of terrorism can you think of? Cite examples, if you must.
2.
How can terrorism be defeated?
3.
How can someone be a terrorist without their knowing it?
4.
Why is terrorism to be condemned unconditionally?
5.
If you had the chance to interview a terrorist leader, what would you say to him/her to change his/her
thinking?