Is it just me, or have other people also noticed that the threat of terrorism is more fictional than real? I mean given the amount of news coverage it gets as well as the draconian measures the government is taking to “prevent” it, one should assume that it’s a major cause of mayhem in the country right? I mean we don’t see this hysteria when a million Indians die of smoking related diseases every year do we? Or when the number of “road rage” killings increases exponentially?
One would think that if the government really cared about lives, it would strictly implement its “no smoking in public” ban to protect secondary smokers and make the procedure for getting driving licenses more streamlined and fair. But when it comes to terrorism, suddenly all common sense goes out the window. It kills a mere handful of people every year. Statistically, more people are hit by lightning than die of terrorism! So why the big hoopla?
It’s hysteria – nothing more. And governments around the world are delighted. It gives them a perfect excuse to implement measures to control the population and strip away precious civil liberties which our forefathers have shed their blood to earn. POTA, AFSPA, the US’s Patriot Act, the government wanting to listen in on our private communications, strip searches at airports. And what’s the payoff? Maybe…maybe 10 fewer people will die. Is that worth the rest of us giving up our freedoms? I think that’s a very poor bargain.
And don’t tell me that I’ve never lost a loved one in a terrorist attack and that I wouldn’t be so smug if I did. A mother who loses her child in an car accident might feel like banning all cars. What does that prove? Those directly affected by a tragedy are hardly the most neutral ones to talk about it.
I feel sick watching the Indian government use the bogey of “Thuh Terrists!” to demand to listen in to our private conversations without a court order! When I see the touching faith that people have in the government to not misuse their shiny new powers, I would laugh…if I wasn’t also crying inwardly. Is it so damn easy to lead us like sheep without brains of our own? So convenient no?
Mark my words, now that governments know how profitable it is to keep the populace in perpetual fear, this terrorism threat will never go away. We’ll be continually told that it’s an unsafe world and that we need to be protected for our own good and that in the end civil liberties aren’t really worth lives are they?
Except that they are. The liberties we enjoy today cost buckets of blood to obtain. There’s a price to be paid for living in a free country and if that price is a miniscule risk of dying in a terror attck, then so be it! Smoking, accidents…lightning – what’s another small little threat eh?
Let’s show some spine for a change and not give the terrorists what they want – which is to spread terror. Irrational terror. 26/11 in Mumbai put most Indians into a funk. But if we continue down the path we’re going, the terrorists have already won.
One should not compare an accident with an ACT of deliberation, these are two completely different things, of course India has a lot to worry about, than Terrorism but enactment over the terror acts will cost our next generations their future, they will have only two options either to accept the Religion of Peace or Die. Believe me I am getting all my facts 100% correct, if not just check out the history of Spread of Religion of Peace specially in India it is the best example how barbarically the religion of peace spread. Accidents do happen which is out of human control of course with the use of better technology it can be avoided but cannot be ruled out completely whereas the root of Terrorism worldwide lies in followers of Religion of Peace, where in people of Specific Religion are taught to hate every religion but the Religion of Peace, the hatred is not just injected in their minds you can try to change the mind but it runs in their Veins. Of course we should not get terrorized because of any terror acts but this does not mean we have to be calm and do nothing about it. We are missing the bigger picture if we say that only few people died, because the small acts will turn into bigger acts slowly, take the example of Kashmir, who is responsible for it and whether the population living their were Muslims?.
In reply to OnlyTruthNoCrap
So how is Christianity different from Islam? Christianity came and destroyed all the indigineous religions of Europe and completely wiped out the native Americans. How come you’re only complaining about Islam?
Interesting question but the answer is included in your example itself . When the number of road accidents increases , the government is supposed to place traffic policemen at the most dangerous crossings , come down hard on rash drivers etc. The same is the case with terrorism , the government needs to provide security to its citizens . This can lead to individuals inconvenience as with traffic , in some areas you just cannot be allowed to drive at 100kph . The point being that unnecessary loss of life should be prevented .
As far as listening to phone conversations is concerned , yes there is some cause for concern but it should be remembered that it is logistically impossible to listen in on all conversations at a given time , so only people being suspected will be listened in on . You should also remember that some privacy laws do exist , and if needed the parliament can enact some safeguards.
There is a thin line separating bravery from foolishness . The terrorists want to terrorise and so we wont change anything just to stick it up to them is a bit on the foolish side :)
As Roger Coverley famously remarked, “Much can be said on both sides.” Bhagwat, there is no denying that terrorism is a term laden with metaphors– some metaphors stretching the word beyond the originally intended meanings and circumstances. yes, it has become a matter of propaganda, with White dictators and their Asian sidekicks finding terrorists hidden beneath every rock. the image of a terrorist lurking in the streets is used by many nations to seek legetimization for unwanted curtailing of civil liberties, unwanted wars and even to increase their accounts in votebanks. for example, it has been reported that movies like Crimson Tide, Black Hawk Down etc were financed by pentagon, which helped form mass opinion against the “so called terrorists.” but there is another side to it, which we cannot choose not to see. the term need not mean uneducated arab, or rather muslim youth, seeking an easy route to paradise, blowing off other people, in the name of religion or god, or ideology. the concept of terrorism is itself controversial because it is often used by states to delegitimize political opponents and legitimize the state’s use of terror against them. you dont find democracy in all its beauty and perfection in India, or America or any other nation in the world, do you? but i am rather surprised by your comment that terrorism is not harmful as more people die due to lightning rather than terrorist attacks. according to you how many people should die, for the gruesome act to qualify as “terrorism?” moreover terrorism starts with an idea, something that works inside our heads, and it is more potent and powerful than any weapon of mass destruction. A group of people who think that other’s religion, policy, thoughts or way of live are wrong and the only punishment for them is death, start attacking innocent people in a society — if you think that is just a hype or a better option than losing your liberty, i would ask you to have a sound sleep and clear your head. smoking, drinking, lightining and terrorism ? your complacency makes you look down on terrorism as a mere boring thing. and what was it that you said, oh yeah.. implementing POTA or patriot acts– 10 fewer people may die!!! doesnt that mean anything to you. In a society each and every life counts. giving up the civil liberties for those 10 people clears the path to a society where no one dies of terrorism. if you still find it difficult to understand: since we take every action to reduce the number of deaths due to smoking and accidents, why dont we try to root out this evil too? well, anyway you have shown your true “Indian” nature — ” chalta hai” attitude.
I feel debilitated viewing the Indian government utilize the intruder of Thuh Terrists to request to listen into our private discussions without a court request! When I see the touching confidence that individuals have in the legislature to not abuse their sparkly new powers, I would giggle… on the off chance that I wasn’t likewise crying internally. Is it so damn easy.he freedoms we appreciate today cost cans of blood to get. There’s a cost to be paid for living in a free nation and if that cost is a miniscule danger of passing on in a dread attack.