World Terrorism

Hi, 

Yesterday my husband and I were watching, the Pakistan foreign minister speak about terrorism, their efforts to combat Talibanization and how they are involving the common man into this. We then proceeded to have a discussion amongst ourselves about what can be done to eradicate terrorism. 

Actually, our discussion revolved mainly around my husband giving certain ideas and those are what I am sharing with you today (he does not write blogs!!!). Basically, terrorists come from poverty stricken regions, so they are used to many adversities; they are used to being without food and seeing their loved ones do without basic necessities (food, medical, shelter etc). So each small step in life is a struggle, a huge one. 

Given this background, there is absence of media and thus other forms of entertainment. The community activities, would largely constitute entertainment. These would largely revolve around religion and so, dependency on religious leaders, for their social and mental upliftment would be high. In this light, when someone assures them of taking care of their family, convinces them the path of terrorism is the way to heaven (and finally a better life), they would jump at it! 

After all, what do they have to live for? What do they look forward to in life? We look forward to many things in life -  career, possessions, children, marriage, love, sex; other self actualization elements on the Maslow's hierarchy. For these terrorists/would be terrorists - love is banned; career without education and that without money is not possible; knowledge that children will be subject to the same torture, hence, would not bring joy, would bring greater worries; marriage can happen, many times over and therefore so can sex. But then, would be devoid of love and romance, due to the religious teachings. I mean, does he even get to see his wife's face? Given that there is hardly any electricity and in the daylight, she would be wearing the burkha? :):) 

Hence, he has no ambition, no dream, no desire to live. He is therefore, open to dying himself and if he can better his family's life, achieve a better life after death, by killing some people, why not? He does not care whether those people are innocent, all he cares is his end goal, as defined by someone else. 

Answer to world terrorism is to give them a reason to live, give them something to look forward to, to hope, and to feel that Hey, I do not want to die now, I still have to do/see/feel/experience XYZ things! This will come by opening up their world through media, through education, through relaxing the rigid moral environment around them.

So net-net, let them hold a whisky glass and a cigarette (instead of guns); let them watch mushy romantic movies on TV (instead of religion) and give them porn (the most favourite hobby with guys)! Let them know what 'living' means. 

Ciao