Time Warp
I'd like our people (conservative and liberal) to consider some things for a moment. In this day of "The WAR on terrorism" I'd like us to think back to 1775.
If the word "terrorist" had been in the British lexicon in 1775, do you think they would have described the rebellious colonists (that would us Americans) as 'terrorists'? I dare say they most likely would have.
America had no standing army at the time and the fighting force was made up primarily of local militias who were rather good at partisan warfare. Partisans would operate behind the enemy lines disrupting communications and supply lines and generally instigating havoc and confusion where ever they could. Partisan snipers might kill the odd small patrol or scout here and there and blow up ammunition stores.
They also were known to kill civilians who were cooperating with or sympathetic to the British. That's certainly a terrorists modus operandi isn't it? Killing civilians. Hmmm....
In 1775 and throughout the American War of Independance, we Americans were the terrorists. At least, from the British point of view. Naturally from OUR point of view, we were freedom fighters. Sounds noble huh? Trust me, it didn't sound too noble to George III.
Fast forward to 1865 and the American Civil War. There were "covert" strike teams on both sides and sharp shooters (we call them snipers today). And lets not forget America's own version of the gulag. The south's gulag was called Andersonville and the conditions and treatment of Union soldiers was deplorable, sub-human and infamous. The North was no better, Camp Douglass in Chicago became known as "the North's Andersonville". Neither side had much to be proud of in either of these facilities.
In the Civil War, we had terrorists on both sides, the North and South, from each other's perspective at least.
My point in this little exercise in history is to ask you to apply those lessons in perspective to the world today.
Try to remember that to the Israelis, Hezbollah is a terrorist group, but, Hezbollah, no doubt, see themselves as freedom fighters.
The IRA was seen as a terrorist group by our old masters the British. What they want today is what we wanted in 1775, the removal of colonial rule. So how come it was OK for us but not OK for the IRA?
Perspective is an interesting thing. We should take the time to look at things from both sides of the fence. And what's even more important, is that each side should try to see things from the other's perspective. That's hard I know, but it's often the key to peace.
Raven
If the word "terrorist" had been in the British lexicon in 1775, do you think they would have described the rebellious colonists (that would us Americans) as 'terrorists'? I dare say they most likely would have.
America had no standing army at the time and the fighting force was made up primarily of local militias who were rather good at partisan warfare. Partisans would operate behind the enemy lines disrupting communications and supply lines and generally instigating havoc and confusion where ever they could. Partisan snipers might kill the odd small patrol or scout here and there and blow up ammunition stores.
They also were known to kill civilians who were cooperating with or sympathetic to the British. That's certainly a terrorists modus operandi isn't it? Killing civilians. Hmmm....
In 1775 and throughout the American War of Independance, we Americans were the terrorists. At least, from the British point of view. Naturally from OUR point of view, we were freedom fighters. Sounds noble huh? Trust me, it didn't sound too noble to George III.
Fast forward to 1865 and the American Civil War. There were "covert" strike teams on both sides and sharp shooters (we call them snipers today). And lets not forget America's own version of the gulag. The south's gulag was called Andersonville and the conditions and treatment of Union soldiers was deplorable, sub-human and infamous. The North was no better, Camp Douglass in Chicago became known as "the North's Andersonville". Neither side had much to be proud of in either of these facilities.
In the Civil War, we had terrorists on both sides, the North and South, from each other's perspective at least.
My point in this little exercise in history is to ask you to apply those lessons in perspective to the world today.
Try to remember that to the Israelis, Hezbollah is a terrorist group, but, Hezbollah, no doubt, see themselves as freedom fighters.
The IRA was seen as a terrorist group by our old masters the British. What they want today is what we wanted in 1775, the removal of colonial rule. So how come it was OK for us but not OK for the IRA?
Perspective is an interesting thing. We should take the time to look at things from both sides of the fence. And what's even more important, is that each side should try to see things from the other's perspective. That's hard I know, but it's often the key to peace.
Raven
posted by Anonymous @ Friday, August 04, 2006
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