Re: thoughts on terrorism

"Mel Rowing" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message news:<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>...
> "JatJatIan" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message
> news:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> > I am a little amazed when I hear people say what dangerous times we
> > live in, referring to terrorism.  It is dangerous in the same way that
> > travel by air is dangerous.  The crashes are spectacular but
> > statistically insignificant.  Still, many people have a fear
> > of flying, but think of nothing of driving hundreds of mile on
> > highways, sharing the road with huge lorries.
> >
> > Of course many many more people in the west are killed in car
> > crashes than by terrorism.  But fatal car crashes do not receive
> > worldwide press coverage.  People do not demand that the crashes
> > stop, or speculate wildly on the cause ("the car makers are building
> > in defects to sustain the demand for cars" or "it is a campaign by
> > the train operators to increase ridership" or "Bush and Blair are
> > behind it").
> >
> > Compare this with the last century, where it was likely for that you
> > had relatives killed or injured in war, or where there was a constant
> > threat of world nuclear war.  In those days, the current acts
> > of terrorism would be a mere curiosity, perhaps not even reported
> > outside the local area.
> >
> > Like many things in life, terrorism is tragic when it occurs.  The attacks
> > in New York were very tragic indeed.  But perfection is hard to achieve
> > in any thing, including peace.  And society needs something to worry
> > about.  And it seems terrorism (and fox hunting) is all we've got.
> >
> > Finally, it is pityful to hear those say that the only solution to Islamic
> > terrorism is to solve the conflict in Palestine.  Any extermist worthy
> > of his name will not be satisified by by any peaceful solution.  Any
> > practical treaty will be one that both sides will be unhappy with, yet
> > accept as being better than the status quo.  Except for the extremists.
> 
> Excellent thoughts indeed that place the problem in perspective.
> 
> M.L. Rowing

... and compare this to the fate of the dinosaurs or the dreadful
destiny of stars being sucked into black holes and we should feel very
happy indeed :-)