I know this isn’t really a blog, but I wanted to say something about this somewhere where people might actually see it.
I don’t get the terrorist mentality. Usually, even when I don’t want to, I get where even the worst people are coming from. I know what it’s like to feel ignored and contemplate doing something drastic just to not feel invisible. So a lot of the individual mass killers I get. To a degree. Serial killers I can usually figure out as well. Gang bangers and career criminals I have no trouble understanding.
But terrorists? They ostensibly have a political agenda… right? So how does killing a bunch of innocent people do anything but ensure everyone is against them? How can they not know that what they’re doing will only make sure people listen to them even less? It makes no sense. Is it as simple and stupid as a revenge trip?
Or are they really so childish and simple minded that they think people will listen if they cause enough damage?
Fear is not a good emotion to provoke if you want people to listen. It’s a good emotion for motivating people to do something, and in this case it will be to terminally and succintly deal with the source of said emotion.
The safe, cowardly, fear and sadness created by entertainment might win all the awards, but in real life people don’t like to be afraid or sad. The emotions evolved as motivative factors to either prevent or rapidly deal with their sources.
I don’t think it’s as easy as just saying they’re crazy. Many terrorists seem to be intelligent enough and clearly know what they’re doing. Is it intended to provoke a reaction? Like the war in the middle east. Was that the point of 9/11? To provoke America into a war that would just fuel their agenda?
I don’t know. I just can’t figure out what they are hoping to accomplish.