Can terrorism have roots? Or a source? Some people blame certain nation for being the source of terrorism. For instance, just now I read at http://samsonblinded.org/blog/?p=122 that the threat to the West emanates from the Arab world. May be partly it’s right, but looking at past times one is able to see that many other nations also did evil… Today people’s ideology and outlook on life leave much to be desired… Before people strived to survive, now having nothing to do, they arrange terrorist acts… Human beings are aimed at extirpating each other and it’s really deplorable.

Terrorism is caused by mental illness, which is partly genetic, but the ideology feeds into it.

A person has to be suicidal, and be filled with rage to commit a terrorist act. If you look at the psychological state of the columbine killers, or the killers recently from Canada, you'd see that their mind works in a way which allows them to think like a terrorist.

The ideology allows a person who thinks like a terrorist to have religious authorization to commit hate crimes. So if you have a muslim for example, the muslim is not a terrorist because of islam, they are born with certain traits, which if activated can make them into say, a suicide bomber, but you cannot take just anyone off the street and make into a suicide bomber. The person needs to have all the right qualities, nothing to lose, and a lot of hatred and discipline. These militant type individuals are actually very rare, as most people are moderate and that is why there are very few terrorists.

Not all terrorists are suicidal and not all are pushing a religious ideology. Many are stateless people pushing a political ideology, like the IRA and the Basque bombers. Others feel that the people they claim to represent are being oppressed by despotic governments, like the Oklahoma City bomber.

It's hard not to call Hamas, Al Qaeda and the perpetrators of mass infanticide in Beslan true sociopaths. But psychologists warn us not to mislead ourselves into thinking that all terrorists are psychotic. Many of them see themselves as warriors. They are obviously not warriors any more than the average soldier is who's "just following orders," but the average soldier sees himself as a warrior too.

People who feel they have a constituency that has been mightily wronged can easily feel that they are the warriors come to right that wrong and vanquish the oppressors. This is not necessarily a psychosis. It is just a really unfortunate combination of being wrong and having access to lots of weapons--or the cleverness to build their own, like the Oklahoma City fertilizer bomber.

the root of the problem... is the muulahs allow for contridictions when they interpret the Koran...... its a mistake...

Mohammed does not contridict himself. PERIOD.

if we realise this and then interpret, we find that islam is a great religion, that apposes real evil, in its many forms.
and where killing is reserved for only the most important matters, worthy of sending men into battle. that their deaths against really evil enemies is glorious, but only as needed, in war. NOT EVERY DAY IN OUR CITY STREETS.

Mohammed does not contridict himself.

-MT

The big danger comes from having a large group of men age 18-30 who are unemployed. This demographic, with nothing to do all day, usually finds trouble.

Ireland, American Ghettos, All the former Russian Satellites, French Minorities, Underdeveloped Muslim countries... they all follow this pattern. Men form "Gangs", which create "Rivals", and spend all their time trying to figure out how to get the enemy. When I was a kid, we did the same thing in our neighborhoods. These guys just never got tied up in work, so they have kept that pattern going.

Just look how arbitrary their deliniations are. We pretend that it is a religious war, but that would ignore that the Bloods and Crips had the same level of passion and hatred. It would ignore what the Ukrain and Russian youth have gone through, it would pretend that the differences between Protestant and Catholic in Ireland are equally vast.

Check out the Robber Cave experiment to really get a grasp on what is going on here. Here are some googled links, I can't vouch for them, but if you can find the original study it will be worth your while. It will modify the way you view group behavior, especially of males.

http://www.age-of-the-sage.org/psychology/social/sherif_robbers_cave_experiment.html

http://www.ppu.org.uk/learn/peaceed/pe_robbers_cave.html


I think this is a link to the original. It seems a bit modified, perhaps for the web, but it reads like I remember it:

http://psychclassics.yorku.ca/Sherif/

Terrorists are criminals, murderers, vigilantes ...no more, no less. They want to skirt the laws of the land, of the nation, and commit crimes! They're nothing but psychopaths who would otherwise be "normal" criminals, murderers, armed robbers, etc. The "idealogy" is just something they cling to so as to give them an excuse to do what they'd do anyway!

Personally, as you can see, I think we do ourselves and our societies a great injustice when we attempt to make excuses for such criminals. When we give them high and lofty ideals, we're doing nothing but encouraging such behavior.

Baron Max

The big danger comes from having a large group of men age 18-30 who are unemployed. This demographic, with nothing to do all day, usually finds trouble.

So ...by that statement, by that logic, the Appalachian region of the USA must be the terrorist capitol of the US, huh? It's one of, if not THE, poorest region in the US, with unemployment so high as to be lofty ....so terrorism and crime must be rampant. Ahh, but it isn't, is it? No, it is NOT.

So, if unemployment is the reason for crime and terrorism, why isn't it true in Appalachia? And in the same way, there are many, many places in the USA where poverty and unemployment is high, yet there isn't much crime or terrorism. Why?

Your bullshit excuse is just that ......a fuckin' excuse, not a reason!

Baron Max

Personally, as you can see, I think we do ourselves and our societies a great injustice when we attempt to make excuses for such criminals. When we give them high and lofty ideals, we're doing nothing but encouraging such behavior.

Baron Max

Even when they happen to be Presidents of a country?

Terrorists are criminals, murderers, vigilantes ...no more, no less. They want to skirt the laws of the land, of the nation, and commit crimes! They're nothing but psychopaths who would otherwise be "normal" criminals, murderers, armed robbers, etc. The "idealogy" is just something they cling to so as to give them an excuse to do what they'd do anyway!

Personally, as you can see, I think we do ourselves and our societies a great injustice when we attempt to make excuses for such criminals. When we give them high and lofty ideals, we're doing nothing but encouraging such behavior.

Baron Max
baron

please define a terrorist??

Even when they happen to be Presidents of a country?

You can't read, can you, Sam? Or is it that you can read, but you can't comprehend what you read?

and you're studying to become a scientist?

Baron Max

please define a terrorist??
Anyone who isnt a freedon fighter (!)

baron, please define a terrorist??

I just did, Zak!! Read my post again ...you're missing it somehow.

Baron Max

So ...by that statement, by that logic, the Appalachian region of the USA must be the terrorist capitol of the US, huh? It's one of, if not THE, poorest region in the US, with unemployment so high as to be lofty ....so terrorism and crime must be rampant. Ahh, but it isn't, is it? No, it is NOT.

So, if unemployment is the reason for crime and terrorism, why isn't it true in Appalachia? And in the same way, there are many, many places in the USA where poverty and unemployment is high, yet there isn't much crime or terrorism. Why?

Your bullshit excuse is just that ......a fuckin' excuse, not a reason!

Baron Max

Appalachian states are another great example. There, they form militant groups, racist groups, seperatists etc... They have the same exact in-grouping and out-grouping that I mention elsewhere. The only reason you don't see the same violence is because of the extreme homogenity of the demographic (I live in this area, born and raised). There is plenty of anger and hatred here, but nobody to take it out on. If any out-group exists here, it is wildlife, especially the deer. And they get a rain of lead like no other group in existence... they just haven't had a very charismatic leader to look out for the injustice since Bambi.

I share your hatred of this process. I don't excuse anyone for ignorance or violence. I just want to understand the process fully, and blaming it on the religion alone just won't do that. That would not explain why it is only the demographic I mention that becomes involved in these struggles. It also wouldn't explain the universal nature of these problems.

And you can cuss me all you like, it won't improve anyone's progress with these ideas.

I just did, Zak!! Read my post again ...you're missing it somehow.

Baron Max
so you did thanks Baron..

Appalachian states are another great example. There, they form militant groups, racist groups, seperatists etc...

Do you have any evidence to back up that statement? Please provide it or it's nothing but idle, speculative bullshit!!!!

There is plenty of anger and hatred here, but nobody to take it out on.

Interesting. But then, the inner city blacks seem to take it out on other inner city blacks. So why don't the Appalachian groups do the same?

Swivel, you're just inventing bullshit so as to make your ideals seem correct ....and that ain't the way it's done. First you look at the conditions, then you make possible assumptions, then you check those assumptions based on other data from other locales. Your bullshit don't follow any of that investigative methodology ...you fail!

It also wouldn't explain the universal nature of these problems.

See? You're wrong as hell! It is NOT a universal problem! There are numerous poverty-striken areas with low unemployment where the people do NOT engage in violence and riots and killing. Check all of those areas in the world, then tell me why SOME resort to violence, while others don't. Perhaps then you'll see that you're ideals are all fucked up! And then you might see terrorism for what it is ....violence because of the natural violence of the terrorists. In the same way as some people are murderers, and some aren't!

Baron Max

I won't be dragged into a ditch and argue with you at your sunken level, friend.

I'm not speculating. I provided a link to a very famous psychological study. The results of this study have been verified many times over since it was performed. It is part of the basis for a new group socialization theory posited by the brilliant Judith Harris. Her work, according to Stephen Pinker, is the beginning of a new revolution in psychology. Her work is outstanding and has won the highest awards in psychology.

It is this, and the many studies that I have researched in following group socialization theory, on which I base my understanding of these sorts of in-group fanaticism. You choose to base your theory on the popular-press version of events. That is fair, but I tend to think that my chosen source is a bit more solid than the populist version of what you are suggesting.

So it would seem that you are coming from a place of idealism (and being rude in the process), while I am employing the scientific method in a search for truth. There is nothing wrong with our epistemological differences. The only complaint that I would have is your terrible attitude, and the blatant hypocrasy of you doing exactly what you accuse me of, and me doing what you are wishing you were capable of. Your backwardness in this regard screams entrenched fanaticism. In order for us to have a discussion on whether or not my views have merit, it would probably require you reading the study on which I base my claims.

However, I seriously doubt that a disgruntled reactionary such as yourself would take the time to do some reading and learning. You seem to have made up your mind, and will defend it with a growling snarl.

Good luck with that.

I won't be dragged into a ditch and argue with you at your sunken level, friend.

Yeah, sure. Have you read and researched the many psychological studies on "Denial"? ..LOL!

What I find interesting is how people can be so blind to reality, yet be so seemingly learned via the books and articles and studies ....most of which don't adequately explain reality. I find most of those articles and books to have been written by people trying deperately to get tenure at some college or university ....so they just wrote any-fuckin'-thing that sounded even half correct so as to gain tenure! ...LOL!

Anyone can write anything, but that don't make it so. Many, if not most, of those studies do not, repeat DO NOT, adequately explain why, in the very same social environment, some people are violent, while others are not. Yet they persist in blaming the social environment for the violence and crime.

See? It's easy to say that poverty and unemployment and lack of education is the cause of crime and violence. But ...how does that explain that some people, from the very same environment are NOT violent and criminal? Ditto for widely separated areas of poverty and unemployment ....that have NOT turned to crime at all. Hmmm? What say now, sir?

Baron Max

Terrorists are criminals, murderers, vigilantes ...no more, no less. They want to skirt the laws of the land, of the nation, and commit crimes! They're nothing but psychopaths who would otherwise be "normal" criminals, murderers, armed robbers, etc. The "idealogy" is just something they cling to so as to give them an excuse to do what they'd do anyway!

Personally, as you can see, I think we do ourselves and our societies a great injustice when we attempt to make excuses for such criminals. When we give them high and lofty ideals, we're doing nothing but encouraging such behavior.

Baron Max

I think you are jumping the gun Barox, terrorists are people fighting for a certain cause. The Isrealites used to terrorize the british in palestine for years. Their story was a case of victim turned perpertrator. Ariel Sharon carried out many murders for the idea of Isreal. Now all of a sudden the terrorists are Arabs :D And sometimes terrorists can come in sheep clothing. Nazis came to power in Germany because at first they represented the constant oppression of the state and were a beacon of light and truth, they stood for a future Germany until everythign went haywire when they held parliament

..., terrorists are people fighting for a certain cause.

Hmm, but doesn't that cover just about anyone and everyone who is fighting anything and anyone?

A murderer is fight for a cause, too, ....killing someone that he don't like!!

I consider a terrorist as someone who takes the law into their own hands in some twist ideal of justice ...usually justice which has been declared which they don't accept. Take the Palestinians; they bitched n' moaned about the Israeli Jews for years ....then Fat-Arafattie took it to the international courts for a judgement. He lost! He didn't like it, so he took the law into his own hands. That ain't very nice.

You can bring up other terrorists, like the Israeli terrorists, but that does NOT justify the Palestinians or anyone else to do the same. It's like say, "Hey, that guy murdered someone, so it's my turn to do the same!" That's just horsehit and you know it. There is no excuse for terrorism or for blowing up little kids and women and innocent people just standing around trying to get a job! That's just horseshit! It's criminal, that's all it is.

Baron Max

Nazis came to power in Germany because at first they represented the constant oppression of the state and were a beacon of light and truth, they stood for a future Germany until everythign went haywire when they held parliament

No one that I know would call the Nazis of the 1930s and 40s "terrorists". That's the most absurd thing that I've ever heard! Even the things they did to the Jews and the Gypsies wasn't terrorism!

Baron Max

No one that I know would call the Nazis of the 1930s and 40s "terrorists". That's the most absurd thing that I've ever heard! Even the things they did to the Jews and the Gypsies wasn't terrorism!

Baron Max

Go read about the SS. Read about the Night of Broken Glass. The Nazis used terrorism very effectively to keep the public, and the dozens of other political parties cowed.

I wouldn't mind your complete ignorance of history so much, except that you keep saying the wrong things with complete confidence and gusto. It's weird. It's like you don't even know what you don't know. :)

Go read about the SS. Read about the Night of Broken Glass. The Nazis used terrorism very effectively to keep the public, and the dozens of other political parties cowed.

Do you, really, consider the SS and the Nazis as terrorists???? Really?? Just because of their methods??? Do you also consider some of the militants of South American nations terrorists? If not, what's the difference between them and the Nazis/SS? Ditto for some South American nations with strong, powerful, ruthless police and military? Are they terrorists, too?

If that's the case, you must consider plain ol' everyday serial killers as terrorists, huh? Or perhaps the mob in the 30's and 40s? How 'bout plain ol' rapists who "terrorize" a city or area of a city ....are they terrorists, too?

Wow! I gotta' admit ....you have a very, very strange idea of terrorism!

Baron Max

Do you, really, consider the SS and the Nazis as terrorists???? Really?? Just because of their methods??? Do you also consider some of the militants of South American nations terrorists? If not, what's the difference between them and the Nazis/SS? Ditto for some South American nations with strong, powerful, ruthless police and military? Are they terrorists, too?

If that's the case, you must consider plain ol' everyday serial killers as terrorists, huh? Or perhaps the mob in the 30's and 40s? How 'bout plain ol' rapists who "terrorize" a city or area of a city ....are they terrorists, too?

Wow! I gotta' admit ....you have a very, very strange idea of terrorism!

Baron Max

Yup. A lot of the guys you mention are terrorists in many ways. The Mafia used terror tactics to demand protection money. Usually these guys are termed "domestic terrorists" in order to be more specific, but that just shows that they are still terrorists.

If you think that terrorists are only the Arabs on Airplanes, then you are the one with a funny idea of terrorism.

Oh... and what in the world is up with your punctuation? If you like, I can just always assume that you are yelling at me with your face all puffed-up and red. That way, you can save your shift key, and not strain yourself with all the '?'s and '!'s. :confused: