Terrorism
Terrorism may be defined as deliberate violence or the threat of violence towards innocent people and governments to cause fear systematically and to attract media attention for causes which may be political, ideological or religious. It is to enforce their will through coercion.
Terrorism has existed for as long as civilizations have, in some form or the other, for some reason or the other, and has occurred worldwide. From Sicarii Zealots of the 1st century to the Ku Klux Klan, from the IRA to the PLO, from the Tamil Tigers to llamas and the most sought after Al Qacda, terrorism has flourished. Today, the magnitude of terrorism is so vast that the security in every country has been enhanced and governments are on guard. Terrorism is of different kinds, its area of operation, ideology and tactics vary.
The one feature that comes out in all these clashes, be it terrorism today or even racism we encounter so often, is that one group feels its superiority over the other or feels oppressed by another. It is no wonder that it is often said that “one man’s terrorist is another man’s freedom fighter”. However, it is necessary to recognize that dialogue is the only way to settle issues and no matter how small or large a group is- if it is against the law of a country, it is illegal and if it kills innocent people its cause is not worthy.