• 16:46
  • Monday ,09 February 2015
العربية

Terrorism in History

J.M Fahmy

Article Of The Day

00:02

Monday ,09 February 2015

Terrorism in History

The history of terrorism is a history of well-known and historically significant individuals, entities, and incidents associated, whether rightly or wrongly, with terrorism. Scholars agree that terrorism is a disputed term, and very few of those labelled terrorists describe themselves as such. It is common for opponents in a violent conflict to describe the other side as terrorists or as practicing terrorism.

Depending on how broadly the term is defined, the roots and practice of terrorism can be traced at least to the 1st-century AD Sicarii Zealots, though some dispute whether the group, which assassinated collaborators with Roman rule in the province of Judea, was in fact terrorist. The first use in English of the term 'terrorism' occurred during the French Revolution's Reign of Terror, when the Jacobins, who ruled the revolutionary state, employed violence, including mass executions by guillotine, to compel obedience to the state and intimidate regime enemies. The association of the term only with state violence and intimidation lasted until the mid-19th century, when it began to be associated with non-governmental groups. Anarchism, often in league with rising nationalism and anti-monarchism, was the most prominent ideology linked with terrorism. Near the end of the 19th century, anarchist groups or individuals committed assassinations of a Russian Tsar and a U.S. President.
 
In the 20th century terrorism continued to be associated with a vast array of anarchist, socialist, fascist and nationalist groups, many of them engaged in 'third world' anti-colonial struggles. Some scholars also labelled as terrorist much of the internal violence and intimidation practiced by Stalinist Russia and Nazi Germany. Increasingly, however, as the century neared its end, the United States and other Western powers pushed for a consensus definition of 'terrorism' that would largely or completed exclude state entities.
I’m Lost Undecided
The previous paragraph was intended to be this week’s article, but as events in Egypt and around the world run faster than my studies on TERRORISM I had to interrupt them at least to comment on a few new events related directly to terrorism.
I’ll start commenting on the president –without naming him, you will know who is he when I repeat what he said- Come down of your hi horses Christians and Crusaders terrorised the world like ISIS or Daesh! Yes, Crusaders burnt and decapitated their prisoners! But who was that barbaric crusader? No name? And why initially crusades started wasn’t it to stop the Islamic invasions to Europe? Any way, rightful fight back or invasion, this was history humanity rejected and abolished centuries ago, so no excuses are acceptable for those to try to revive those inhuman events under any pretext!
Definition of Terror and Terrorism!
Simple definition of Terror is acts that provide fears and scare people, so the Terrorist is the guy that scares people or introduce fears in their lives, this fears could be real hurting atrocities or just demoralisations to make you feel unsafe, but safety really is a gift from GOD!
Following last weeks attacks, the glorious fight back of Kurd women who refuse to be enslaved or sold like slaves I can only say this is justice! When our solders strike back on terrorists and captures traitors who sold their souls to the enemies I have to respect their efforts!
We need to rebuild this Country –Egypt- not to destroy it! This is what the president of Egypt said and I do agree on that we need to change first inside out before trying to impose the change by force demolishing everything around! 
But on this issue I have a lot to say when I see terrorists are youth teenagers and easily breaking down in captivity confessing all secrets of who was behind their acts! Those teenagers, luck of education wealth and self-dignity yes, when I see an old woman on top of her vegetables, bought them, or grow them up in her field, takes them to a long risky trip to the vegetables market I have to respect her self-dignity she could just do like a lot of younger guys who walk around begging, but she is not a beggar, she is a farmer with high dignity! 
Those young teenagers, who were not raised on principals and morals it is the easy way for them to sell themselves and become traitors, should we let them go and prosecute them or prosecute those who left them to this tragic end? 
The Endless Chain of Poverty
Poverty means no income, so if you are unemployed this means you are poor, but unemployment is a worldwide problem facing the most advanced communities in Europe it is not a trade mark for Egypt, this is due to luck of productive agencies that would hire people to keep up their productivity, however as I said being unemployed does not mean to become a thief or gangster to stay alive you need to find alternative solutions like the farmer lady did and went to the market with her production of vegetables or chicken and beef or milk products and developed her skills to a vendor. If that teenager was eager  to work he could offer his help to many vendors that can not run around to sell their products they need to stay close to their products not to be stolen, but selling means exposing what you sell how can you expose your merchandise when 2-3 guys standing around you negotiating prices hides your merchandise! 
These simple facts can not be seen by someone illiterate so your ignorance decreases your chances to be employed or even for creativity to overcome your problems and the only way left open is violence having tons and tons of bitterness for the injustice that put you to those conditions! 
So unemployment causes poverty, ignorance decreases your chances of employment, mean you remain poor, where is the exit from this labyrinth? 
Whom to prosecute?
 Activists will say all this is Mubarak era outcome, I can not excuse Mubarak 30 years in power not doing any thing facing this problem, but is it his fault alone? Who created this poverty is not the unexpected increase of population upon Nasser reign? Why Sadat did not solve the problem? The deterioration of education started with Nasser, facing unexpected growth in population had to increase schools, but schools needed specialised teachers, not as much as needed so imposing on undergraduates to serve in the ministry of education become a curse each and everyone tried to avoid by all means cause further deteriorations to the collapsing educational system!
Errors not faced and solved, but put off by government after government since Nasser days led to this complex poverty situation, but this is not all more and more problems rise up due to the media and bad or poor coverage by the media.
We keep blaming that presenter and brand him as traitor, or sold his sole to the authorities. If he says this is wrong he is a traitor, if he says excellent work he is not a loyal Egyptian still he is a power kisser to the end but where is the solution? Had any one thought that media needs correspondents to be present and cover live events? Is that easy or requires assets that are not available currently due to the economic situation of the country? 
Criticism is easy but taking a dive inside the deep roots of any problem is what we need to do to keep this country up!
We need to focus on main problems stop criticising any effort for each and every problem, the problems that generated more problems in Egyptian life has to be solved with the collaboration of all Egyptians not ½ of them criticising and the other ½ opposing just step down Egyptians and face reality, problems need creativity and collaboration of all Egyptians to save this country and God Blessed may God keep blessing Egypt and Egyptians till the power of love overcomes the love of power so world will know Peace; and Peace be with you all!