A View From the Deck: The PURPOSE of Terrorism

NOTE: The following is OPINION. As such, it is the author’s point of view and his alone.

We enjoy life in this country. We enjoy the chance to get together and participate in various celebrations. We enjoy being a part of events that bring us together, no matter what our various ideologies and beliefs may be.

That was what Monday's Boston Marathon began as; a chance for people, everyday, common people, just like you and me, to get together and enjoy one of the truly great aspects of what it means to be an American. Standing side by side we put aside our differences and just enjoyed what was going on.

Until 2:50pm, when things changed.

Monday brought many of us back to a harsh reality: There are people out there that will do anything in their power to cause death and injury to American citizens.

No one yet knows for certain who did this or why. No one knows if this was part of an international plot, or more of a domestic, ‘home-grown’ scheme. But one thing is certain:

This was an act of Terror.

Vladimir Ilyich Lenin once said “The purpose of Terrorism is to Terrorize.” To instill fear. To create panic. To cast a shadow of paranoia. To make it where you no longer feel safe. Anywhere. That’s what any act of terrorism is designed to accomplish.

An act of terror does not have to be on the scale of the World Trade Center attack or Monday’s cowardly act of violence in order to succeed. All it must do is instill fear, panic, or paranoia. To make one feel as if they are not safe in their home, their place of business, or standing on the street, joining in with others, in celebration.

There are many people that believe that since September 11th, 2001, that we Americans have become complacent. They believe that we have forgotten the terror of that day and have allowed it to slip into some dark place where it is never thought about, let alone mentioned. There are those that believe that we have grown weak. They believe that they can do anything they want, attack anyone they wish, anywhere, without any fear of reprisal.

They are WRONG!

Americans, because of our way of life, are very resilient. We are strong. We are a force to be reckoned with. We do not allow ourselves to live in fear, as those who enjoy creating terror among us wish us to be. We do not grovel on our knees and plead for mercy. We stand, as one, unified and defiant. Our heads are bloodied, but remain unbowed to those that wish to conquer us and our American way of life through these cowardly actions.

Yes, right now, Monday’s act of terror is at the forefront of our minds. Many of us do indeed feel a sense of panic, and certainly fear of not knowing when another attack may take place.

But as time goes on, many of us will come out of our 'bunkers' and walk out and gather among fellow Americans and allow our lives to return to normal.

Because once we do that, those that wish to instill terror in us have failed.

Those that were injured and the families of those that lost loved ones in Monday’s attack have a much harder road ahead. There are no words that can give them any explanation or measure of comfort. They are forever altered by this attack, and we must always remember them and their suffering.

But to give them the kind of justice that they truly deserve, we, as Americans, must shake off the fear. We must quell the panic. We must not allow the paranoia to dictate how we live our lives.

We must stand strong. We must demonstrate our resilience. We must show those that would carry out acts of terror against our citizens that we are AMERICANS. 

Weak? No. Complacent? Certainly not. These descriptions have no place in the makeup of an American. We ARE strong. We ARE a force to be reckoned with.

There are no words that can give comfort, but I offer William Henley's 'Invictus' as a source of consideration, and possible inspiration:

"OUT of the night that covers me,

Black as the Pit from pole to pole,

I thank whatever gods may be

For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance

I have not winced nor cried aloud.

Under the bludgeonings of chance

My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears

Looms but the Horror of the shade,

And yet the menace of the years

Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,

How charged with punishments the scroll,

I am the master of my fate:

I am the captain of my soul."

The day will come when those responsible for this cowardly act will feel the impact of our revenge. Then they will feel fear. They will run about in panic. They will be overwhelmed by a sense of paranoia. They will feel ‘Terrorized.’

“The purpose of Terrorism is to Terrorize.”

Don’t allow them to succeed.

Si vis Pacem, Para Bellum