Terror's Not A 'Cause'

Terror's Not A 'Cause'

By: Rachel Marsden

A new ITV News poll in the U.K. marks today’s first anniversary of the rush-hour bombing of London’s transit system by Islamic terrorists, in which 52 people died. It finds that 7% of British Muslims consider suicide attacks on civilians to be justified in some circumstances. That may not sound like much, until you realize that it represents more than 100,000 Muslims.

Meanwhile, 16% of Britain’s nearly 2 million Muslims reportedly think the bombers had the right “cause” in mind, despite disagreeing with their approach.

A terrorist’s “cause” is irrelevant.

Guy Fawkes, the granddaddy of British terrorism, tried to blow up Parliament in 1605, as depicted in the recent movie V for Vendetta. Three guesses what his excuse was. That’s right, he had a problem with the government.

Tim McVeigh, who blew up the Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City in 1995, killing 167 people, said he was angry with the government, too.

Eric Rudolph, who bombed a park at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, blamed his actions on the government’s “support” of gays and abortion.

And the Unabomber, Ted Kaczynski, who spent some 20 years bombing people through the mail, explained in a 1995 manifesto that he was upset with society’s technological progress.

Pretty much every terrorist has a beef with government or society. Having a “cause” doesn’t make a terrorist act any more justifiable. Can’t we just call a psycho what he really is? Or are we only allowed to do that with white guys?

A fact of life

Complaining about the government in western society is a fact of life. In Canada, it defines our national identity, right up there along with grumbling about the weather and whatever George Bush happens to be doing.

But one thing that makes democracy great is that you don’t have to blow stuff up to express your views. That’s why we have elections. And if you still can’t escape the need to put the smackdown on your fellow citizens, you can join a local rugby or hockey team to work out those frustrations.

In the wake of this week’s poll, British MP Sadiq Khan has criticized the government for not “reaching out” to Muslims.

No one called a commission of inquiry after the McVeigh incident. They just treated him to a needle nap and called it a day. There was no onus on society to figure out ways to prevent more white men from becoming angry with the government, or to encourage more of them — particularly those fluent in the universal terrorist language — to get chummy with the police in order to improve counter-terrorism efforts.

The Unabomber’s own brother had no problem voluntarily turning him in to the authorities once he discovered his secret in 1996. Similarly, if a guy who breaks into my home is of the same culture as me, it doesn’t mean he’s on my “team.” Law and order isn’t a World Cup soccer match.

Muslims, like anyone else, know where to find the local cop shop. The police shouldn’t have to woo them. It's not the Dating Game.

If you watch To Serve and Protect on Sun TV, you’ll see many examples where the police are “reaching out” to various cultures — by putting the bad guys in handcuffs. That’s what they’re trained to do — not to play Dr. Phil. Just as there’s no justification for terrorism, there’s also no excuse for any of us to not help fight it.

PUBLISHED: TORONTO SUN (July 7/06)