Agree or Disagree

Jonathan Nguyen

Instructor Slemenda

WR115 MW (12:30 pm)

November 6, 2011

Essay 4: Agree or Disagree

The Webster dictionary defines terrorism as: "the use of threat or violence, by small groups to intimidate, usually for political purposes." Are terrorists suicidal psychopaths without moral feelings or feelings for others? Well, Friedersdorf states in his compelling argument that we should seek understanding as to why the enemy is attacking us and whether or not we are justified in fighting back (2). I completely agree with him on this topic and feel like there is a common misconception that their unjustly acts or terror are entirely immoral. There are a countless of reasons behind the motivations of terrorists, ranging from political reasons to group influences. Perhaps if we look at it from their perspective, we could get a better understanding of the motivation that links to their behavior.

No one wakes up one day and decides that today is the day to become a terrorist. The process in which ordinary people grow to be capable of doing terrible things are generally gradual. Horowitz, the author of The Deadly Ethnic Riot, illustrates his idea that this is among other things, a moral route. Such as the fact terrorists kill for the cause of ideology; for the same motives that different groups have killed other groups for centuries (4). The reason that is worth killing for or even dying for is irrelevant, and can only be accepted if we put ourselves in their shoes.

Imagine yourself a terrorist, living an underground, cut off from everything but the few you share your goals with. Your life would depend on the others in the group. Similar to a gang, you would rely on those around you, conforming immoral acts of violence. At the Pennsylvania State University, Psychologists teamed up together to recognize various types of aggression that correlates to terrorists: "Emotional aggression is associated with anger and does not calculate long - term consequences. Terrorist aggression may involve emotional aggression, especially for those who do the killing, but those who plan terrorist acts are usually thinking about what they want to accomplish" (7). This shows that terrorists in groups that organize attacks are likely to be affected emotionally.

Profiling of Muslims by people in America can encourage a sense that they are being victimized. According to the article Muslims in America, written by Jessica Stern, " Some of the thousand or so Arabs and Muslims by who have been jailed since 9/11 on suspicion of terrorist activities are likely to feel aggrieved when they are finally released" (2). Terrorists hope for a reaction of stereotyping and prejudice in which they are seen