TERRORISM

The annual general body of the Parent Teachers Association provides occasion to voice concerns. At my daughter’s school, a parent, Mr. Zaidi spoke on the threatening trepidation of terrorism. He made a pertinent point that terrorists were not just those who endangered lives… they included all those whose diminutive acts led to eventual destruction and devastation.

Zaidi spelt out the seemingly innocuous acts that paved the path to peril. Motorists who exceeded speed limit restrictions endangered the safety of the bridge and therefore they were indulging in terrorism. Citizens who did not participate in the responsible management of garbage were pushing society to a deadly epidemic and hence they were fostering a terrorist act. Similarly, environment polluters were jeopardizing lives and foisting terrorism.

Zaidi’s analysis made a pertinent point. Terrorism arises in a self-centred mind clouded by a criminal contempt for collective responsibilities… where narrow motives eclipse the common good. Every time, we involve in acts that eventually lead to the endangerment of lives, we are becoming active contributors to the inhuman acts of terrorism. More often than not, it is the governing authorities and promoters of irresponsible and self-interested ‘development’ that contribute to the build-up of deadly acts of destruction.

However, it is not enough to be a good person… we must be better at ensuring zero tolerance for all acts that lead to eventual terrorism. We must ask ourselves: Do we directly or indirectly support those who in the name of development wreck destruction of lives, lands and livelihoods? Do we overtly or covertly support religious fundamentalists who use the cloak of spiritualism to promote hate and contempt that eventually leads to rioting and violence? Or do we just stand and stare in insensitive indifference?

To BE BETTER at tackling the menace of terrorism…
Let’s connect citizenship with responsive humanism!

- Pravin K. Sabnis