"TERRORISM"

In the shadow of the Christchurch mosque massacres, let's ask ourselves some basic questions about "terrorism":

(1) Is there such a thing as "terrorism" as an enemy, a scourge or a phenomenon which we can fight and defeat? 

No! Terrorism is merely a tactic of deliberate violence and often killing of innocent civilians with a political motive. So, for each act of terror, there is a different primary motive and therefore needs its own way of dealing with it. It's a common means used by different groups for different ends. 

(2) Is "terrorism" the result of hatred between different racial or religious groups and therefore after each act of terror, the most important thing is to demonstrate our empathy and common acceptance of these different groups?

Again no! This is a false narrative seemingly promoted by politicians for their own reasons. Acts of terror are not committed for the aim of killing the victims out of hate, but to send a symbolic message by their perpetrators to their enemies. Their victims are not their intended enemies. Their real enemies are an entirely different group of people, usually a government.

(3) So, can terrorism be eradicated?

Sorry, no. "Terrorism" is a common means used by small, diverse and relatively powerless groups as a tactic of war against their much more powerful enemies for a variety of different grievances and causes. We can fight against the ends that they are pursuing if we find them objectionable or morally unacceptable, but we cannot dictate, persuade or even influence them not to use acts of terror to achieve their aims. As long as there are imbalanced wars between groups of vastly different strengths, "terrorism" will appeal to the much weaker groups as an effective weapon against their much stronger enemies and they will likely continue to use it.

(4) What can we as normal civilian non-combatants do to protect and prevent ourselves from being caught in the cross-fires of such "terrorism"?

Sadly, there is no foolproof way to keep ourselves out of harm"s way. We have to accept that "terrorism" is part of modern living. The only consolation is that the chance of dying in a terror act is infinitesimally smaller than say in a motor accident or a heart attack. If you had not hitherto encountered any terror attack, chances are you never will if you keep to your old routine.