When news
of the on-air murder of Alison Parker and Adam Ward broke what was your
first thought? I suspect that you at least briefly considered the possibility
of a terrorist attack, despite the relatively remote location of Roanoke,Virginia.
What did
you think when you heard of the crash of Germanwings Flight 9525 in the
French Alps? I imagine just about everyone first suspected terrorism. And,
indeed, when the co-pilot first surfaced as the suspect I imagine many
immediately asked, “Is he Muslim?”
Neither of these events were terrorist acts. Both appear to
be the solo actions of deeply disturbed individuals.
When did our collective mind start to leap to terrorism as our first suspect?
September 11, 2001 is certainly the jumping off point. I
remember in the weeks that followed 9/11 the distinct sound of a passenger jet
close overhead held a whole new meaning. I now live under the path of jets
taking off from the Ottawa airport and the noise no longer takes me back to
9/11. Now it is simply the mundane racket of something as amazing as 200 ton
aircraft filled with people.
I am reminded that the sound of a jet no longer transports
me to 9/11. And I wonder when news of horrific acts of violence will no longer transport
me to lingering fears of terrorism?
Given the political and media focus on the threat of
terrorism, it doesn’t seem that the public’s fear and fascination will pass
anytime soon. This despite that fact that ISIL and terrorism do not appear to
be resonating as election issues in the Canadian election.
There has always been terrorism. But, there has not always been ongoing fear of terrorism. At least not in Canada. I think of the 1972 Munich Massacre as an example. A clear terrorist act which resonated around the world at the time but did not translate into fear here in Canada. Israel, on the other hand, has lived with daily fear of the effects of terrorism since it's inception in 1948. As have their Palestinian citizenry and neighbors.
Fear and threat rise and fall with geography and culture. It is wrong to assume that the threat and the fear will always increase. The IRA, for instance, is not presently a source of much fear in the UK.
Our perception of the threat and, indeed, the actual threat change over time. Hopefully both will decrease. The evidence suggests that they will, in the long run.What's not clear is now long the run will be.
DaveScharf50@Gmail.com
There has always been terrorism. But, there has not always been ongoing fear of terrorism. At least not in Canada. I think of the 1972 Munich Massacre as an example. A clear terrorist act which resonated around the world at the time but did not translate into fear here in Canada. Israel, on the other hand, has lived with daily fear of the effects of terrorism since it's inception in 1948. As have their Palestinian citizenry and neighbors.
Fear and threat rise and fall with geography and culture. It is wrong to assume that the threat and the fear will always increase. The IRA, for instance, is not presently a source of much fear in the UK.
Our perception of the threat and, indeed, the actual threat change over time. Hopefully both will decrease. The evidence suggests that they will, in the long run.What's not clear is now long the run will be.
DaveScharf50@Gmail.com
No comments:
Post a Comment