Week 19: The Face of Terror

The past two weeks have been extremely difficult for the British people. On May 22nd, a suicide bomber attacked an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester. On June 3rd, three attackers rammed a truck into pedestrians on London Bridge and began stabbing people. In total, there were 30 people killed and 167 wounded.  

Why?

In my opinion, this is the most important question. As far as we know now, all of the attackers are natural born or naturalized citizens of the UK, but are either descendants from or immigrants from Arab countries. We also know that they are either sympathizers to or directly connected with ISIS (the so-called Islamic State).

All of them are young men that have been radicalized to believe that, as a Muslim, they must kill the “infidels” so that “their” people can live in freedom.  

It’s pretty easy when experiencing this history for one to generalize. It’s so frustrating! When attacks happen back-to-back like that, you just want to blame someone. Right now, it’s so easy to start blaming Muslims. They’re the ones doing it after all. Why shouldn't we blame them?

Just look at them. They look like terrorists to me.  

 

Suspected Manchester Suicide Bomber

 Suspected London Bridge Attackers

(killed by police)

November 1974

The past two weeks have been extremely difficult for the British people. On November 21st, two bombs exploded in separated pubs in Birmingham almost simultaneously. In total, there were 21 people killed and 182 wounded.  

Why? In my opinion, this is the most important question. As far as we know now all of the attackers are natural born or naturalized citizens of the UK, but are either descendants from or immigrants from the Republic of Ireland. We also know that they are either sympathizers to or directly connected with the IRA (the so-called Irish Republican Army).

All of them are young men that have been radicalized to believe that, as a Catholic, they must kill the “Protestants” so that “their” people can live in freedom.  

It’s pretty easy when experiencing this history for one to generalize. It’s so frustrating! When attacks happen simultaneously like that you just want to blame someone. Right now, it’s so easy to start blaming Irish Catholics. They’re the ones doing it after all. Why shouldn't we blame them?

Just look at them. They look like terrorists to me.

Suspected Birmingham Bombers

(later exonerated)

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Drawing historical comparisons is always risky business because everything doesn't line up perfectly. How could it? It can’t be the same because it’s a different historical context. I am not claiming that it is the same. However, I am claiming that it is similar.

I feel like I have the right to do this. Why? Because my cultural identity was hijacked by fanatics and I could have been considered a “terrorist” simply because of my ethnicity and religion. A lot of “my people” did. For example, the six above.

Suspected Terrorist

The sad irony of the Irish in the UK in the 1970s and the Arabs in the UK (and in the USA) now is that the vast majority of them left their homeland to escape conflict only to be viewed as “terrorists” in their new home. I am not downplaying the attacks. They are brutal and unacceptable. However, putting blame on billions of people for the actions of a few is irresponsible and wrong.

It’s easier to blame all Muslims or all Catholics than it is to figure out what is actually happening. The reality is, if all Muslims or all Catholics were the enemy, then there would be millions of attacks everyday. There are billions of Catholics in the world and there are billions of Muslims. If either Muslims or Catholics wanted to attack you, they could. They have the numbers.  

But they don’t.

So, why do some attack? Disenfranchisement. When a group of people feel disenfranchised, they are susceptible to extreme ideas. In the past two hundred years, the Irish have gone through colonial repression, revolutionary war, civil war and guerrilla war. No wonder some of the the young men felt disenfranchised. What did they have to live for?

Sound familiar?

If the poison is disenfranchisement, then the anecdote is enfranchisement. That is our homework this week. If you see someone who fits the stereotypical criteria of a Muslim, I want you to think of me. Remember, just 40 years ago the face of terror was my face. Smile at them and say hello. Let them know that they are welcome. Who knows, in 40 years your face could be the face of terror.

For more on the Birmingham Six check out this article.