Freedom, love and the fight for justice
Lizzie Freear reminds us that terrorists are people too
When I look at the terrorist attacks of the past few months, and of September the 11th, I see hate — and not just in the eyes of the terrorists. In the search to bring justice and rid the world of this evil I believe that some people go one step too far and begin to commit a smaller version of the same evil. I remember my A-level philosophy teachers commenting on how racism and anti-Islamic feeling in the school had increased noticeably since the 9/11 attack. Mosques and even synagogues have been attacked. Even if we ourselves would never do something like that it is all too easy to see the terrorists as monsters, to generalise and to hate. It’s not just those who happen to be of the same race or religion as the terrorists who we should be thinking of — Jesus instructed us to love even our enemies.
How is it possible to love someone who would kill hundreds of people to make a point? This seems a little unrealistic, and many wouldn’t see a reason to love someone who could do something like that. I would argue that there are many reasons. Firstly, and slightly cynically, it is what Jesus asks of us. If we want our reward in Heaven it is something we must try to do. Secondly, terrorists are people too. They are dedicated to their cause, however misguided it may be, and are willing to die for it. They too have families, they have hopes and fears and desires just like we do. I am not trying to justify terrorism, but if terrorists become monsters in our eyes we are one step closer to joining them. Thirdly, I can’t help pitying the perpetrators of these acts. They have been brainwashed into committing monstrosities that they believe will get them into heaven, when in reality even their own religion is pacifist. Most mainstream Muslim leaders would not condone, let alone praise, their actions. Would you wish the torments of Hell on anyone?
The terrorist attacks we have witnessed recently were horrific with a great loss of life. This clearly is something we cannot sit back and accept. As Christians we must agree with the need for justice, to protect innocent people, and as human beings we have a need to see that authority is respected. The intelligence service and police’s recent hunt for the perpetrators of the July bombings is something that we should support, and seems to have met with a good deal of success. The police too make their mistakes — I am sure you are aware that the investigations have resulted in a loss of innocent life — but we cannot let the perpetrators of these acts go free and unpunished, to continue the pursuit of terror. We may rest assured that even if the earthly authorities fail to track down all the terrorists, they will face justice when they die.
What I am arguing is that punishment and hatred are two different things. When a parent punishes their child one would hope that it is in love, rather than hate. They punish their child because they want them to respect the rules that have been set down for their own safety and happiness. This should be our attitude, and that of society in general. One of the words in the Bible that we translate as ‘sin’ literally means ‘to fall short of the mark’. Terrorists are among those who have failed to achieve their potential. They pursue death, under the impression that it will bring them life. Though I do not see how anyone could agree with what terrorists do, they do still deserve our sympathy and love.