June 26, 2005
Just a few more points to be stressed
While I know that most of you already know these things, most people don't come anywhere even close to comprehending. That's why I shall continue sometimes writing things that many of you won't find interesting. But I'll never force anyone to read it ;)
Honest Reporting has an article out worth reading, about attempted female suicide bomber Wafa al-Bas, who tried to blow up an Israeli hospital. What is especially noteworthy is the fact that what al-Bas claims to be her motives, does nothing but prove:
1) SUICIDE TERROR: ASPIRATION, NOT DESPERATION
Al-Bas explained to reporters why she carried out the act:
I love Allah, I love the land of Palestine and I am a member of Al-Aksa Brigades... my dream was to be a martyr. I believe in death... Since I was a little girl I wanted to carry out an attack.
2) IMPORTANCE OF ISRAELI CHECKPOINTS
3) PA EMBRACING, NOT STOPPING TERRORISTS
Read the article: Here
I think most would-be suicide bombers I heard of described their "istishhad" as an aspiration.
However, Maria, it doesn't help us much with "most people", because they would still argue that this aspiration is a result of unbearable desperation.
I find it very frustrating. There are many open minded people, but once you come to talk with them about Islamic terrorism, they show some compassion for it. Why? Because some terrorists also kill themselves. What distorted reasoning people have!!
Not to mention that the highest suicide rates are still in Europe. Suicide rate is not a measure of national suffering anyway. But, please, these people don't just commit suicide. They are mass murderers. I agree, however, that while some of the suicide bombers are convinced they are going to sit next to Mohammed in heaven, for others this "martyrdom" is just a "heroic" substitiute for a shameful, "ordinary" suicide.
As for Wafa al-Bas, I'm NOT sure that she really has always dreamt of blowing herself up. We have seen in previous cases, esp of women, that the motive is sometimes different. The suicide attack is sometimes "offered" to a women as a substitute for so-called honor killing.
Posted by: Orly at June 26, 2005 09:13 AM Permalink