Understanding Terrorism: Multiple Definitions And Acts Of Violence (Essay Sample)

Student’s Name Instructor’s Name Subject Date Understanding Terrorism Question 1: Reaction to the arguments of Allen F. Dziuk Terrorism has gained multiple definitions and these have been interpreted in different ways by different people. To some people, terrorism is just an act of violence which is directed to a particular group of people or a society, in a number of cases the government. Terrorism is usually initiated as a result of the drive to initiate political changes in a given government. This validates the argument of Allen Dziuk his book Murder is terrorism. He claims that it does not matter if an Islamic State commits the murder may wearing an explosive vest or an American citizen who is just angry over losing his job and picks up a gun. Either way, both of these acts are considered terrorism in the light of this book and according to the author. In the recent years that have gone by, several readers have been questioning the reasons for the sharp discrepancies which have been in existence between the two incidents which were covered in the recent times even though there has been a lot of similarity between the casualty counts. As a result of this, one letter has been published to address this claim, which regardless of who commits the murder, it is still considered as terrorism from whichever perspective one chooses to view it from. Some people commit suicide and put all the blames and the claims that the extreme Islamists initiated this murder incident. However, there are the non - Muslims who are actively engaged in murder incidences who take cover under the Islamic blames which are spreading around. Any act of violence is terrorism. Therefore it is very significant to know which kind of violence is in existence in the world today so that they are rightly put into their various categories and classes. There is not an agreed definition of terrorism that has been reached. That is the reason why people have different views of what terrorism is and when to classify any act as an act of terrorism. According to a political analyst Alex Schmid in his work Political Terrorism (1983), He mentions one hundred definitions of tourism. By 2011, there were more than 250 definitions in place. Both terrorism and violence have the same effect. The main being that people are killed and property are damaged in both acts. Regardless of a violent crime or an act of terrorism, these actions trigger some part of the brain which deals with threat detection. The brain classifies all these actions as terror, and therefore, it immediately starts processing the quickest way safety can be ensured (Lecture 1). Terrorism can also be referred to as instrumental violence. Equally, murder I most cases are committed by the use of weapons. Rarely will you find someone murdering by the use of bare hands? Therefore, crime can be classified under terrorism, and so, terrorism can be conducted by anyone as long as he or she is in possession of a weapon which can take life. There are a lot of similarities that are shared between terrorism and murder. These are indications that any act which is in line with causing fear can be classified as terrorism. Also, any action which results in a loss of life can also be classified as fear. It does not matter who causes it because anybody can cause murder as long as they are out to air their grievances. Terrorists attack for several reasons; one common reason for their attack is to loot the property which is in a particular region. Terrorists equally engage in revenge activities maybe to pay for something that was not done well for one of them. These are the same reasons why people commit murder and resort to very murderous ventures which are not very friendly. In conclusion, it does not matter who is the cause of a murder incident, whatever results in murder can quickly fall into the bracket of terrorism and therefore it does not matter who causes it. The fact that the ideological causes of terrorism & its impact on history vary considerably is relevant to our discussion of terrorism. It is for this reason that Bruce Hoffman says the term terrorism is unstable (Lecture 1). It is for this reason that we took distinction as a path towards definition. In addition to these facts, I Lecture one, terrorism is referred to as a criminal act which aims at provoking terror in the general public or a sect of people and individuals which in many cases cannot be justified. Therefore, this definition clearly is suitable for the argument by Allen Dziuk that murder is a form of terrorism as it results into terror. Question 2: Reaction to Victoria A. Brown worth argument that Manchester terrorist Act was not about Islam but rather due violence nature of men. Men cause all forms of violence. This is a statement which appears to be very blunt, but it is the truth of the matter. In light of Victoria A. Brown worth in Curve Magazine, this statement can be validated. Violence can be defined as the intentional use of power or physical force or threat against an individual or a community. In many cases, such moves result in psychological harm, injury or even death. In as much as the definition of violence includes injury, several deaths have resulted from violence worldwide among different people or individuals. When one death results from violence, there are several people who are being hospitalized with numerous injuries from the same violence. Violence also has several consequences, some of which are lifelong others are physical as well as social. Violence actually could lead to slow economic development in a society. All the origins of violence can be attributed to men. There is no cause of violence which a man is not involved in, and there is no cause whose solution cannot be found. If it is disagreement, men are social beings who can come together and the reason so that they find amicable solutions to the challenges that they have so that violence is minimized (Lecture 3). Whenever there is a violence outbreak, people shift their attention to gun control and treatments of mental illness. It is a fact that women can also become violent, but it is prudent to understand that much of the issue of men. Therefore it is not surprising to note that men are also the victims of violence which occur in the society. There are three types of violence that have been discovered in the world today (Lecture 3) part 1. These can be classified into three groups. The first group is known as Family and intimate partner violence - this is the kind of violence which is always between families and partners who are intimately in love. This kind of intensity usually takes place at home. The second type of violence is what is known widely community violence, and this type is usually between individuals who have no relations at all. These individuals may or may not be in a position to know each other, and such violence usually occurs outside the homes. Collective violence is a term which is usually applied when referring to individuals or people who gives themselves an identity in groups, and therefore they gang against another sect of people who have equally identified themselves in groups. These groupings are usually formed out of differences in political interests or out of ethnic preferences (Lecture 2) part 1. As it can be noted, men are directly involved in one way or the other in these three categories of fights. Many people perish as a result of interpersonal violence. There are some hidden factors which contribute greatly to male violence. These factors are as discussed below. The first one is that the male brain is not wired in any way for empathy. At the core of violence, it is simply the failure to empathize with the other party. It goes deep down to the emotions and feelings for the other person before one makes an attack. The next reason why violence is purely a men’s agenda is the fact that men have a high level of testerone. This hormone, apart from igniting the drive for sex, it is also responsible for making men aggressive, competitive and even violent in most of the things that they do. Males also generate a lower level of Oxytocin when compared to females. Oxytocin is the hormone that is responsible for producing empathy, and when it is presented in small quantities, the implication is that there will equally be a low level of compassion produced. Males also have a fewer number of friends when compared to females. Men tend to become lone rangers as the age progresses by. It, therefore, gives the reason why they are less considerate when violence brakes out because they have very few affiliations. The last factor which indicates why men are prone to violence is the fact that, men react very violently to shame as compared to women. Shame brings a feeling of unworthiness and therefore what results is engagement into activities that are not very good at all. Hence all these factors put in place; terrorism is a purview of men (Lecture 3). German philosopher Jurgen Habermas, connected this isolation to the American-inspired youth culture of the time. He said, “culture transmitted through electronic gadgetry never loses its game character and superficiality and contains the inherent danger of portraying the pseudo-world of entertainment as reality. Therefore the claim by Victoria Brown that the Manchester act was as a result of the violent nature of men is justified and true. Indeed all acts of violence is as a result of the violent nature of men. Question 3: responding to the debate about free speech and the right to offend by Rachel Shabi Freedom of speech is a necessary component of democracy which should be upheld to the latter. There has been an increasing debate on the subject of harmful speech on both online as well as offline platforms, and this topic has caught the attention of the public. There has been a severe abuse of the women who have been having the urge to express themselves publi...