By Colin A. Gyles, ContributorTIME AND experience reveal the existence of certain universal and overriding principles of cause and effect at work in human affairs. The consistency with which certain consequences follow particular actions and occurrences, allows the human mind to predict, with almost unerring accuracy, the outcome of particular actions even before they are carried out. Such is the situation with the much mooted concept of a war on terror. It will not succeed any more than we might expect to see a fire put out by pouring gasoline on it.
NO LASTING PEACE
The so-called war on terror has ushered in a new world order that is shaping up to be governed by might and power more than love and reason. No lasting peace can be obtained by silen-cing dissent and crushing those who think they have legitimate grievances. When people think that they have been unfairly treated or feel that their interests are being unduly compromised, it is only the spirit of Christ that can constrain resentment. Such resentment will fester and find ventilation by means of whatever level of technology and resource that the resentful party can access.
If those who feel hurt, threatened, or resentful have control of the armaments and economy of a powerful nation, they might be able to garner support from the rest of the world or act on their own in waging a war on their perceived enemies (whether innocent or guilty) under the label of fighting terrorism. On the other hand, those who are less sophisticated or less influential, having the same motive, might hijack aeroplanes and fly them as missiles into buildings or they might blow themselves apart with explosives strapped to their bodies in crowded areas, or they might kidnap or carry out drive-by shootings. It is the same principle at work - revenge.
Vengeance is often confused with justice. Justice restores and protects while vengeance destroys and is little concerned with restitution for any loss suffered by the victim on whose behalf the reprisal is being carried out. One wonders how many of the lives that were lost on that fateful 9/11 occasion, that drew the sympathy and solidarity of virtually the whole world towards those who were attacked, have been recovered since the unleashing of fire-power supposedly to stamp out terrorism. How many others have been lost since then? How many more will yet be lost?
One wonders whether there are fewer individuals inclined towards so-called terrorism today than there were shortly after that attack. Are there now,more friends than enemies to those who were attacked? Is the world a safer place now? Will this war on terror ever end, while people still have old grievances and are developing new ones?
RISE AND FALL
If time and experience teach anything, and one is able to discern the likely outcome of a course of action, then it should be evident that an approach that is aimed at disarming prejudice and neutralising resentment will work far more effectively than a so-called war on terror. At best, such a war on terror will lead to universal subservience to the super power/s, but only for a time, until the festering resentment finds another effective outlet. This is evident in the history of the rise and fall of human empires. At worst, it will spread unrest, mayhem, hostility and destruction throughout the length and breadth of the earth.
Hence, wars and strife will continue at local, national and international levels until humans learn and accept that the brotherhood of humanity goes beyond filial and national boundaries, and that peace can only exist when we start to love our neighbours as we love ourselves and treat others the way we would want to be treated.
Colin A. Gyles is a lecturer at the University of Technology.
