Stephen’s view
Today's Stephen's view is quite dark. You might want to skip it. Sorry.
Twenty-five years ago today, 19 men hijacked four planes. They flew two of them into the two World Trade centre towers in New York, one into the Pentagon, and one crashed into a field, although the target was somewhere in Washington DC.
What could motivate 19 men to coordinate in the mass murder of civilians in such a way? When attempting to justify Islamist terrorism today, people often point to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan; however, these attacks happened before these wars.
When finding reasons for why nine men killed 130 random civilians in Paris in 2015, by shooting them dead and detonating suicide vests, people often suggest that it was France's involvement in fighting Daesh/ISIS in Iraq and Syria. Maybe they are right. Maybe that was the same reason a man drove a truck into crowds of people in Nice the following year, killing 86.
When finding reasons for Hamas militants shooting dead hundreds of young people dancing at a music festival on October 7th 2023, people often say that it was the inevitable result of the Israeli repression of Palestinians. Certainly, that was a reason.
When trying to explain why nine suicide bombers killed 278 people in Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday 2019 - mostly just Christians worshipping in churches - it might be more difficult to find a political or societal link.
And when looking for reasons behind why six Muslim men shot dead 132 Muslim children at a school in Peshawar, Pakistan, in 2014, it is necessary to look for completely different reasoning.
I don't deny that there are other reasons behind these attacks - there certainly are. Politics, wars, other injustices have definitely contributed. But there is one reason that connects all of these atrocities. One reason that commands these humans to act in inhumane ways and feel perfectly fine with it. One reason that makes people celebrate death. It is the reason that extremist Islamists tell us repeatedly - and we should believe them instead of constantly looking for more reasons.
They believe that they are fulfilling the will of God, and that in martyrdom they are guaranteed a place in heaven.
This is what Osama Bin Laden meant when he said "We love death more than you love life".
All other reasons are secondary.
Have a great weekend.
Stephen
P.S. I get a lot of replies from people who agree with me, but hardly any from people who don't. What I've written today is a bit more controversial than usual, so, please, disagree with me!
P.S.S. There will be no newsletter next week, as I'm going to a wedding in Italy! Ciao!
