Sunday, April 09, 2006

Terrorism - just a "demonstration"?

According to Professor Ron Geaves in the UK, the London bombings (as well as the Madrid bombings and the 9/11 attacks in the US, presumably) were just a "demonstration", and not terrorism. Professor Geaves would have us believe that using the term 'terrorist' demonizes people, and would rather we call those who kill innocent civilians "demonstrators" instead. His remarks were made during a lecture at the University of Chester to dignitaries and members of the Muslim community in the North West.

His remarks have elicited sharp rebukes from both Andrew Dismore, who described Prof. Geaves claims as "absolutely barking.", adding "What happened on July 7, 2005, fits with every international definition of terrorism. If any of the men behind the attacks had survived the incident they would have quite rightly been tried under the anti-terror laws. I don't think it's helpful that we have a mealy-mouthed academic trying to justify deaths of innocent people. It is ludicrous.", and from Sir Iqbal Sacranie, the secretary general of the Muslim Council of Britain, who said that the London bombings were acts of "criminality" and "terrorism", adding "For me, the definition of terrorism is when an innocent human life is lost. These bombings were an act of criminality and terrorism because that loss occurred. No motive can justify an act of terrorism."

Later, Prof. Geaves also made this ludicrous statement, "Terrorism is a political word which always seems to be used to demonise people."

No, professor. Terrorism is an act perpetrated by terrorists, solely for the intent of killing as many innocent people as possible to induce terror in the population against whom the act was carried out. Terrorism is not merely a "demonstration". To claim otherwise is the height of elitist irresponsibility.

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