Civil Resistance and Cosmetic Treatment of Terrorism

Scenario: Berlin, December 19th, 2016 – It is a wonderful pre-christmas evening, with a clear sky, lots of stars, and a bit fresh. A family meets with a bunch of children in front of a movie theatre in order to celebrate the 12th birthday of their beloved son. The friends welcome each other with a bright smile, laughter, and full of enthusiasm. As happy as they entered to see the film, that happy they spent their time, and left again. Their parents were waiting and the gifts were exchange. The music of the christmas market filled the air, and one of the fathers thought it would be great to spend some time there with the boys. But it was late, almost eight o’clock, and everybody left … Ten minutes later, being back home, it was shared on the news that the christmas market, turned out being the target of a terrorist attack. Berlin, December 20th, 2016 – Impressions: Still a block to walk to the christmas market, a strange atmosphere, lots of people in the area, silence – silence all over, christmas market closed, police, press, cameras, people crying, rushing photographers, silence – silence all over … Berlin, December 25th, 2016 – People gather at the Christmas Market at night in order to protest in collectivity against strategic instabilization of society by global terrorist attacks.

Civil Resistance and Cosmetic Treatment of Terrorism: Ladies and Gentlemen, in order to start this reflection, I would like to state that my thoughts and best wishes are with the victims of terrorists attacks, social and individual abuse, and strategic violence, not on a local level only but on a global one.

Our current epoch of globalization and worldwide media information range makes us face challenges that we possibly were not prepared to deal with. Communication, obviously a central pillar of our life in this century, creates immense benefits but also causes difficulties, namely by offering a multitude of ways that may be used for organized abuse – such as spreading fake news on purpose, and using virtual communication services for raising fear and mobilizing copycats that follow calls of radicalized groups. The monopoly of mass media channels suffered a take-over by individual bloggers, and committed individuals who work for ‚good‘ or ‚bad‘, while such definition is up to each of us. According to the mass of headlines and content that we have to deal with, I would like to name a few that recently crossed our news lines, such as: German Foreign Minister, Frau Von der Leien, supports Nigeria with items for counter terrorist actions valuing 4.200.000,- Euro; Police Brigades, Undercover Units, and Special Forces work day and night to prevent extremist activities, and to enable mankind to cherish a balanced life.

Obviously, all three of these actions are important to us, forming part of a civil society. The question that comes to my mind is if such projects really prevent us from future attacks by radicalized individuals or groups. Personally, I think such reactions by our governmental authorities do not catch up with the level of attention that terrorism demands. It may be a public visual and well to share content that intends to make us feel more safe. To me, it is a cosmetic treatment of terrorism at the most superficial level possible. And it is a shame that state authorities sell us the idea that this is the best way to counter extremist attacks.

If we break down terrorism to what it may be in its inner core, we may note that it is basically an act of communication. Yes, communication realized by one or more specific group(s) that follow up on non-noted or well-ignored interests by a national or the international community. I guess it is surprising to one or the other of you to hear that such ways of communication are not totally alien to the international diplomatic forces. Diplomatic services often communicate in a very similar way for example by atomic tests, by financing weapon industry, or even by certain ways that cause a destabilization nations. Lots of actions that take place on our globe are critical but still within a legal environment because often they are not communicated in public, such as putting financial pressure on countries by cutting off trade agreements. From the point on, when we look behind the curtain of mass media, we can discover which parties supports each other, and who works on different levels attempting to achieve similar goals. (by Daniel Erdmann)

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