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Timothy Cloonan

Director Marketing & Communications, Miami Valley Hospital

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Can we eradicate terrorism?

As the details of the tragedy unfold in Utoya and Oslo Norway we all struggle for answers. Terrorism and the war on terrorism once again strike innocent people.

How do we eradicate terrorism?

Perhaps we should strive for balance not unity. We strive for tolerance and understanding. We allow ourselves to become closer to nature. We open our minds and hearts to peace and love. Maybe you think I’m being simple-minded. I am. Is this wrong?

If we allow ourselves the clarity to remove our barriers of history and culture…of politics and religion…we actually might be awakened with a simply truth that has promise. A truth that focuses on the life of humanity.

But do I have the mind and strength to break through all of these barriers if I choose? We each have this ability to do so if we deem it a necessity to the human race.

Life stumbles on with an awkward void for humanity. The one thing in life you would think we all would cherish…but society as a whole has chosen to squander humanity instead of saving it.

Topics: Racism freedom from religion terrorism
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    Timothy Cloonan

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    Jul 27 2011: Staying open minded my friend is how you move past problems...just a thought. Terrorism is certainly a legitimate problem when you've lost someone to an act of violence.
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      Luigi Vampa

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      Jul 27 2011: Theres a lot of forms to lose someone, maybe one is the slow terrorism inflicted by fear in a population, a family or a person. Fear is a violence disguise. The weapons could be a rifle or a granade or a politician smile.
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    Muhammad Aizat Zainal Alam 30+

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    TED Translator
    Jul 27 2011: Well, we still have to face the reality.There will always be crazy individuals running around to kill people.It is proven that SOME terrorists do have mental illnesses which relates to their behaviour.However, we still have the chance to control the normal ones.We must start with education.Promote to the children of today that peace should be the answer.This in turn will create a generation that will live in peace in the future.By then, terrorism would just vanish.
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      Timothy Cloonan

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      Jul 27 2011: I couldn't agree with you more...thanks for your comment. The education of Peace certainly should be the answer. True leaders work for Peace. Perhaps Mohandas Gandhi said it best " As human beings, our greatness lies not so much in being able to remake the world - that is the myth of the atomic age - as in being able to remake ourselves."
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    Nicholas Lukowiak 50+

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    Jul 26 2011: Terrorism is a just an idea.

    To get rid of it, stop feeding into the idea....
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      Timothy Cloonan

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      Jul 26 2011: hmmmm not a bad idea. If it were only that simple. But it's not a bad place to start.
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        Nicholas Lukowiak 50+

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        Jul 26 2011: there is nothing you can say to convince me that terrorism is a legitimate problem my friend.

        Ideas are what run the world, not people.
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    Al Rodbell

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    Jul 26 2011: No, if we use the narrow precise definition. We overuse the term to vilify an enemy. Strategic bombing is the infliction of terror, whether the Blitz against London or the bombing of Dresden. Such actions could be outlawed by international convention, as we have done with poison gas. .

    The more precise use of the term is the action of the few, or even as in the case of the Unibomber, a single individual who is not responsive to the norms of society. It is usually an asymmetrical action gaining effectiveness as being so far beyond the norms of society that there is no need for protection from it. The Norwegian travesty was literally so unimaginable that the police had no means to stop it even when they became aware of what was happening.

    As tragic as terrorism is, I dare not think of the type of control over every individual who just could possibly perpetrate such action in order to prevent any individual from acting on it. The U.S. Patriot Act is just a hint of such over reaction.
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      Timothy Cloonan

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      Jul 26 2011: I appreciate the perspective. I'm not focusing on an particular act or political approach to stopping terrorism. As much as I am literally saying mankind is not capable of leaving behind our vice of religion and politics in an effort to take away the cause(s) of terrorism.

      • Zdenek Smith 100+

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        Jul 26 2011: It seems to me that we can have peace in the world if we minimize our focus on differences between people based on ethnicity, religion, culture, tradition and rather make ourselves unique through talent, hobby, skills, abilities, interests, imagination and creativity?
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        Luigi Vampa

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        Jul 27 2011: Not always religion or politics are the true roots of terrorism. And the history show this assert.
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