In last week’s
blog, I wrote about the gradual downhill spiral in which an individual becomes
disillusioned, hopeless to achieve his ambition and connect to other people,
and finally resorts to acts of violence, like terrorism.
But what can we
as individuals do to ameliorate the situation? I think we have some options.
1. We can become indifferent, sport the
attitude that this just happens; it’s a part of life in 2013.
2. We can foster the attitude of denial;
this simply won’t happen here (to me).
3. We can become overwhelmed- that problem is too big for one little person like me to tackle.
4. We can recognize our real, individual power and take action.
3. We can become overwhelmed- that problem is too big for one little person like me to tackle.
4. We can recognize our real, individual power and take action.
Each of us plays a role in becoming
vigilant.
1. The owner of the New Hampshire fireworks
store where the Tsarnaev brothers bought explosive powder determined to train
his salespeople to recognize signs of potentially dangerous individuals.
Ideally other storekeepers and distributors of fire arms can rise above the
profit motive, to recognize their power to prevent the perpetration of
violence.
2. We can reach out to engage people who
seem to be in trouble, who seem disillusioned and isolated, whose activities
and mannerisms have changed.
3. We can try to
identify individuals who speak and/or write about aspiring to violent acts.
4. With the help
of modern technology (cell phones, video cameras) we can record and help
identify perpetrators.
Paradoxically,
the same tool of communication-the Internet- that allowed homegrown terrorists
to manufacture weapons can be used to prevent crimes of destruction.
Conclusion: Our
human nature encompasses constructive and destructive forces and in this regard
is unlikely to change. However, its manifestations continuously metamorphose.
The good news is that each of us can make the world a better place with
awareness and a willingness to do so.
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