'I am the Terrorist'

[Reilly]

This is an essay that was printed in the magazine Adbusters. It's a very compelling argument that makes you see 'Terrorism', something which we all have our fixed views on, in a whole new light.

 

Reality is no more fixed than a spider’s web, swaying in the breeze. Battle after battle must be waged in the rhetorical-political sphere of America to ensure that “terror” is confined to the singular notion that We, the Good, are in a life and death struggle with They, the Evil.

 

As with weapons of mass destruction, it takes a practiced illusionist to turn the many shades of gray that define “terror” in the world today into a binary system of black and white. The question “Who is a terrorist and who is a freedom fighter?” reveals this ambiguity. But illusions are powerful things. Iraqi insurgents are terrorists, not Bush and the occupiers; Chechen rebels are terrorists, nor Putin and the occupiers; Palestinians are terrorists, not Sharon and the occupiers. The illusionist works by distortion and the power of suggestion. You see what the illusionist wants you to see, perhaps because you, a willing participant , want to see it. America Russia and Isreal are the most powerful, dominant nations in their regions, but somehow they are all victims. A powerful illusion indeed.

 

Again, like Iraqi WMD, lingering in the American mind as a threat if not a fact, terrorism exists as a series of illusions put over on the public. Take al Qaeda. After the Spanish train bombings, al Qaeda was blamed, but authorities eventually confessed that the event seemed to be only inspired by the group. Inspired? John Laughland, writing in the British magazine, The Spectator, prior to the attacks in Spain, points out the illusion: “An evil Saudi millionaire genius in a cave in the Hindu Kush controls a secret worldwide network of ‘tens of thousands of terrorists’ in ‘more than 60 countries’ (George W. Bush).” The media, Laughland points out, repeatedly emphasize that terrorist organizations in, say, Bali or Istanbul, have links to al Qaeda, yet we’re never told quite what these links are. Perhaps the group exists more as a powerful idea that inspires others than as a physical network with a grand puppet master pulling the strings. Al Qaeda is Kaiser Soze.

 

Outside America, Meanwhile, these illusions fail to cast the proper spell on the foreign mind. In the UK and Australia, people know America an its terror allies are complicit and may suffer revenge attacks, no matter how often in leaders may deny the obvious. Such critical outside perspectives should, given their ubiquity, promote some reflection in the US, but they don’t. The American self – the grand “I” in the grand illusion – is impervious to criticism, always looking inward, as both a nation and a nation of individuals. It cannot admit that it is somehow complicit in terrorism, for the whole house of cards would come tumbling down. Americans are like schizophrenics in a different reality; admitting that their own reality is delusional would lead to a collapse of the self.

 

So this runaway self persists with its voracious appetite, its overdeveloped sense of entitlement, its corporate-inflated narcissism, its burden on earthly resources. It nevertheless remains empty. In trying to fill itself up with fleeting meaning derived from constant consumption and profligate self-fashioning, the self is not just blind to the connection between consumption that knows no bounds and foreign policies that know none either; the connection between the mental marketplace and the desperate search for meaning also remains hidden.

 

Thus arrives what, in America, is a much forbidden thought, locked away behind the grand illusion. Perhaps the real poster child of terrorism is the hyper-commodified, increasingly cosmeticized American self. The burden of filling millions of empty selves daily weighs heavy on the world, as do the foreign and economic policies that America has crafted to serve and protect it. What it will take to tear down the illusion is not clear. Forcing someone to confront their delusions can be dangerous. In the meantime, giant SUVs continue to roam the streets of America in search of lower gas prices. The illusion still holds, protecting the “average American” consumer from the most terrible of terrible thoughts: “I am the terrorist.”

 

Richard DeGrandpre

 

I really believe alot of what is said there is true, however the article is written without enough facts to be taken seriously.

 

I dont think the Americans are ready to see themselves as terrorists. Look at how the abuse of Iraqi prisoners was handled. Only the perpetrators who were photgraphed were punished. What about the person who gave them the order? The person above them. How high up can we go? Is the problem a few bad apples, or is it that the americans are just as bad as terrorists.

 

Pretty intense. Pretty, intense.

[Matter-Eater Lad]

very intriguing, good article really makes one think....it'll be sure to spark a very intense debate.

[Reilly]

it'll be sure to spark a very intense debate.

 

Hmm.. was kinda looking towards you for that, Nick man ;)

 

Hahaha I'm kidding.

 

I dont think it's much anyone can disagree with, so there probably wont be a debate. I just wanted people to see it.

 

Thanks for reading.

[Ryujiki]

Not all the soldiers that commit abuse in the Iraqi prisoner were from Usa or "Americans"

[Matter-Eater Lad]

the abuse was sick and horrible..it made the troops look bad. im all for some types of interrogating, but not making them naked or that type of perverted stuff.

[Ryujiki]

^^^^^Completely agreed^^^^^^^^

[bonnie2789]

woahh interesting read there :dizzy2:

 

Iraqi insurgents are terrorists, not Bush and the occupiers; Chechen rebels are terrorists, nor Putin and the occupiers; Palestinians are terrorists, not Sharon and the occupiers. The illusionist works by distortion and the power of suggestion. You see what the illusionist wants you to see, perhaps because you, a willing participant , want to see it. America Russia and Isreal are the most powerful, dominant nations in their regions, but somehow they are all victims. A powerful illusion indeed.

woahhh. that is incredibly true right there. this point has ALWAYS made me think. this point is a bit unrelated, but in sri lanka (where i'm from) there are the sinhalese and the tamils. the tamils are the minority (thats me) and the tamils are seen as the terrorists because they are fighting for independence. i don't see the link? it is the same with everything that is stated in this article. it is a very powerful illusion indeed.

 

Outside America, Meanwhile, these illusions fail to cast the proper spell on the foreign mind. In the UK and Australia, people know America an its terror allies are complicit and may suffer revenge attacks, no matter how often in leaders may deny the obvious. Such critical outside perspectives should, given their ubiquity, promote some reflection in the US, but they don’t. The American self – the grand “I” in the grand illusion – is impervious to criticism, always looking inward, as both a nation and a nation of individuals. It cannot admit that it is somehow complicit in terrorism, for the whole house of cards would come tumbling down. Americans are like schizophrenics in a different reality; admitting that their own reality is delusional would lead to a collapse of the self.

 

hahaha this always makes me think. with all the criticism that america recieves from other countries, i don't see how they can't realise such things when they recieve so much criticism? hmmm.

[Reilly]

Yeah good points bon.

 

It's a great read and I think everyone should take some time to read this.

[bonnie2789]

definitely.

 

but ... how can they create such a HUGE illusion? these countries... america, russia, israel. the occupier is always seen as the one who is right, and the one fighting for independence/freedom is the one's seen as wrong, or seen as the terrorists? :confused: it makes no sense. but then again nothing seems to be making any sense these days.

[Reilly]

Because you can't really question them. Political leaders cant, at least.

 

Information is power, and the media plays a big role in that. We never heard about the many attacks America had on Iraq in the late 90s. The death toll as a result was far greater then 9/11's.

[bonnie2789]

you're right, that is very true. damn these powerful countries. :disappointed:

 

anyway reillo i'm off. take care.

[Reilly]

Seeya later Bon :nice:

[Matter-Eater Lad]

definitely.

 

but ... how can they create such a HUGE illusion? these countries... america, russia, israel. the occupier is always seen as the one who is right, and the one fighting for independence/freedom is the one's seen as wrong, or seen as the terrorists? :confused: it makes no sense. but then again nothing seems to be making any sense these days.

 

theres a difference between freedom fighter and terrorist....the modern day muslim terrorist like alquada, or ansar al islam are nothing more then terrorist far from freedom fighters....but there has been many occasion where freedom fighters were branded as terrorsit when they were not...

[Matter-Eater Lad]

Because you can't really question them. Political leaders cant, at least.

 

Information is power, and the media plays a big role in that. We never heard about the many attacks America had on Iraq in the late 90s. The death toll as a result was far greater then 9/11's.

 

the attacks were against military targets of a dangerous enemy, not just blind murder of thousands of innocent civilians to get a point across...we attacked military targets...theres a big difference.

[SrfSnwColdplay]

Ugh leave Bush alone. Too many people hate him for what Clinton screwed up on. Yes, you heard me, I'm blaming someone other than our President. Nah but I don't think two planes could take down the twin towers at 9/11...you can see demolition squibs fire off. I also believe that a missile hit the Pentagon, not an airplane. Do your research PLEASE and don't just come in and say all this bullshit bout how I'm wrong if you have done no research whatsoever. Heh...I can't take credit for this...my spanish teacher sorta informed me on this subject...he worked for the military himself.

[Matter-Eater Lad]

everyone duck and cover..haha watchout SrfSnwColdplay you'll findout theres ALOT of bush haters on here...were one of the few who like him. just a friendly warning..lol

[Reilly]

Ugh leave Bush alone. Too many people hate him for what Clinton screwed up on. Yes' date=' you heard me, I'm blaming someone other than our President. Nah but I don't think two planes could take down the twin towers at 9/11...you can see demolition squibs fire off. I also believe that a missile hit the Pentagon, not an airplane. Do your research PLEASE and don't just come in and say all this bullshit bout how I'm wrong if you have done no research whatsoever. Heh...I can't take credit for this...my spanish teacher sorta informed me on this subject...he worked for the military himself.[/quote']

 

I've done LOTS of research on 9/11 (And still am) anyone who's debated with me on here have quickly discovered that.

 

Eye witnesses heard those squibs going off. And yes, an airplane definately did not hit the Pentagon.

 

But I dont know what you are getting at here, who do you think orchestrated 9/11 then?

[Matter-Eater Lad]

alquada did...ossama and his gang.

[Egghead]

But I dont know what you are getting at here, who do you think orchestrated 9/11 then?

 

Arnie :borg:

:surprised:

[Sam]

i never even knew there was controversy over 9/11 i just that it was a fact that hijacked planes 'kamakazied' if u will (im technical :D ) into the towers.

[Sam]

And yes, an airplane definately did not hit the Pentagon.

 

 

didnt it miss, im so confused :/

[SrfSnwColdplay]

I've done LOTS of research on 9/11 (And still am) anyone who's debated with me on here have quickly discovered that.

 

Eye witnesses heard those squibs going off. And yes, an airplane definately did not hit the Pentagon.

 

 

But I dont know what you are getting at here, who do you think orchestrated 9/11 then?

 

Well I'm glad to hear that dude...a well informed citizen. Uhm honestly, I have no idea who exactly planned 9/11. Anyone else have an idea? Ok this is how its gunna go down...we are gunna solve this mystery of 9/11 and become rich and famous. From a Coldplaying thread. Haha thats def how its goin down dude

[Sam]

it was you wasnt it

ive got my eye on you :sneaky:

[SrfSnwColdplay]

I'm not exactly sure it was Al-Qaeda. I'm thinkin South Korea...heh they're just a lil pissed at us rite now...could be Russia? could be frickin Antarctica idk...it had to be someone with either

 

a. A LOT of authority

 

or...

 

b. A LOT of money and mercs

 

yeah thats just my theory/hypothesis thingy

[SrfSnwColdplay]

Haha yeah it was me...you finally caught me...darn you! :P