This Generation on Terrorism

[ZenArchery]

I lead a small 7th Grade Bible Study. We use a year round curriculum. Ironically (or maybe not) our topic this week was "Peaceful Resistance." We have student leaders who guide the discussion and adults help keep things focused on track. (With 7th Graders that's no easy task).

Well this topic along side with 9/11 and Monday's shootings had the students focused easily. I am going to share their input to this one questions that was asked: "If a country that harbors or supports terrorists is identified, is retaliation against that country in order? Does it matter whether innocent citizens of that country are hurt or killed in a retaliatory attack? (Synago; pg 40).

7th Grade boy - No. I mean we should do something. Like maybe put them in a camp and try to teach them that terrorism is bad.
7th Grade girl - Innocent people shouldn't never get hurt or anything. We should just talk to them and see what they are really angry about and try to fix that.
7th Grade girl - Why do they hate us anyway?
7th Grade boy - Because they believe we are all Christians?
7th Grade girl reply - Really? I thought they just wanted to come into the United States and we wouldn't let them.
7th Grade boy reply - No! My dad told me its because they just hate us.
7th Grade girl reply - Well that's dumb.
Me - What do you think _________
7th Grade boy - I don't understand what the big deal is. There's only one small country with terrorist right?
7th Grade girl - Well I think if we treat them nice and show them how much we love them as people that could help.
7th Grade boy - I like the idea of a camp where we could just teach them that we don't hate them and Christians aren't bad people.
7th Grade girl - I think we should do something as long as innocent people aren't hurt.
(this is all paraphrased)

I had to hold my mouth and remind myself these students were 2 or 3 years old when 9/11 happened and their exposure to the outside world beyond Facebook, Instigram, Snapchat, and Twitter is very limited. Thought you would find this insightful. Good luck parents!

 

[FrankT]

Yeah at that age they have not developed enough to answer the question as they might at 18, 25, 35. Actually I find not much surprising and since it is a faith based group their kindness or helpfulness is refreshing. Maybe we all would live in a better place if everyone in the world felt as they do.

I am anti war, believe in Peace through Strength, but then know about the Crusades, the Muslim war on Christians since the Faiths began, sometimes I hate my feelings on the matter. Then I wake up and know what ultimately needs to be done.

 

[RattlesnakeDan]

As a born-again Christian, I was saved by the forgiveness and grace through Jesus Christ. I am to represent that to others or re-present you could say. The new testament is testament to that. Then read the old testament and it was war after war and killing, God told them to kill every man woman and child as well as the animals on occasion and you see that is pretty heavy duty stuff. The correct response to that question is...........

 

[TEXASLAWMAN]

Kill every man woman and child as well as the animals.


I vote for this it's hard but effective.

 

[Brian Shaffer]

7th Grade boy - I like the idea of a camp where we could just teach them that we don't hate them and Christians aren't bad people.

2000 years of history to the contrary would not help that argument, unfortunately. Religious rivalries often have been a core element to religious solidarity as has viewing others as savages or infidels for not sharing the same beliefs.

One of my favorite treatises on this subject and the human condition is be Earnest Cline. It is a poetic comedy with very foul language, but I think it says a lot. Pay attention to the part on made up gods and killing.

 

[Shooter]

interesting answers by both the 7th grade children and our members. I spent 14 months in Vietnam in and around the DMZ in 1967 and 68. while in the USMC. A total of three years in Iraq spread out over 6 years working various Govt contracts, all in the security area. And 420 days in Afghanistan spread out over three years. Not to mention 30 years in the FBI. In all of that time I have had some VERY interesting and enlightning conversations. There is no doubt in my mind that the mindset in the middle east will never change. Most just want to be left alone so they can work and raise their family.

No doubt in my mind that many would kill us in a heartbeat if they thought they could get away with it. Me personally, I would like to see us pull out of that region and let them kill each other just as they are currently doing now in Iraq. This is currently the deadliest year in Iraq since 2006-which was the deadliest year.

We have many problems in the US with our very own domestic terrorist, Timothy McVeigh as an example and many others who we have been able to stop. I was evry personally involved in the OK City bombing on April 19th, 1995 and I can assure you that there is/was absolutely nothing that anyone could do to change his mind set.

What do you do-you stay vigilant and keep on moving forward. Because there really is nothing else you can do.

 

[Afalex1]

I'm with Shooter on this. You have to stay vigilant and keep moving forward. Terrorism is meant to strike fear into a community and paralyse its system so the terrorist can move in and take it.

Jihads or religious wars have been happening in the middle east since the beginning of religions. They will continue to happen until the human race is gone. Many middle eastern religions have not developed like Christianity and still believe in killing anyone who does not practice their religion. When you have 3-4 religions like this in one area war is going to happen.

We need to get out if their and let them kill eachother instead of us. Focus on protecting our homeland and fixing the internal issues. We are wearing our resources and troops thin and can't keep going at the same pace.

Every great civilization falls eventually and more have fallen from spreading their military power over vast regions and becoming too weak to protect themselves. Rome is the prime example.

 

[FrankT]

After we bankrupted the Soviets in Afghanistan, we are doing the same thing to ourselves. With no leadership in the US, a Muslim sympathizer as a POTUS, an incompetent as Sec of Def. and a Coward and traitor as Sec of State, we are a lost country. This administration is arming Homeland Security to battle US the Citizens more than paying attention to supplying the Military. Over 40 or our Generals and Admirals have been fired or Retired for disagreeing with the Administration, we are truly rudderless.

God Save the USA!

 

[histopicker]

interesting answers by both the 7th grade children and our members. I spent 14 months in Vietnam in and around the DMZ in 1967 and 68. while in the USMC. A total of three years in Iraq spread out over 6 years working various Govt contracts, all in the security area. And 420 days in Afghanistan spread out over three years. Not to mention 30 years in the FBI. In all of that time I have had some VERY interesting and enlightning conversations. There is no doubt in my mind that the mindset in the middle east will never change. Most just want to be left alone so they can work and raise their family.

No doubt in my mind that many would kill us in a heartbeat if they thought they could get away with it. Me personally, I would like to see us pull out of that region and let them kill each other just as they are currently doing now in Iraq. This is currently the deadliest year in Iraq since 2006-which was the deadliest year.

We have many problems in the US with our very own domestic terrorist, Timothy McVeigh as an example and many others who we have been able to stop. I was evry personally involved in the OK City bombing on April 19th, 1995 and I can assure you that there is/was absolutely nothing that anyone could do to change his mind set.

What do you do-you stay vigilant and keep on moving forward. Because there really is nothing else you can do.

So many are unaware of there being any problems on the home front. Those 7th graders are a prime example of society in which they live. Being cognizant of the dangers that surround us, both foreign and domestic, is not forefront on civilians agendas. The entitlement generation I fear will pay a heavy price for those entitlements. I know this is rambling, have not had my adhd meds yet.

 

[Aspp]

Honestly, Teddy said it best.

The things that will destroy America are prosperity-at-any-price, peace-at-any-price, safety-first instead of duty-first, the love of soft living, and the get-rich-quick theory of life.
Theodore Roosevelt

Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far.
Theodore Roosevelt

 

[Shooter]

today's world this am

Pakistan bomb at church kills 55
Kenya mall incident enters second day-59 dead so far
yesterday in Iraq funeral tent roughly 100 killed and well over that badly injured

every one of these, they are killing their own people

 

[FrankT]

Well the difference in Kenya and Pakistan is that there were terrorist muslims killing Christians, yes from the same Country but still much different.

 

[Shooter]

I agree Frank, but the bottom line is they all kill each other in their own countries, no outside influence necessary.

 

[FrankT]

You are right, let them kill each other, the more they kill the better..I do feel we are in another Holy War though and need to protect the Christians rather than the POTUS friends like the muslim brotherhood.

 

[Shooter]

I could not agree with you more. Even the moderate Arabs agree with us. I have had many conversations with a number of Mid East folks and they are NOT in favor of the Muslim Brotherhood!!

 

[Harris hawker]

This is an interesting topic.
It's a pie in the sky dream that words can solve all problems.
But I am reminded of something Winston Churchill said.
“Show me a young Conservative and I'll show you someone with no heart. Show me an old Liberal and I'll show you someone with no brains.”
― Winston Churchill

Seems as if he hit the nail on the head.

 

[FrankT]

Well I am an OLD conservative, does that make me have BALLS? If so please remind my wife...LOL

 

[histopicker]

Well I am an OLD conservative, does that make me have BALLS? If so please remind my wife...LOL

Actually being an old conservative and owning a firearm and ammunition makes you a domestic threat.
Whoda thunk things would get to this point.

 

[FrankT]

I am a Patriot so if you are a dictator. commie or muslim coming after me or my guns...I AM a threat! Otherwise I am a ***** cat!
Hey in Destin there was a stripper or porn industry convention...I am here to tell you this old man was energized at the bar on the harbor tonite!

 

[Harris hawker]

I'm gonna throw some spaghetti against the wall to see if it sticks.
This is kind of a deep subject for some 7th graders isn't it?
But in retrospect,
The way news is fast tracked around the world is mind blowing.
I have a 7th grader and 9th grader.
In the 9th grade there is a higher level of awareness of life. In 7th there is the selfish me me me attitude that is waning.
I guess having my kids be kids and not have to worry about world events is important to me.
There will be plenty of time to worry about the world and it's politics.
But I don't turn away questions if they ask them.
It seems as if innocence is being lost sooner and sooner in this digital age.
And FYI my daughter was born November 2000, so they were maybe 1 year old.