An open letter to the terrorists in India.

[mikelewis]

To whomever bombed the trains in India,

What, I wonder, did you hope to achieve by bombing those trains in India today? What possible gain could you yield? The people that were on those trains had no intention of harming you and yet because of your actions, a soul is dead. I just don't understand it.

When I first learned of the bombings, my mind instantly conjured thoughts of Mahatma Gandhi and I could almost imagine the sadness that he would feel over this act. I recalled reading about him sitting in a third class train car in 1919. I remember reading his description of the squalid nature of his countrymen and how in spite of his indignation, he wished only to better their lot. In spite of their faults, such as their rancorous manners and their equally rancorous odors, he loved them and he only wanted them to realize how truly wonderful they were.

See Gandhi realized that the human soul is the most precious thing on the face of this Earth. More beautiful than the vastness of the universe, the soul is the most awe-inspiring of all of God’s creations. Though a soul cannot be measured by any length and it cannot be weighed by any scale; who can deny its existence?

Though a soul cannot be seen, it can be heard in the song a mother sings to her child. Though a soul cannot be felt, it can be tasted like bread in the mouths of the hungry. Though it cannot be smelled, it shines in the loving caress of a wife. The soul is a tangible intangible that has the ability to surpass even our relatively immortal Sun with its beauty.

When we are born, we are all born with the same capacity to shine. If one has a mind to, a soul can become a beacon of light that lights the world on fire with its grace. A soul can inspire charity and feed millions. A soul can inspire pride and lift nations out of despair. A soul can inspire devotion and live on in the memories of strangers as if they were dear friends. But more important than any of these, a soul can inspire Love and turn the whole world upside down. I tell you that Love is most important because without it, there is no inspiration.

What you sought to accomplish today, I don’t know. I guess your ultimate goal was to inspire fear; to wreak terror on a people to get them to do your bidding. Today, it’s hard to even hazard a guess at the truth. Even if we are told one thing, odds are that the “truth” will be distorted, oftentimes to suit some end. Odds are, whatever message you intended to send with your surrealism will be twisted by the harshness of our reality; so I’ll probably never understand what it is you really meant to accomplish.

All that is irrelevant anyway; whatever your goals were, the reality is that anywhere from 150 to 200 bodies are now dead in India. In that twisted mess of steel, mutilated bodies lie still. The souls that once inhabited those bodies are no longer there. Whether or not the soul lives on, the light is gone from the eyes of the mothers and the sons; it’s gone from the fathers and the daughters. By your deeds you have extinguished the light of laughter, of hope, of joy, of devotion, of faith… all their lights are now obscured from our sight. Which one of these souls might have in time fed millions? Which one might have lifted a nation out of despair? Which ones, I wonder, will live on in the hearts of those who loved them and cherished that which you deemed worthless?

By your action you may have hoped to inspire but as I told you earlier, inspiration is an act of love. Hate and fear can never inspire, they can only enflame a soul and once engulfed it is consumed and vanishes into ash. So I wonder what it was that you loved so much that inspired you to kill all of those people. What light has blinded you to such an extent that you believed you could make a sacrifice of love and benefit through hate? Was it for the love of a piece of ground or a piece of cloth? Was it for the love of an ideology or faith? What love have you found that benefits from murder or hatred? Please tell me it wasn’t for the love of money?

Even if I were to lose every light I hold dear, I still would never be inspired to do what you have done. You may have intended to inspire fear but all you’ve accomplished was sorrow. When I read of your attacks today, I was shocked and horrified… but that light that was with Gandhi helped sustain me against your attacks. That light reminded me not to be afraid. That light reminds me of the preciousness of life and the glory of Love. That light reminds me that though “you can chain me, you can torture me, you can even destroy this body, but you will never imprison my mind.” That light has shown me that even though you killed the bodies of all those souls, their lights can linger on. That light is the light of hope, of laughter, of peace, of joy, of faith, of devotion… it is the light of Love which you can never kill. No, you can’t kill a soul; you can only allow one to die, as you’ve done to your soul today.

I’m not sure what happens to bodies with malevolent souls. I believe that it’s only when a soul completely eradicates love from their life that they are able to commit such a horrific crime. I’m pretty sure this act has condemned your soul to an existence that I cannot even imagine. I don’t know if there is a “Hell” or if once dead you’re merely consumed by the fire of you’re own hatred. All I know is that Love can sustain life and hate can not. I guess, in a way, the most definitive tragedy is, in addition to the deaths of 150 to 200 bodies, at least one soul has died today.

However, all is not lost. The light that is Jesus tells me you can get that Love back and I believe him. Both He and Gandhi tell me to never suffer injustice. Yet they both say not to do an injustice in reply. They tell me that no matter how far away you push Love, it can come back if you take it back into your heart. Yet they also tell me you have to seek atonement once you do. They tells me that it’s easy to pray for the innocent and curse the wicked and it is. It truly is. Yet they also tell me I should feel sorrow for you and I truly do.

I do feel sorry for you because through your cowardly wicked act, your soul committed suicide and I rage against the dying of any light.

"You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.'
But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you,
that you may be children of your heavenly Father, for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust.
For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have?”

This message goes out to all who were involved in perpetrating this devilish nightmare. I will not destroy my faith, my soul or my love because you’ve destroyed yours, so through this letter I grieve the dying of your soul. But I grieve even more for those who lost the light of the ones they held most dear. I am so sorry for your loss and pray that God eases the anguish these wicked people caused. Gandhi said, “Hate the sin; love the sinner”, but that is sometimes the hardest thing in the world to do. May God be with you... all of you.

[khashka]

1. I couldn't have said this better

"This message goes out to all who were involved in perpetrating this devilish nightmare. I will not destroy my faith, my soul or my love because you’ve destroyed yours, so through this letter I grieve the dying of your soul. But I grieve even more for those who lost the light of the ones they held most dear. I am so sorry for your loss and pray that God eases the anguish these wicked people caused"



I watched it unfolding on TV until I just couldn't stand it any more....

As a woman I know said today "This in not religion, this is not Islam, this is monstrous!"


Khash.

[ellisonz]

2. This is a beautiful letter.

Thank you for writing it.

:cry:

[silverojo]

4. Too bad it's wasted on inhuman monsters

They care nothing about love or humanity, just destruction and terror. You can't commit a monstrous act like this, and have anything resembling a conscience. :(

[Viva_La_Revolution]

3. Mike, this is beautiful

may they hear your voice

:hug:

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

5. Let's kick this to the greatest page

Glad to give the fifth recommendation.

Om Shanti Shanti Shanti

Salaam Salaam Salaam

[izzie]

6. I am sure this has been going on since the late 40's.

--

[brentblack]

7. Beautiful, but wasted

These people do not want peace. I am all for love and peace, but I am also for clear eyes in a cloudy time.


I do not like the war in Iraq, I do not like our policies in the Middle East, I do not like the current administration, I do not like the court system these days - but none of that can deflect from the fact that these people (there is a greater % of islamuc people active in the attacks or supporting them than we know)are fighting with EVERYONE!!!

Islam is at war with Judism, Christianity, Animism, Hindu, Buddism and most telling...themselves. They kill more of their own religion than any other. Changing the US policies will not change any of this - these battles were waged long before Colombus sailed the ocean blue.

I do not have an answer - at least not one that I want to think about - but, and I say this in complete respect of the words you used in your letter, your letter is wasted for they do not care about love, respect or harmony.

I fear for the world. This is why I remain childless, I weep when I think of the world I am handing off to the next generation.

[Swamp Rat]

8. "Islam is at war with Judism, Christianity, Animism, Hindu, Buddism..."

This statement is illogical. "Islam" cannot be 'at war' with anything.

[wordpix2]

9. nice graphic, Swamp Rat & I agree with you...it's not "Islam" that's

at war with other religious groups, it's hateful, evil, radical criminals of all stripes who are perpetrating horrible acts against humanity, even against other Muslims who don't agree with their radical ideology and methods.

Please do not confuse most Muslims with criminal extremists. One of my favorite human beings is a young Saudi Muslim who is just as concerned about extremist "Muslim" criminals as we are. He says these extremists are NOT Muslims, just evil criminals. We in the West must understand that many if not most Muslims are gentle, kind and nonviolent like my young friend, and NOT like those who planted bombs on the Indian commuter trains.

[Amonester]

12. "hateful, evil, radical criminals of all stripes" also include...

all 14 year-"young"-innocent-girl+family barbarian rapists and murderers wearing an uniform... These monsters were not Muslims...

Who will stop the circle of violence?

[Swamp Rat]

13. Yes, and we have plenty of extremists to deal with here in the USA.

[TheMirrorMan]

15. Generalization much?

What is the cause of the systemic hatred many Muslims harbor for those of other faiths (and sects, even), then?

Acts such as this serve only to heighten animosity against Muslims worldwide - and the people who commit them *must* realize this. Thus their only goal must be wanton slaughter, i.e., genocide.

Convert people by the sword, and as soon as you remove the sword, they will revert.

[Swamp Rat]

33. You win "the most ironic post of the day"

"What is the cause of the systemic hatred many Muslims harbor for those of other faiths (and sects, even), then?" - THAT is a blatant generalisation.

"Thus their only goal must be wanton slaughter" - Strawman fallacy

"Convert people by the sword, and as soon as you remove the sword, they will revert." - To what? Another condition of yet another Strawman you create?

[TheMirrorMan]

43. Logical dissection is cute

but not tantamount to refutation, especially when misrepresenting the actual context. *That* is a strawman.

"THAT is a blatant generalisation."
Specifically, I am referring to:
1) The current sectarian violence in Iraq between Sunnis and Shiites.
2) Sharia law punishing apostasy, adultery, and homosexuality with death under most interpretations, and fomenting intolerance via prohibiting Muslim women from marrying outside the faith.
3) The violent proselytizing verbiage in the Hadiths (you know, the other half of Islamic religious scripture).
4) 9/11, 7/7, 7/11(?) etc.

Is that better?

"Strawman fallacy"
You completely ignored my context. Also, this was a completely different line of reasoning, signified by the separate paragraph. Would you care to present an actual alternative viewpoint, rather than merely proffer a pithy misclassification of presumed logical fallacies?

"To what? Another condition of yet another Strawman you create?"
That was merely an aphorism.

[Swamp Rat]

54. LOL!

edit: adios :hi:

[Name removed]

55. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Name removed]

56. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Name removed]

58. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[brentblack]

19. Please show how this is illogical

I can document dozens of conflicts around the world where islam is waging war on anyone who does not believe them.

I am not trying to generalize anything or make pithy comments, but as long as you equate Jerry Falwell's stupidity and Bushco's illegal wire tapping to the acts of the islamic terrorists, who have stated, clear goals on their efforts - you are simply hiding your head in the sand and passing along the problemn to future generations. Just because the problem is not rampant here in America right now does not mean that it will become more prevelant as time moves on.


I do not mean to insult any good, moderate Muslims - but Islam is in a violent cycle much like Christianity was in the middle ages to the 20th century. Failure to recognize the problem is tantamount to complicity.

As an athiest, I will never understand religios fervor - though I get pretty excited at hippy music festivals. However, I would never fight a Phish fan because I favor moe..

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

28. Question...

How old are you?

Because I have trouble believing an adult would actually think you're fooling anybody.

[wicket]

34. LOL

:D

[Swamp Rat]

35. Are you for real? How old are you?

The style of your writing is that of a 10 yr old.

"I can document dozens of conflicts around the world where islam is waging war on anyone who does not believe them. " - Red Herring fallacy

"I am not trying to generalize anything or make pithy comments" - Yet you have already done so. The rest of that sentence is a Strawman fallacy as well.

"Just because the problem is not rampant here in America right now does not mean that it will become more prevalent as time moves on." - Thanks to the assholes in the White House who are fucking up America right now... and the inbred knuckle-draggers who voted for them... who are too chicken shit to go fight in Iraq.

"I do not mean to insult any good, moderate Muslims" - Every one of your posts has been an insult to Muslims, and you know it.

"- but Islam is in a violent cycle much like Christianity was in the middle ages to the 20th century." - See? There you go insulting people and making more generalisations.

"Failure to recognize the problem is tantamount to complicity." - Then why are you participating in the terrorism? Why aren't you in Iraq defending the poor, defenseless x-tians?

[newyawker99]

18. Hi brentblack!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[malaise]

10. Lovely letter

but who were the terrorists invovlved yesterday. Do we know?

[muriel_volestrangler]

11. Have you considered sending this to an Indian newspaper?

They might well appreciate the solidarity (and your invoking of Gandhi too). That would also be the one place where people involved in the terrorism might conceivably see it. There are many English language Indian newspapers - see eg http://dir.yahoo.com/News_and_Media/Newspapers/By_Region/Countries/India/ .

[Dora]

14. Beautiful, Mike.

Illuminating.

:hug:

[Javaman]

16. I condemn the terrorist bombing, but let ye without blame

cast the first stone.

Read the history of India and how they treated the Muslims when Pakistan was created.

Things don't happen out of the blue, nothing drops out of the sky and just happens. Did you know that last sunday, India tested yet another missile that is capable of carrying a nuke?

Then there is the ever thorny issue of Kashmir.

As sorry as I feel for those innocent Indians, let's point our fingers directly at the respective governments that prompt these attacks and use them as political tools.

Until this cycle of stupidity is removed from the political discourse we will see much more of this violence.

[nam78_two]

20. well...

>Read the history of India and how they treated the Muslims when Pakistan was created.

I am of Indian origin and familiar with the history of India. It is a complicated one,
but this statement implies that only Indians mistreated Pakistanis, while there was no ill-treatment of the Indians left in Pak after the partition. There was gross abuse on both sides.

But some statistics are irrefutable - after the partition of India, about 15% of the Pakistani population was Hindu, just as about 15% of the Indian population was muslim. Now over 60 years later, Hindus are about 0.5% of the Pakistani population and Muslims are about 20% of Indian population.
The richest man in India is a Muslim-Azim Premji of Wipro, the president of India is a Muslim-Dr.Abdul Kalam, the most popular Indian movie star is a Muslim-Shah Rukh Khan. There are no Hindus of prominence in Pakistan. India even has a separate civil code for Muslims that respects their religion. Muslim holidays like EID are state holidays. India is a secular country though 80% Hindu.



I am not making a point about Hindus or Muslims here, but certainly imo India is WAY the more tolerant country of the two (India and Pak that is). I have my own prejudices and pro-India biases of course, but for what its worth thats my 2c.

(And that is not to say there isn't a serious problem with Hindu-Muslim tensions in India, etc.
I just think Pakistan is more to blame :) and I think diplomacy will have to solve it slowly over time. Peace)

[INDIA]

25. Interesting statistic.

Thank you. Sometimes I feel that there is an inherent streak of bigotry in Islam, depending on the region of the world and culture. The hatred of Jews is pretty obvious, but there also seems to be distrust and dislike of the other "infidel" religions.

I've read the Koran, and Islam is a wonderful religion on paper. It teaches tolerance and love for ones fellow man (and woman). Unfortunately, it has been hijacked by backward cultures and extremist violent sects. BTW, I'm generalizing of course.

[nam78_two]

29. edit

btw I meant
*only Indian Hindus mistreated Pakistani Muslims, while there was no ill-treatment of the Indian Hindus by Pakistani Muslims, after the partition*

India3 I wouldn't *swear* by those exact numbers (20, 15 etc.) but they are approximately right.

[Javaman]

32. That maybe true, but I'm sure that doesn't matter to the Pakistani's at

this point.

[Javaman]

30. "I just think Pakistan is more to blame"

And I'm sure Pakistan has and equal and opposite view of that statement.

And that gets back to my point about using these various terrorist bombings and missile testings as political fuel in their war of words in the never ending battle of brinkmanship.

Until another Gandhi like person or basically someone with sense to rise above it all comes on the scene, both parties are equally at fault.

[nam78_two]

36. I agree with some of your points

I just think its not true about "both countries being equally to blame", because imo thats the view of someone completely dissociated from the conflict. It makes sense for a person from another country to take that attitude rather than a strong position supporting either country I guess.
That is the best opinion for an outsider to have, its true.

But thats never quite true about the actual reality of any conflict. Its like the whole "fair and balanced" argument. You can't realistically be fair AND balanced. In most conflicts, one side does usually have the greater no. of aggressions on their part, more interest in keeping the conflict alive etc.
In the Pak-India case, one big factor is the fact that India is a democracy, whereas Pak isn't.

I have admitted I have pro-India biases, but I have tried to look at this conflict objectively and to me it does seem that the lion's share of the blame does lie with Pakistan. (By that I mean the Pakistani government rather than individual Pakistanis of course.) In none of this am I saying India is at all blameless, just that the Paki govt. has more interest in keeping this conflict alive than the Indian ones usually.

However, I ultimately agree with you that the blame game doesn't benefit anyone really and true progress can only be made when we set aside all these issues and work for peace. So the whole argument is kinda irrelevant.
And yes someone does have to make that first move. I hope India does. Non-violence is the ONLY solution to anything really- maybe thats "naive" or "impractical" but I believe it entirely.

Nobody benefits from this kind of violence and mayhem. If only human beings were actually rational eh :-/?

[Javaman]

37. Absolutely, non-violence is always the solution.

I will agree that given the current governments of both nations, Pakistan does work less to promote a mutual understanding, but then again, given the way it has developed itself, it has, in a way, painted itself into a corner, either diplomatically or philosophically, to use acts of aggression in order to make a point or get attention. But by the same token, India being a Democracy, should be the example and not and enabler of such behavior.

Sadly, the precedent that bush* set by using pre-emptive attacks against a nation he* deemed a threat, doesn't do Democracy as a whole much good. And will have repercussions world wide regarding the use of such a tactic by other democratic nations.

I have always admired India as a nation, however much like the U.S. they have some very regressive traits that need to be re-examined. And given their current situation with Pakistan, they could be the nation to lead by positive example and fill that void that bush* has so effectively left empty, that the United States once occupied.

Also, given that I'm a U.S. born citizen, I, perhaps would have an entirely different take on this, if say Mexico had nuclear capability and were acting in an aggressive manner. So I try to temper my judgment by saying that given any conflict, generally speaking, both sides are at fault and therefore, both side bear responsibility for a workable solution.

[nam78_two]

42. True on all counts

you are quite right on all those points. I do have hope....I do believe that many minor (and a few major :-/ ) set-backs aside, the world as a whole is headed in a progressive direction.

And hopefully one day we all realise the value of living together in peace and harmony. And who knows maybe even learn to have some measure of respect for this planet and the non-human creatures that share it with us :)....

[7P Dude]

62. Bull Shit

"both parties are equally at fault."

No, the terrorists are quite a bit more at fault.

Don't excuse them because you don't know the difference between right and wrong.

[Spinoza]

21. Disgusting.

The creation of Pakistan? Kashmir? The torn and mutilated bodies in Bombay, including dozens of children, did nothing to cause, or deserve, their destruction. The people who did this are monsters, no better than Nazis, who also felt they were 'avenging' past wrongs.

[Javaman]

31. You rarely read history, I assume. Do a little studying...

This type of bombings and brinkmanship have been going on for quite some time, it's the just the size and the amount of people that have died that's changed.

Until these two nations can figure out their issues, more of this will continue. One is as guilty of the other.

And old Kenyan proverb: when two elephants fight only the grass suffers.

[TheMirrorMan]

44. so slaughter of unsuspecting innocents

is justified by generations old misdeeds, or past wars?

I'm not seeing where you get your sense of moral equivalence.

[Javaman]

48. oy, reread my post. Unless you wish to jump to more conclusions. nt

[TheMirrorMan]

50. "one is as guilty as the other"

What a vague, senseless platitude.

[Javaman]

57. I'll just keep feeding you rope, okay?

If you want to continue to take a myopic view of my post, knock yourself out, because it appears you are incapable of critical thought.

With that said, have a truly great day. :)

[TheMirrorMan]

59. Apparently a lot of people are interpreting your posts the same

so are we all lacking in critical thinking ability?

I would recommend you stop taking a macroscopic and disconnected view of terrorism, in order to avoid your statements looking like "they had it coming", as if acts such as this are somehow deserved.

[Javaman]

60. Of the 91,000+ people on DU, it appears as if you and one other

are the only ones that refuse to read the whole thread.

That does not constitute a lot of people.

Oh by the way, here is more rope for you.

Have a great day! :)

[Spinoza]

46. Your imbecilic justification of

mass murder, the mass slaughter of total innocents--including children and babies--makes me want to barf. "Guilty"? What exactly were the murdered people 'guilty' of? What 'nations'? If you are speaking about Hindus and Muslims, or India and Pakistan, what justification does that give the monsters who committed this act the right to kill and dismember innocent men, women and children? The people who did this, WHATEVER their claimed motivations or justifications, are vicious killers. Your views are disgusting and obscene.

[Javaman]

49. thank you, and how is your day? Did you actually read the post?

And did you read the continued discussion I had with the person that is actually from India?

If you are going to have reactionary comments, please frame them better, having emotional displays based upon your imagination, solves nothing. And since you know absolutely nothing about me, not only is your ignorance at it's highest but your command of the facts regarding my post is speculative at best.

Peace is not a word, it is something that happens when two people agree to disagree regardless of their own personal feeling and see the bigger picture.

Have a nice day. :)

[IronLionZion]

17. Beautiful words Mike, they are not wasted

because good people will read them too. Terrorists don't accomplish their goals with the terror acts, they accomplish them with popular support for their cause. Palestine, Northern Ireland, Kashmir, Tamil Eelam, etc are still not independent because senseless murder of innocent people just doesn't work. This act of murder is likely to hurt their cause.

Now, I don't know who did the attack, but the most likely group has strongly denied it's involvement and they traditionally target soldiers and government employees anyway. Kashmir is actually quite peaceful now. I was planning on visiting during my India trip over the last 2 weeks but didn't have time for it.

Slaughter of innocents reeks of Al Qaeda. Man, I hate those bastards. They have no honorable cause.

[myrna minx]

22. Your letter is just beautiful.

:applause:

[nam78_two]

23. Thank you

This is a beautiful letter and I will forward it to friends and family in India.

[Deja Q]

24. India is an American interest. Terrorists must know that by now.

Strangely enough, China has been for far longer and they're not getting attacks. I wonder why.

[INDIA]

26. America has just about zero to do with this.

Of course nobody knows for sure at this time, but the trains were probably hit because of a long and heated conflict between the Hindus of India and the Muslims of Pakistan. This conflict often focuses on the disputed Kashmir region, which both countries claim. Both sides have committed atrocities over the years, (with Bush's buddy Musharraf's muslim side being the worse offender imo), and yesterday was a continuation of this violence. If you MUST blame a western country for this, Britain would be the way to go.

China, as far as I know, has never had any real conflict with Muslim nations or people. I can guarantee you that if Tibet was a Muslim nation, China would have suffered many terrorist attacks by now. America just doesn't factor into the equation.

[IronLionZion]

38. Latest word out of India is they suspect Dawood Ibrahim's gang

D Company, which discounts the religious theory since there are both muslims and hindus in his gang...and both hindus and muslims were murdered in the bombing.

IMHO but probably true:
1. Lashkar E Toiba obviously did the Kashmir attack this morning, but not the Mumbai train attack.
2. Whoever did the Mumbai train attack is outside India.
3. Groups with political aim like LET or Al Qaeda always proudly accept responsibility for their attacks.
4. Groups with monetary aim like D Company do not.
5. This bombing will have a significant impact on the local Mumbai economy since it disrupted a fairly important commuter rail line and struck fear in the hearts of local working people, but limited impact on the national economy.
6. LET are a bunch of bumbling buffoons so they could not have done this.

Fact: no one has claimed responsibility yet
Fact: this attack was well organized
Fact: this was an attack on civilians on their way to work

[IronLionZion]

40. Well, Al Qaeda-type terrorists would stick out in China

wouldn't they?

[GeorgeGist]

27. Very thoughtful...

but for this

"...your soul committed suicide and I rage against the dying of any light."

Souls cannot commit suicide.

[IronLionZion]

39. Look at India and Israel's radically different responses today

Hezbollah kidnaps 2 IDF officers in a military attack and what does Israel do? Immediately sends in the fighter planes, gunships, gun boats, and missiles striking militant camps within 10 miles of Beirut. The IDF shoots to kill.

India suffers the loss of a stated 200 civilian lives (more likely 1000 IMHO) in a terrorist attack in their largest city and financial capital. What does India do? Same thing our Democrats do about the RepubliCONs...talk and twiddle their thumbs and are too afraid to stand up or they may spill their tea.

Come on, Dawood Ibrahim is on Interpol's most wanted list and has his passport flagged for immediate arrest and his foreign funds are frozen under the international anti-terrorism laws. He couldn't go to his own daughter's wedding in Dubai of all places. Bush bombed and invaded two countries with less probable cause.

Interesting how despite their radically different responses to terrorism, these two countries are the biggest hot spots for attacks.

[Spinoza]

47. India has a billion+ people, Israel 6 million,

but both are democracies who gained independence at almost the identical time, both fought against British occupation, and both have borders with Islamic nations who hate their guts.

[Midlodemocrat]

41. This is spectacular.

Well done. :kudos:

[varun]

45. India’s Indestructible Heart-NYT

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/12/opinion/12fernandes.html

...Many of us had seen this before. On March 12, 1993, at least 10 bombs shattered the spine of our city, then called Bombay, in two hours, tearing their way northward in short, deadly bursts. That attack left 257 dead. Since then, the city has been the target of several other vicious bombings, most recently in 2003, when car bombs went off at the city’s most recognizable symbol, the Gateway of India...

...Despite the long history of sporadic violence, Mumbai has always picked itself up by its bootstraps and marched off to work as soon as the trains started working again. Our ability to jeer at misfortune is attributed in the Indian press to the “spirit of Bombay,” which is variously described as “indomitable,” “never say die” and “undying.” But our spirit has been saluted so frequently of late, all the praise was beginning to annoy me...

...Stories of exceptional selflessness have flooded in all evening. One came from my friend Aarti, who was in one of the trains on which a bomb went off. As she jumped out of her compartment, she saw streams of slum dwellers from the bleak shanties along the tracks rushing toward the train with bed sheets. They knew that there would be no stretchers to be found and were offering their threadbare cottons to be used as hammocks to carry victims away.

Perhaps the newspapers have it right after all. An anguished night has fallen over Mumbai, but when the city eventually sleeps it will do so secure in the knowledge that its spirit is unbroken, that it is, exactly like the myth has it, indomitable and undying.

[TheMirrorMan]

51. inspirational n/t

[otherlander]

52. That was beautiful. K&R.

And Gandhi was right. Nonviolence is infinitely more powerful a tool for changing the world. I was talking to some of my friends the other day, high-school aged, and none of them had ever heard of the Weather Underground, but all of them knew about King and the March on Washington.

[tomreedtoon]

53. Duuuh! Hello....they are terrorists!

They don't care who they kill, as long as they create terror. In fact, not caring - not choosing an important, obvious and well-protected target - is essential to their goal.

They don't want to send a message. They only want to send terror.

Maybe you remember Vincent Price in "The Masque of the Red Death" pontificating on terror, spouting poetic lines about an assassin behind the curtain, the slowing of a beating heart and things like that. That wasn't terror. What happened in India was real-world terror.

In many cases, if you could meet a person who committed a typical terrorist mass murder - not the triggerman, who may be plainly nuts and suicidal, but the person who planned it - you'd find someone full of desperation and futility. He has nothing left to lose. The hope inspired by Jesus or by any concept of God is either unknown to him, or if it's known he considers it a lie and a bitter joke.

For this week's assignment in Learning About Life, go and read the Stephen Sondheim musical play "Assassins." Be prepared to discuss the scene set in Dallas, where John Wilkes Booth and the other Assassins convince a reluctant Lee Harvey Oswald to assassinate Kennedy.

[Pewlett Hackard]

61. The Minutemen Respond

Here's the terrorists' reply to your letter:

"I was just a boy when the infidels came to my village in their Blackhawk helicopters. The infidels fired at the oilfields and they lit up like the eyes of Allah. Burning oil rained down from the sky and cooked everything it touched. I could only hide myself and cry as my goats were consumed by the fire of black liquid death. On that day I put a jihad on the infidels."