What Happens in Bali Tonight

S Jameson
sjameson28@yahoo.com

We must admit there have been times when we have all called into question the United States reasons as to why we are fighting this war on terror. Our confusion over this war against terrorism has been formed by the bombardment of the press and their skilled abilities to present an all out deluge of photographs, terror alerts, video tapes, and biased spinning of opinions, thusly creating a misunderstanding by in large the world over. We have been led to question the United States involvement, and to suppose that our interests lie solely in oil. Many have been left with the impression that President Bush and his cronies are all Imperialists gun-slinging cowboys riding off into the sunset of YEEHAW Americana.

The media has spun their multi-faceted version of our war on terror, all without really informing the news consumer, nor sharing factual information. Sound bites can be so misleading and unfortunately, the media has created a news style that lacks substance. Our 24/7/365 news availability has really become nothing more than entertainment likened unto a three ring circus. When the consumer is only fed miniscule tidbits of information they walk away not really understanding our progression, nor our aim as we stand up and take this perilous insanity of hatred seriously.

This war on terror is a battle being fought against people who have infiltrated a multitude of levels globally. We have terrorist operatives in every village, town, city, state, country, and continent. They live in our neighborhoods, attend our schools, shop at our grocery stores, and work for our employers. They have mastered the finest strategic plan of infiltration to annihilate their enemies. The terrorists do not need the latest technological missile, or computerized aircraft to perform their dastardly deeds. Just like the infestation of roaches, terrorists have been living and growing their brand of hatred stealthily whilst co-existing amongst our population. These pestilent stone age throwbacks have bred their hatred within the walls of our governments, businesses, educational institutions, religious organizations, homes, and our society…terrorists have been propagating their murderous abhorrence against what they consider to be unworthy of existence, all by stealthily blending into our societies.

According to various organizations who to try keep tabs on the number of active and inactive terrorist groups the numbers are wide and the existence of these groups varies moment by moment. The Center for Defense Information in 2000 had counted over fifty as active by definition by the U.S. State dept. (http://www.cdi.org/terrorism/terrorist-groups.cfm). In 2002 under the Patriot Act, nine more groups were added to that list. According to the online encyclopedia Wikipedia, there are well over 200 listed terrorist type groups and organizations. Ranging from religious, nationalistic, left wing, right wing, racists, anti communist, and to those who fall under the “other” category (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_terrorist_groups ). The United States Committee for a Free Lebanon lists terrorist and insurgencies worldwide to be well over 400 and a large section of that list has terrorist organizations imbedded in Iraq. (http://freelebanon.org/articles/a167.htm). These lists are in constant change as groups dissolve, break off, and regroup. Without doubt, terrorism has taken on multiple forms and fronts. Terrorism has been alive and well for many decades.

The rise of the Islamic militant doctrine is spreading like wildfire across the face of Asia, Africa, and Europe. With religion, overall being dead in Europe (1) and economies (2) failing in parts of Europe, Asia (excluding China, Japan and India), and Africa (3)- has radical Islam found a home amongst our youth? Are we creating a void with no moral direction or hope for economic security? Hitler at one time saw a religious and economic void- his doctrine of hatred stepped in, gave the youth direction, promises of food, clothing, and shelter, and obliterated the rest by terroristic force.

In March of 2005 in the Netherlands a Dutch lawmaker, Geert Wilders shared a video clip with a reporter. Wilders grimaced at the sound of gunfire and the statement made in Arabic "He is an enemy of Islam and he should be beheaded," the narrator of one video clip posted on the Internet says in Arabic, against the crackle of gunfire. Behead him, "and you will earn a place in paradise” (http://www.emergency.com/2005/netherland_islami.htm). After the murder of Dutch filmmaker Theo van Gogh, Wilders found his name included on a “death list” of an Islamic extremist cell in the Netherlands. It would appear some in Europe are starting to understand the threat.

At times American’s seem to think that this war on terrorism has only affected us. Our hearts go out to those who have lost loved ones- we grieve with you. As well, to those of you whose families and sweethearts will not be home for the holidays, we send you our prayers and our gratitude for what you are sacrificing. However, for those who denounce our reasons for taking the war to where the terrorists train and plan, it is time for you to change your thinking and realize it is affecting all of us-globally. We must come out of our own self-serving process and educate ourselves, not only for our own survival as a country, but also for humankind’s survival.

I have a friend who travels between the United States and Indonesia quite often. She and her husband travel back and forth a couple of times a year for business/pleasure; they own and operate an import business here in the United States. Their establishment is full of art, and furniture made by local artisans residing in Jakarta, Bali, and Papua New Guinea. They have traveled back and forth for more than six years and have become close to their sellers and their families. They have fallen love with Indonesia and now refer to her as their second home, but my friend confides in me that she will no longer travel alone due to the thugs who terrorize.

Prior to the last bombing that took place in two popular eating establishments in Bali (Oct 2005), I had asked her how things were looking for their next buying trip and visit to Bali. She told me things have been slowly deteriorating since the 2002 bombing in Bali and when the second bombing at the Marriot Hotel in Jakarta happened in 2003, it about obliterated the hopes and dreams of the friendly people of both Bali and Jakarta.
She said the artisans they had been buying from have had to quit making their wondrous works of art to sell and go to the fields to plant, and glean rice so that they can make a meager meal for themselves. Terrorism has killed the tourist industry, which was the mainstay for the peoples of Bali and Jakarta.
(http://www.arabnews.com/?page=7§ion=0&article=34266&d=28&m=10&y=2003; (http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/051002/indonesia_bali_blasts.html?.v=1).

This is our enemies’ drive, to take away everyone’s freedom and to force all into a frightened state of barbaric tyrannical rule.

Like it or not we live in a global age and global terrorism is here- there is no escaping it (http://www.state.gov/m/ds/rls/rm/19198.htm), we are all interconnected in some form. What affects the economic and social structure in Indonesia, Sudan, Israel, Australia, Spain, or Venezuela tonight- will certainly have an impact on the United States and the world tomorrow.

Our choices of employment, apartments to rent, modes of transportation to take, and fast food joints to feast from- needs to take on a different aspect of appreciation. The radicals who scream, “Die infidel” have already landed on our shores, it is now up to us to educate ourselves and understand our enemy cannot be likened to anything we have ever known. This war on terror will either be our victory that we monitor and control or it will be our blood bath of hell here on earth. We can choose which one we want…we still hold our destiny in our hands. Let us consider, and act before our enemy slices through with their blood soaked machetes and ends our love of freedom to worship, work, speak, write, dream, and live.



References:

(1) Religion and Ethics- http://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/week446/cover.html; Religion and Europe- http://exorthodoxforchrist.com/religion_and_europe.htm

(2) Europe’s Economy- http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2002/10/20/1034561391135.html;
IMF Pessimistic About Europe’s Economy- http://www.investing-news.com/artman/publish/article_1331.shtml


(3) Africa in Chaos- http://www.independent.org/publications/tir/article.asp?issueID=27&articleID=341

IRIN Africa: Cost of Living Soars for Urban Families- http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=49386&SelectRegion=Southern_Africa