TAI Meeting Terrorism July 16 2005

TAI Meeting Terrorism July 16 2005

NOTICICATION EMAIL
July 9 2005
Hi Folks
There will be a workshop at our home (Tallaght) this coming SATURDAY, July 16 2005 at 1930 (7:30 p.m. in the evening)
The topic (to be led by by Elizabeth Cleary) concerns A TA look at Terrorism and Fundamentalism and Fanaticism
All Welcome. Donation towards expenses appreciated.
Hope you might be able to make it.
As always, please let me know if you no longer want to hear about our occasional workshops..
Regards to you all
Elizabeth Cleary

TRANSACTIONAL ANALYSIS is a social and psychological theory, with mutual contracting for growth and change.

HANDOUTS distributed at meeting

A TA LOOK AT TERRORISM and FUNDAMENTALISM and FANATICISM

Contract
What do I want to achieve from this meeting?
What will I do to achieve this?
What might I do to sabotage myself or others achieving this?
How will I know when I’ve achieved this
How will I reward myself for achieving this?

Collective nouns Examples
The innocent
The terrorists
The government/politicians
The enemy
The Irish
The Arabs
The Muslims
The TA Community
The Church
The Clergy
The Laity

My theory is that these are deceptive terms, like stereotypes, since no two human beings are the same. Therefore, at most, we only share small aspects of similarity, even in areas where we at first think we have a lot in common.

Quotes for change (which you may or may not agree with)

Gandhi, "Violence is the language of the unheard."

We cannot achieve peace unless we believe that we can learn from others." Lawrence Carter
"To love is to listen." Lawrence Carter

Fundamentalism is a reaction against secular modernity Karen Armstrong

We are not just to tolerate, but to respect and honour one another. Dr. Kamar,

Fanaticism a reaction to colonialism, economic exploitation, social grievances, and the unequal distribution of wealth which has caused class struggles. Roberto Marin-Guzman

fun·da·men·tal·ism n. A usually religious movement or point of view characterized by a return to fundamental principles, by rigid adherence to those principles, and often by intolerance of other views and opposition to secularism.
fa·nat·i·cism n. Excessive, irrational zeal.

If you want to rule, control, exploit or ruin a people, keep them illiterate.
The most that can be attributed to these insane criminals is a desire to be important. They have no other way to make us take notice except violence. They are small people who want a moment of global action. Mary Kaldor

when religion did too little to combat prejudice and injustice Samuel Pisar

insecurity, danger and distrust cause groups or peoples to withdraw into themselves, protecting and fortifying what they believe is fundamental and essential to their cultural and religious identity. Martin Marty

The Muslim speakers all stressed that the Koran outlawed violence and that the atrocities committed in Algeria, for example, bore "no relation whatever" to authentic Islam. Noted one Muslim in a small group conversation, "The feeling I have when someone equates me with Islamic violence is probably the same feeling you have when a so-called Catholic bombs an abortion clinic."

Paul Pillar, CIA on terrorism

• It is premeditated—planned in advance, rather than an impulsive act of rage.
• It is political—not criminal, like the violence that groups such as the mafia use to get money, but designed to change the existing political order.
• It is aimed at civilians—not at military targets or combat-ready troops.
• It is carried out by subnational groups—not by the army of a country.
• the religious terrorist often sees violence as an end in itself, as a divinely inspired way of serving a higher cause

The definition proposed here states that terrorism is the intentional use of, or threat to use violence against civilians or against civilian targets, in order to attain political aims. (International Policy Institute for Counter-Terrorism)