Lingering lapses in the language of terror management

While the recent terror strike in the heart of Vienna, which claimed four lives and which was described as religiously-motivated, was a reminder of the persistence of such campaigns of violence the world over, the discreet language with which some Western political leaders reacted to the incident was most welcome. US President-elect Joe Biden could be described as having spoken for peace lovers everywhere when he said: ‘We must all stand united against hate and violence.’

The language of terror-containment is as vital to the endeavour of managing this species of political violence as related law and order measures adopted by states and other sections that matter in this connection. It is the conviction of ‘bridge-builders’ that inspiring words help in the management of social divisions and if proof is needed on the veracity of this observation one only needs to focus on the heartening and up-lifting language used by Mahatma Gandhi in the course of his non-violent campaign for India’s political independence.

The Mahatma’s words had a healing impact and such language is integral to efforts at bringing the terror problem down to manageable proportions. Reacting to terror attacks with hate language usually has the effect of hardening attitudes among terrorists and their allies. This is so, particularly if the perpetrators of such violence profess to act on the behalf of religions. The challenge here is to steer clear of making references to the religions in question, mainly in view of the fact that most well known religions do not sanction violence of any kind.

Religions are profoundly important to the majority of people. Their innermost selves are closely bound-up with their religious beliefs and this is prime among reasons why those reacting to terror attacks need to be doubly cautious about their verbal reactions to such violence, particularly if its perpetrators claim to act on the behalf of religions.

It goes without saying that acts of terrorism should be condemned by all civilized sections but it is best that references to religions are studiously avoided, since the risk is great of those reacting to the violence concerned hurting grievously the religious sensitivities of people. The majority of people are law-abiding and non-violent and this is often forgotten by those commenting on a terror strike in the heat of such violence, particularly if the latter phenomenon is projected as having a religious dimension.

Ideally, these considerations should have been borne in mind by the Austrian authorities when they reacted to the recent terror attack in Vienna, although the shedding of civilian blood by terrorists in particular cannot be easily countenanced by peace lovers. Austrian Interior Minister Karl Nehamnaer described the perpetrator of the Vienna attack as an ‘Islamist terrorist’, while French President Emmanuel Macron was quoted as referring to a similar terror strike, which claimed three lives at a church in Nice in France, prior to the Vienna incident, as an ‘Islamist terrorist attack’.

References to the seeming religious identity of the assailants in these incidents were unwarranted and the relevant comments could very well aggravate religious antagonisms rather than help in overcoming them, since religious sensitivities have been disregarded by the state functionaries concerned. But there is no denying that preventing emotions from rising among those who see themselves as being gravely affected by the violence is no easy task.

The issues focused on here are profoundly important to Sri Lanka as well since she too is confronting religion-based violence in a major way currently. The Easter Sunday terror attacks chillingly reminded Sri Lanka of some of these questions. While in the undertaking of neutralizing the LTTE the Lankan state considered it compelling to deal with the militant outfit primarily on the military plane, the issues raised by the Easter Sunday attacks are vastly more complex and demanding. This is on account of the fact that there is a striking psychological dimension to the Easter Sunday terror.

In the latter, we have hearts and minds that have been totally converted to a religious ideology linked to dehumanizing violence over long periods of time and religion being a profoundly sensitive issue, the challenge before the state and other concerned sections is to reconvert the subverted minds of the relevant militants to a condition where they would be amenable to democratic values and principles. An uphill task indeed. However, even in the case of the LTTE phenomenon, a hearts and minds effort awaits undertaking and the Lankan state seems to be blissfully unaware of this. But by neglecting this task the state could very well be committing a tragic blunder.

Accordingly, wherever terror may be occurring, there is no avoiding reconciliation. Just in case some quarters are befuddled by the term ‘reconciliation’, it points to, basically, converting hearts and minds to a life of tolerance, goodwill and joy among diverse communities and religious groups. These aims would not be hard to achieve if the core values of religions are inculcated and practised by the relevant adherents. Nothing more.

So, supporters of democracy everywhere need to speak out loud and clear for the democratic way of life and the values they cherish but they must also speak the language of reconciliation. This would also involve scrupulous avoidance of hurting the sensitivities of others. Thus, the crucial importance of the language of amicable living and togetherness.

It augurs well for democracy that almost the entirety of Europe has spoken out for the perpetuation of democracy amidst the wave of recent terror attacks within their territories. This grand coming together for democracy sends a clear message to the enemies of democracy that their campaign of violence will eventually come to nought.

Europe could hope for some better times with the coming to power in the US of Democrat Joe Biden. A prime task for the latter on the foreign policy front would be to rebuild the US’ links with Europe which took some battering during the Trump years. Moreover, primacy must be given by the West to bringing healing to their societies which could derive mainly from equity and justice.