Youth and Terrorism

In the modern times youth and terrorism make a volatile fusion. What inspires youngsters to take up arms against the system? What steps can be taken to check the increasing alienation of today's youngsters? These are the questions being asked at different forums and seminars to find a solution to curb the involvement of young people in the act of terrorism.

"You had everything you wanted. Your Mercedes wasn't enough, you brats. Your golden necklaces weren't enough, you snobs. Your trust funds weren't enough. Your vodka and cognac wasn't enough. All your debaucheries weren't enough. Those weren't enough to fulfil your hedonistic needs. You had everything."  These were the words of Cho Seung-Hui, a young student who gunned down 32 fellow students and teachers in Virginia Tech campus on April 16 before committing suicide. It was the deadliest shooting in modern US history.  Cho could have been speaking for millions of youngsters; particularly those on the wrong side of the have and have-not divide.

Recently a former Joint Director of the Intelligence Bureau, India commented that 'If the expectations of young people are not fulfilled in time, it results in frustration, making them deviate from the mainstream.'  He further said that young people around the world generate two powerful emotions in our minds - fear and hope. The fear, that they would disown and destroy all our civilization values, and the hope that they could revive, enrich, recreate and carry forward all the positive aspects of our collective heritage. These fears, hopes and frustrations are growing each day.  Nearly a million people worldwide kill themselves each year. There is an estimated 10 to 20 million attempted suicides every year. Many of them are youngsters unable to cope with these emotions. Many others rebel and youngsters are constantly in conflict with law. Add terrorism to this mix, and you have a million disasters waiting to happen.

These statements bring a lot of challenges for the youth of the church, who are called to be the peacemakers, that peacemaking is possible and young people are the ‘hope’.  Can we make a difference?  This is a question which does not need any answer but a committed action.

Kasta Dip