Reading newspaper headlines these days about terrorists and terrorism, it would appear as if our journalists have only just discovered other human races and creatures living on planets other than ours. It is as if they had made a highly complicated scientific discovery that could only have come to those who spend their whole life working in laboratories.
History books and the science of documentation tell us that the 1979 attack against the Grand Mosque in Makkah was not carried out by swallows or curlews that came to live with the Grand Mosque paragons to teach them how to sing. It was an act committed by murderers bent on deliberately killing people.
Terrorism is terrorism. The terrorist acts that have been committed in the past are known to all and the present-day atrocities are there for everyone to see. It doesn’t need all these magnifying glasses to find out about terrorism, for there always have been people who pursue violent means to further their cause. You don’t need to magnify the terrorist activities as if to bring them home to people with impaired vision or children who have only just begun learning the alphabet. An act of terror is an act of terror, plain and simple.
Our experiences with security in this country ever since its birth at the hands of the founding father King Abdul Aziz tell us that this country has lived in peace and security and will continue to enjoy peace and security.
Our past experiences with terrorism have shown that premeditated murder, ambushing innocent people and blowing up installations have nothing to do with religion and have never been part of religious teachings. Let us learn from past experiences and employ these in the best way to raise the level of awareness and plant flowers instead of bombs.
