Terrorists disgust me

Published on June 18, 2004 By KT Kate In Current Events

After an incredibly hectic morning spent in the Vox office finalizing story text and pitching for the July 15 issue, I ran home to grab lunch before I went back to work. (My boyfriend Joe and I have made a pact to not eat out at all during the week in an effort to save money..it's not as convenient, but I feel my savings growing already

In the midst of preparing my lunch of Easy Mac and hot dogs, CBS interrupted regular programming to report that Paul Johnson, the hostage in Saudi Arabia, had been beheaded. At that moment, all of the petty worries in my head flew away. I just cannot imagine hearing that about someone I know or love--I mean, what must his family and friends be going through right now?

The disgust I feel for terrorists was hugely multiplied. The things people will do to each other to satisfy their petty demands is absolutely disgusting. I'm afraid that our widely touted and awesomely expensive "War on Terror" will never end. How can you completely eradicate all of the terrorists from this savage world?

Most of the time I feel safe and oblivious in my complacent area of the Midwest. Don't get me wrong--as a journalism major, I have a voracious appetite for all things current events and read stories from at least 10 news sources a day. But the violence in the middle East and in other parts of the world seems so far away. I don't know if I feel fortunate that I can block it out most of the time-but, on the other hand, there's not really a purpose in worrying about everything, especially since I can't change it.

When crises like these occur, I always find myself wondering what it must be like to be truly affected by the event. For example, how does it feel to be President Bush or another member of the government, knowing that you can't negotiate with terrorists while also dealing with the fact that a man is being held in a hostile situation and could be killed at any time? I just don't know how you would detach yourself from the horrific nature of that knowledge in order to fulfill policy. I understand why they have to; I'm just glad it's not my role.

I have no idea how this war will play out. I pray for the safety of our troops and civilians who are abroad; I pray for the people in the middle East who are tired of violence and war yet aren't sure where to turn. I'm not sure a resolution can ever be reached in a situation such as this, but I hope at least a ghost of a conclusion is just around the corner. Any thoughts?

Katy

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