Our response to terrorism -democracy!
By the time, you read this the general election will be over. Yes, I know it’s been a bit like waiting for a ‘bus – you wait long enough and then there are 3 in a row. First, we had the EU referendum, then here in the West Midlands we had a mayoral election and then we had the general election.
Congratulations! If you voted in all three and did not succumb to voter fatigue. For those of you who didn’t vote – shame on you! I’ve heard the arguments why people don’t vote: it doesn’t make a difference/ I can’t be bothered/ it’s not convenient. Really! – With postal voting, polling stations open from 7am to 10pm and political parties providing lifts to polling stations. Plus, I still need convincing by ‘I’m exercising my democratic right by not voting.’
So, I hear you say, “What does voting have to do with terrorism?” Well it’s about democracy; it’s about having your say; it’s about disagreeing with the decisions we make as a society, as a country and then casting a vote to say “I want to do things this way.” It is not about using violence to impose on people the society you want them to live in.
So while being angry or afraid is a natural reaction to a terrorist attack, the search for someone to blame can only take us so far; and is not a solution. Attacking others just because they are different, in the long term will not create a sustainable future for all of us.
It is during these challenging times that we need to reflect on our thoughts and the consequences of our actions. But we can take control.
- Remember: people are individuals; don’t generalize the actions of a few to a group based on their ethnicity or religion.
- Don’t rush to judgement; wait until you know all the facts before making up your mind.
- Talk to your friends and neighbours; find out more about the people you meet whether at work or the at the school gate.
- Talk to your children about what’s going on – remember what you say and how you react has a huge impact on how they behave and act.
One of the best ways to fight terrorism is to live our lives, to participate in our democracy. Because we can make a difference. Don’t believe me? Here are my three reasons to vote and exercise my democratic right – which no one is taking away from me.
One – suffragettes fighting for votes for women were arrested, re- arrested and force-fed, in a game of ‘cat and mouse’ but eventually the ‘Representation of the Peoples Act 1928’ passed, giving women the right to vote. Two, South Africans in 1994 queued for hours to vote in the first post-apartheid election and three, women in Saudi Arabia were given the right to vote for the first time in 2015.
I’m fighting terrorism with democracy.
(First published in May 2017)