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October 14th, 2001 - The psychology of terrorism Events that began on 11th September are now tragically well under way. Whether we recognise it or not, or are even prepared to admit it, this is the promised Armageddon. This is not a world war like any other we've known. There are no defined 'front lines' for us Westerners. A front line for us could just as likely be a back fence. This is now the time for we Westerners to call upon Spirit Power. By that I mean the power of our own personal spirit that we all have, to overcome the unknown terrors that now confront us. This is the time for moral and spiritual strength, to help our neighbours, to support each other. This is not the time to panic. To panic their enemy is part of the psychology of terrorism. This is the time for us to confront our many fears, and face them and overcome them. This is known as courage. We know many courageous deeds were performed as the twin towers collapsed. This is the behaviour we need to all concentrate on now for not one nation is safe. Not even Australia. But I know my race, I also know we have our faults by the way, but I've seen 'us' in adversity. In the 2nd World War, the Korean and Vietnam Wars, etc. I've seen every State in our wide land travel thousands of miles to help us fight our bushfires. Some of our firemen volunteered and went over to California to help with the forest fires there. We, as Australians, will stand firm and quietly, humorously defiant. That is our way. A new series is starting tonight on Channel 2. 'CHANGI'. While many of you will not have read this, and many of you will be in other countries, for those who pick it up next week, look in to this series and see the nature of the Australian. Those who can, should get out on video the other movie "Paradise Road". Better than words, you will see the courage of the spirit emerge in these people portraying real events. I saw skeletons walk out of the Japanese POW camps. While some of the prisoners drew the scenes of torture that took place, they also physically witnessed them. I am now 70 and those pictures are as vivid in my mind now, as then. Men given the water torture - tied and bound and a hose placed in their mouths until their bodies exploded. Men tied to the soil so that bamboo shoots would grow through them until they died. Men blindfolded and tortured until their heads were chopped off. Our POW's lived through this and built the notorious railway line on scraps that not even rats would look at. Their mateship was never stronger, their dry humour wittier. As with the women prisoners, their spirits were never stronger. Some would have failed, that's the nature of the beast. Some of us will fail through this terrible war but there'll be the strong ones who will pull us through. They'll be frightened too but they'll be there for each of us with a smile, a joke, a helping hand. This is how we'll defeat the psychology of the war of terrorism. Meantime, the Moslems will be praying to Allah, the Jews will be praying to Yahweh, those of other beliefs will pray to god - and all for victory... Well, if that gives them comfort, fair enough. But what will inevitably defeat the terrorists - if there's anyone left on the planet which I doubt - will be that indomitable will that is in each one of us. In some of us its latent and will need to be dug out. But it is there… Was it only last year we had the year 2000 Olympics in Sydney? But when that had finished we had a testament to the courage and spirit of men and women in the Para-Olympics. They are a shining example to all of us of the hidden spirit. There's stacks of that in the Western World. Let's set the terrorists back on their heels by showing just how spirited and courageous we in the Western World really are at that old grass roots level. As an Aussie I say "Stuff their psychology - I've got my own!" Helen Back to the blog index

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