THE PSYCHOLOGY OF FEAR
Fear is the common element; fear that strikes the greatest number of people in the most brutal way possible. This is terrorism, and as Lenin said, “It’s purpose is to terrorize.” The only way to combat it is to understand your own fear.
To understand the fear level present in our modern world it is necessary to look at recent history; especially the growth of terrorism as a factor in our life. Terrorist acts, no matter in what part of the world they occur, are frightening. Because of their nature these acts hit home, fill people with dread even though they occurred thousands of miles away: they are usually so random, and the victims so innocent, that it is easy to imagine the same act happening anywhere - even in our own neighbourhood. This is another reason they call it terrorism. Its results remain with all of us as a sense of foreboding.
To understand the dynamics of fear in our world it is necessary to look at terrorism. Any professional bodyguard needs at least an acquaintance with the tactics of terror to understand his professional function; he may never encounter a terrorist group, but this does not mean there will not be confrontations with acts that are terrorist in their intent. Whenever a client is threatened it is a terrorist threat, one that has been made against his life, family or property. It must be dealt with and understood for what it is. By comprehending the mechanics of the situation, the individual making the threat fits into a profile and is understandable. This is much easier to face than a nameless dread in the night.
WHAT IS TERRORISM?
"Terrorism" is not a simple term to define. Too often we think of the terrorist as a dark skinned Arab with a blood lust in his eye, ranting unintelligible words and waving an automatic weapon around while he pushes some sweet old man out of an airplane door. The movies and television have almost stereotyped the terrorist; it has been done to such a degree that the term has become trite. And the trite concept of the terrorist also lessens the threat: the "terrorist" is always a wild-eyed fanatic in a distant part of the world.
As Lenin said, "The purpose of terrorism is to terrorize." To terrorize means to frighten, and usually for some end, not necessarily political. The truly effective terrorist is able to frighten the greatest number of people - and the living who have been terrorized are the true victims of terrorism. This is one of the reasons the terrorist hits at innocent targets - children, tourists, and the elderly. The helpless target is so much more of a victim, and most people can identify with being victimized in the same way. To the public a random bombing of a school bus full of children is far more threatening than the assassination of a ranking officer in the military? The bombing in Oklahoma City was even more terrifying because it destroyed a day care centre.
The horror of a school bus being destroyed hits at our hearts and deepest fears. It's easily seen that the true victims of terrorism are not the dead in an indiscriminate bombing, but those who have been frightened by it. These are the people the terrorist is sending a message to, a message to get sympathy for a cause, to change a political viewpoint, to gain recognition or notoriety - even perhaps to obtain financial benefits. The purpose of an incident such as the destruction of a school bus is to create enough horror that pressure will be put on a government, or organization, to change its policies. Enough of these acts and the entire world becomes a frightening place even though most people know it will never happen to them--perhaps. It's a pervading, deep, fear.
Terrorism can be defined as: the use of, or the repeated threat of, violence with the intention of opposing or gaining the support of some authority. Violence is utilized to instil fear in as many random people as possible, at times an entire country, so that a reaction will force someone, or government, to comply with the demands of the terrorist.
There are many elements in our world that can turn this pervading sense of fear into something personal, and those who feel it strongly are not paranoid; they are just realistic. Usually threats are directed at the wealthy, famous, or powerful that are in the fame spotlight. Although, more ordinary citizens can feel the same pressures: the wife who has just escaped a brutal marriage and the ex-husband is looking for revenge; the political candidate who has made a seemingly innocent remark and some crazy is holding him accountable.
To understand the fear level present in our modern world it is necessary to look at recent history; especially the growth of terrorism as a factor in our life. Terrorist acts, no matter in what part of the world they occur, are frightening. Because of their nature these acts hit home, fill people with dread even though they occurred thousands of miles away: they are usually so random, and the victims so innocent, that it is easy to imagine the same act happening anywhere - even in our own neighbourhood. This is another reason they call it terrorism. Its results remain with all of us as a sense of foreboding.
TYPES OF TERRORIST ACTIVITY
There are all types of terrorist activities; and they are not necessarily political. During the last thirty years the United States has been so deluged with bombings, kidnappings, murders, violent protests and other emotional coercion that we've become immune to threats that are part of our everyday life; threats that we do not label as "terrorist," but no matter how they are defined, the end result is the same: fear.
We're so accustomed to thinking of terrorists as "foreigners" who operate in other parts of the world, that we do not even realize the extent of terrorism in our own country. The explosion of an incendiary device in a department store, a razor blade in a Halloween apple, the threat of a bomb in a hospital, white teenagers chasing black youths into speeding traffic, gangs attacking joggers, mail bombs sent to a corporation using animals in tests, poison in pills and food - the list can go on and on.
These incidents might be explained away with "just the acts of crazies," but it is more than that. These are all a form of terrorism: the pro-lifer verbally accosting a pregnant woman going into a clinic is performing his act because his cause is right. In the mirror of himself he's saving unborn children, and in the process has gotten his face on national television. Teenagers chasing blacks have a good cause; they are ridding the neighbourhood of niggers.
The cancerous growth of city gangs is a form of terrorism; each gang has some issue they believe is important, some ideal that justifies their acts. One thing they all have in common is they feel they are correcting some grievance, and the end justifies the means.
TERRORISTS CONSIDER THEMSELVES ABOVE THE LAW
We live in a time when any act, even a criminal one, will turn the media cameras on almost anyone who can create enough of a disturbance. The goals of terrorism are simple ones: attention, notoriety, riches, fame and a hero-worshipping audience. Too many individuals, taking their lessons from the past (especially the sixties), utilize the techniques of terrorism to catapult themselves to national prominence - and even into political office. David Dukes with the white-sheeted KKK phantoms in his background is being considered as presidential material - he has his followers. Their cause doesn't have to be "right," it just has to be verbal - and influence enough followers to give it weight.
WHAT HAS THIS TO DO WITH PERSONAL PROTECTION?
Terrorist tactics have become so white washed, so commonplace, that they have become part of our accepted political scene. And, a beginning Bodyguard might ask: "what has this to do with my profession?" The answer is simple: everything. There is a pendulum effect in history: societies go to the right and to the left, they change from the permissive to the restrictive; and now - simply put, people are getting fed up.
This means that more and more large corporations and individuals are needing the services of knowledgeable bodyguards; it means that if an individual is trained, knows how to market himself, and can reach the right corporations he is on the threshold of a new profession that is growing in importance. It's clear that a motivated individual can enter the profession, can be part of an exciting lifestyle and earn a high income. In a world of terrorists, whether they are organized political forces, borderline politicians or individual "crazies," the bodyguard is needed.
A Zen riddle. What is the sound of one hand clapping?
When an individual wants to enjoy the peace of his own mind working the only sound he asks to hear is “the sound of one hand clapping.” What is this sound? It is silence? And it is difficult to find? Especially if everyone around is speaking, arguing, questioning, threatening, begging, bragging etc.
So when your client needs privacy, let him enjoy the sound of one hand clapping.
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