Terrorism: Paranoia and the Internet Essay -- Terror Terrorists Web Cy

Terrorism Paranoia and the InternetMy third edition American Heritage dictionary defines paranoia as a psychotic disorder characterized by delusions of persecution or grandeur. Having looked that up, Im not sure paranoia is the right label for what Im about to write about or at least, it is not the only label. I think, specifically regarding terrorism (by by chance more generally as well), the idea of paranoia blurs and blends at its boundaries between propaganda (the systematic propagation of a doctrine or ca subprogram) and dogma (a principal of doctrines set forth by a religion or an authoritative principle or belief, esp. one considered to be absolutely true) and sensationalism (the use of lurid or exaggerated matter, esp. in writing, journalism, or politics). Differentiating amongst these is more difficult than I would have imagined before I began reading and researching on the Internet.The eldest Internet text I would like to consider comes from the Christian Broadcasting Ne tworks website (www.cbn.com). It is the text of a press release Pat Robertsons Statement Regarding Terrorist Attack. Pat Robertson explains the origin for the horrific events of September 11th. our nations great cities and innocent people were attacked, according to Robertson, because God has lifted His protection from us. Why? Robertson answers by condemning Americas capitalist economy, condemning Americas foundation in the rights to free speech and expression, condemning those Americans who support a womans right to choose, and condemning the American governments enforcement of the separation of church and state. To me, Robertsons ideas, further exemplified in the following excerpts, seem unequivocal and sensationalistAll over ... ...Government, and how to organize violent militia groups. The question facing us, as an open society, is how to respond to the most controversial and extreme uses of this sweet technology, this electronic, global Gutenberg printing press that turns all citizens into publishers who can reach thousands and even millions of people around the country and the world. I think the notion that fear is the destruction of terrorists is of central importance to this issue. Terrorists want, strive, aim to incite terror. They want fear, anxiousness, and paranoia to fester amongst their targets. So, maybe it is the case that media and Internet abet this sense of paranoia but in any case, it is the culture of the terrorists. And in a terrifyingly successful terrorist attack like that of September 11th, it makes sense that the nation would be left in a state of shock, terror, and paranoia.