Blog 7

I found an excerpt on the Black Panther organization and their justification of violence in the civil rights movement. The organization armed its members and put them onto the streets, giving them the protection they needed. "The Panthers also recognized that the organization of Black people around the idea of self-defense, in turn allowed members of these communities to articulate empowered identities and space within oppressive situations." The Black Panther organization justified their acts as self-defense, and that they were not necessarily throwing the first punch. 

The bombings in London in 2005 are an example of direct violence. 52 people were killed, and more than 700 others were injured. These specific individuals were not the targets, but innocent lives were, and the terrorist succeeded in that aspect. Three of the bomber,s Khan, Hussein, and Tanweer were a part of al Qaeda and working towards defending Islam in the Western world. These acts are acts of terror because of the taking of innocent lives, and not aimed at those during a war. To themselves and al Qaeda these acts are easily justified as defending their religion. 

In extreme circumstances, violence is necessary. For example, if we tried to talk it out with Osama bin Laden and NOT used violence to kill him, there would be many, many more people dead as a direct result of his actions. I do, however, believe violence should always be a last resort.