Reply #2: My take

[Pavlovs DiOgie]

I think the point is to not just label them 'terrorists' and write them off as lunatics who can't be reasoned with. The fact is that there is a REASON they are so desperate that they resort to suicide bombings and the like. The point is to look at the reason behind the behavior, try to understand it, and see if there can be a solution that is acceptable to both sides.

I am a teacher, and I have 'good' students and 'bad' students. I can write off the bad students because all they do is disrupt my classes and give me a hard time. Or, I can talk to them and find out why they behave the way they do. Nine out of ten times, when I take the time (often, it takes many months) to get to know them, understand where they are coming from, I can work with them to change their behavior and help them become better students (at least to the point where they are not disrupting class). This takes patience and understanding, and a desire to take the difficult road to remedy the situation, instead of trying to get the student kicked out of my class (the easy solution). In the end, the hard work benefits me, the student, and the class.

It's the label that keeps the process from moving forward. Terrorists, lunatics, soldiers...which label is going to get peace in the end? What is the end result we really want, or what they really want?