Destruction Quote by Eboo Patel
“Religious extremists want to show us that the only possibility is for us to kill each other, so September 11 is not only heinous murder, it is also global performance. It is also putting an idea into the world, an idea of destruction.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Politics of Violence, 2015
Extremists use terror to broadcast a narrative of mutual destruction, turning tragedy into a global performance.
In simple terms: Violence is used to spread a message of destruction.
Key Takeaway
Question the narratives behind acts of terror.
Themes
extremism
media
violence
politics
Mood
critical
analytical
Type
political
social
When to use this quote
- journalism
- policy analysis
- community dialogue
Key Concepts
propaganda
performance art
social psychology
Questions to Reflect On
- What narratives do we accept about terrorism?
- How can we counter destructive performances?
A Different Perspective
It may ignore other motives like ideology or geopolitics.
![“No visiting angel, or explorer from another planet, could have guessed that this bland orb [Earth] teemed with vermin, with world-mastering, self-torturing, incipiently angelic beasts.” quote by Olaf Stapledon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d65/olaf-stapledon-9950_angel_no-visiting-angel-or-explorer-from-anoth_12107.jpg)
