--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't support terrorism and never have…" description: "\"I don't support terrorism and never have. As a Sri Lankan that fled war and bombings, my music is the voice of the civilian refugee.\" — M.I.A" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f67/m-i-a-3418_civilian_i-don-t-support-terrorism-and-never-have_1274676.jpg" --- # I don't support terrorism and never have. As a Sri Lankan… ![“I don't support terrorism and never have. As a Sri Lankan that fled war and bombings, my music is the voice of the civilian refugee.” quote by M.I.A](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f67/m-i-a-3418_civilian_i-don-t-support-terrorism-and-never-have_1274676.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f67/m-i-a-3418_civilian_i-don-t-support-terrorism-and-never-have_1274676.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f67/m-i-a-3418_civilian_i-don-t-support-terrorism-and-never-have_1274676.jpg) > “I don't support terrorism and never have. As a Sri Lankan that fled war and bombings, my music is the voice of the civilian refugee.” M.I.A ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker condemns terrorism, linking personal refugee experience to artistic expression, emphasizing civilian voices over violence. **In simple terms:** Reject terrorism; use art to speak for refugees. Key Takeaway Use creative platforms to advocate for peace. Themes peace refugee art activism Mood determined hopeful Type activist inspirational When to use this quote - peace rallies - music festivals - humanitarian campaigns - media interviews Key Concepts human rights civilian perspective music as protest Questions to Reflect On - How can artists responsibly amplify refugee stories? - What role should art play in political discourse? A Different Perspective Balancing activism with personal safety can be challenging. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Israel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/israel/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Refugee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/refugee/) [Support](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/support/) [Terrorism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terrorism/) [Voice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/voice/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [I dont support terrorism and never have. As a Sri Lankan that fled war and bombings, my music is the voice of the civilian…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/i-dont-support-terrorism-and-never-have-as-a-sri-lankan-that-fled-war/) M.I.A > [We must never allow tax dollars to be given to violent, rouge nations that support terrorism and threaten the safety and security of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-johnson/we-must-never-allow-tax-dollars-to-be-given-to-violent-rouge-nations/) [Mike Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-johnson/) > [Iran is isolated on its nuclear program and support for terrorism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-e-donilon/iran-is-isolated-on-its-nuclear-program-and-support-for-terrorism/) [Thomas E. Donilon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-e-donilon/) > [And we will pursue nations that provide aid or safe haven to terrorism. Every nation in every region now has a decision to make:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/and-we-will-pursue-nations-that-provide-aid-or-safe-haven-to/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [I believe we have to take this step by step to try to reign in Iranian aggression, their support for terrorism and the other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/i-believe-we-have-to-take-this-step-by-step-to-try-to-reign-in/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [Drugs support terrorism? No, your SUV supports terrorism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-stanhope/drugs-support-terrorism-no-your-suv-supports-terrorism/) [Doug Stanhope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-stanhope/) > [In addition to declaring and destroying all of its weapons of mass destruction, Iraq must end its support for terrorism. It must cease the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/in-addition-to-declaring-and-destroying-all-of-its-weapons-of-mass/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [Yes, I am a terrorist and I am proud of it. 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But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grover-norquist/spending-should-be-transparent-all-spending-by-the-pentagon-should-be/) [Grover Norquist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grover-norquist/) > [After I was discharged from the military, it was difficult trying to become a civilian,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-kyle/after-i-was-discharged-from-the-military-it-was-difficult-trying-to/) [Chris Kyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-kyle/) > [Civilian law around aviation is much looser than those governing military. Civilian planes can basically fly wherever they want in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trevor-paglen/civilian-law-around-aviation-is-much-looser-than-those-governing/) [Trevor Paglen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trevor-paglen/) ## More by M.I.A > [I'd be very controversial if I said why, and I don't do controversial anymore. That's too passé. So last year. Being controversial is boring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/i-d-be-very-controversial-if-i-said-why-and-i-don-t-do-controversial/) M.I.A > [You have to constantly redefine who you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/you-have-to-constantly-redefine-who-you-are/) M.I.A > [That's what I miss, being a real human.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/that-s-what-i-miss-being-a-real-human/) M.I.A > [Retirement: a brand new beginning! How wonderful!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/retirement-a-brand-new-beginning-how-wonderful/) M.I.A > [I don't like the idea of spirituality done the way it's done. The only way I could understand it was through creativity, not by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/i-don-t-like-the-idea-of-spirituality-done-the-way-it-s-done-the-only/) M.I.A > [I felt pissed off because I realized that you have to teach people in a clichéd way how to be happy-and happiness has become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/i-felt-pissed-off-because-i-realized-that-you-have-to-teach-people-in/) M.I.A > [The first 10 years of my life, I lived as 'Matangi.' When I came to England in '86, my first week of school was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/the-first-10-years-of-my-life-i-lived-as-matangi-when-i-came-to/) M.I.A > [My uncle was the first brown person to have a market stall on Petticoat Lane in the 1960s. He worked his way up from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/my-uncle-was-the-first-brown-person-to-have-a-market-stall-on/) M.I.A > [That divide between the rich and poor is so crazy, because even white kids are suffering now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/that-divide-between-the-rich-and-poor-is-so-crazy-because-even-white/) M.I.A > [Businessmen in society are not going to be the ones that promote anything outside of money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/businessmen-in-society-are-not-going-to-be-the-ones-that-promote/) M.I.A > [That's what New York is like - you can't have real art happen in an institution because rich people can make the world stop.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/that-s-what-new-york-is-like-you-can-t-have-real-art-happen-in-an/) M.I.A > [I feel like a mirror reflecting back everyones perception of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/i-feel-like-a-mirror-reflecting-back-everyones-perception-of-me/) M.I.A > [In England right now you're not good enough until you get validated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/in-england-right-now-you-re-not-good-enough-until-you-get-validated/) M.I.A > [I'm still working out my opinions - it's always a question mark. I leave loads of space open, and people don't like that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/i-m-still-working-out-my-opinions-it-s-always-a-question-mark-i-leave/) M.I.A > [Basically, when I went to school in Sri Lanka from age five onward, the classes there were sometimes sorted into a hierarchy of your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/basically-when-i-went-to-school-in-sri-lanka-from-age-five-onward-the/) M.I.A Explore all 131 M.I.A quotes ## More Civilian quotes > [Civilian law around aviation is much looser than those governing military. Civilian planes can basically fly wherever they want in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trevor-paglen/civilian-law-around-aviation-is-much-looser-than-those-governing/) [Trevor Paglen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trevor-paglen/) > [After I was discharged from the military, it was difficult trying to become a civilian,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-kyle/after-i-was-discharged-from-the-military-it-was-difficult-trying-to/) [Chris Kyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-kyle/) > [Spending should be transparent. All spending by the Pentagon should be online. Every check. Exceptions should be made for legitimate national security issues. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grover-norquist/spending-should-be-transparent-all-spending-by-the-pentagon-should-be/) [Grover Norquist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grover-norquist/) > [Some 70% to 80% of all who join the military will return to the civilian workforce. They'll return to communities, and one of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mullen/some-70-to-80-of-all-who-join-the-military-will-return-to-the/) [Michael Mullen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mullen/) > [I think it's a common misconception in the civilian community that the military community is filled with just drills and discipline and pain. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-driver/i-think-it-s-a-common-misconception-in-the-civilian-community-that/) [Adam Driver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-driver/) > [Let the soldier yield to the civilian.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/let-the-soldier-yield-to-the-civilian/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [I'm a civilian, a citizen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-remnick/i-m-a-civilian-a-citizen/) [David Remnick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-remnick/) > [WikiLeaks exposed corruption, war crimes, torture and cover-ups. It showed that we were lied to about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan; that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jemima-khan/wikileaks-exposed-corruption-war-crimes-torture-and-cover-ups-it/) [Jemima Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jemima-khan/) > [During the late 1970s and early 1980s, Latin America moved decisively away from military rule and toward civilian democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-kinzer/during-the-late-1970s-and-early-1980s-latin-america-moved-decisively/) [Stephen Kinzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-kinzer/) > [By citing the UN Charter I indicate that the defensive party to the conflict should use only proportionate force, try to avoid civilian casualties,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhikkhu-bodhi/by-citing-the-un-charter-i-indicate-that-the-defensive-party-to-the/) [Bhikkhu Bodhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhikkhu-bodhi/) > [During my administration, our desire has been to strengthen the civilian spirit of our people. Thus, we have eliminated military ranks and salutes from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scar-arias/during-my-administration-our-desire-has-been-to-strengthen-the/) [Óscar Arias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scar-arias/) > [I'm a fully trained cosmonaut and have completed 800 hours training, which has made me the No. 1 civilian reserve ready to visit the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-blessed/i-m-a-fully-trained-cosmonaut-and-have-completed-800-hours-training/) [Brian Blessed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-blessed/) > [“I’ve never shot a civilian except when under orders.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-t-vollmann/i-ve-never-shot-a-civilian-except-when-under-orders/) [William T. Vollmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-t-vollmann/) > [It's important. One of the principles in the United States is civilian control of the military.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wesley-clark/it-s-important-one-of-the-principles-in-the-united-states-is-civilian/) [Wesley Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wesley-clark/) > [Nonetheless, Article 5 makes clear that if an Iraqi civilian who is not a member of the armed forces, has engaged in attacks on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-yoo/nonetheless-article-5-makes-clear-that-if-an-iraqi-civilian-who-is/) [John Yoo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-yoo/) Browse all 108 Civilian quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I don't support terrorism and never have. 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