Terrorism And War For Dummies

Kids enjoying a sunny day

Most of the time we keep our children protected from the big, bad world. We keep them busy with school projects, piano lessons, Kumon/swimming/karate classes. We instill in them patriotic values, initiate them into mindless, obscure religious practices, and teach them how to lie, and bully other kids.

But at some point, they come across a few unsavory words like terrorism, 9/11, Osama bin Laden, war, George W. Bush, and start asking questions. Here is an easy guide, a kunji, to help you with the answers.

What is war?
War is like a board game that you play....
More so, like the outdoor games, such as
Basketball, baseball, soccer, or cricket
Where two or more teams strive for upper hand.
The same way the grown-ups engage in combats,
And play with WMD, warships, and fighter jets.
There’s only one insignificant difference,
There are no winners in this otherwise fine game.

What is terrorism?Terrorism is a poor cousin of war.
It's a war sans riches of a state or empire.
The brave warriors who kidnap and kill
Without a state license are called terrorists.
Sometimes, poor cousins outdo the rich
In bombing, killing, or torturing enemies.

Is it OK to wage a war?Oh yes, it’s OK to wage a war,
But only if it’s for a good cause.
Good cause, such as
Getting rid of tyrannies.
Good cause, such as
Reclaiming homeland.
Good cause, such as
Mandir or masjid.
Good cause, such as
Democracy or world peace.
Good cause, such as
Leadership or hegemony.
Good cause, such as
Defense contract or oil money.
So many good causes,
So few opportunities to kill!

(Picture courtesy http://www.ning.com/)