Could You Be a Terrorist?

[jon_berzerk]

'
One thing which has teased my thoughts is why there are not more elderly terrorists.

One would think that an old person, with little left to live for, perhaps near to death already, is the perfect candidate to be a terrorist. Yet the few terrorists who are not just the tools and dupes of governments are almost always young -- or at least middle-aged.

One naturally thinks it is because the old have learned some wisdom, that they know that terrorism rarely accomplishes any worthwhile goal, that it often produces effects the opposite of what was intended, or even that they simply ignobly and selfishly overvalue their few remaining days.

Such considerations seem valid, but they do not seem to explain the almost total nonexistence of elderly terrorists -- especially since very few humans ever learn any wisdom
.

maybe because they kill themselves off and don't live to see old age?

that has not held true for bill ayers

 

[Circe]

that has not held true for bill ayers

Not so --- he isn't doing terrorism now; he did it when he was young. His female partner Dohrn, too. She only did terrorism when she was young.